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Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants history

The Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants is proud to be the oldest Society of Chartered Accountants in the country, having been formed in 1870. The Society celebrated its 140th Anniversary on 25 January 2010.

It is also one of the four Founding Societies of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The Society was proud to host the Founding Societies' Centenary Award Dinner in May 2001 and to honour the Laureate Mr John Anderson.

As a result of this accolade John was granted Honorary Life Membership of the Society; only three other members have been granted Honorary Life Membership, Mr Harmood Banner, Mr Arthur Green and Mr Ian Morris, who were all National Presidents of the Institute.

The Society dates back to a meeting of "14 gentlemen engaged in accountancy" called at the request of Messrs. H W Banner and A W Chalmers, and held on Tuesday, 25 January 1870 at 24 North John Street. It agreed a set of objectives including "the protection of the character, status and interests of the accountants of Liverpool and the promotion of honourable practice".

The Society has followed those objectives ever since, and has been proud to provide three Presidents of the Institute, Mr John Harmood Banner in 1904, Mr Arthur Green in 1987, (as noted above) and Mr James Ian Morris 2005/06.

The Society now plays a key role in training and in the development of accountancy standards, having strong branches in Southport and Chester & North Wales. The Isle of Man Society still maintains its traditional links with Liverpool Society, although since Regionalisation, is now administered from the Centre.

Chartered Accountants in Business, General Practitioners, Younger Members and Students all have special groups to look after their interests, and there are a wide range of technical and other sub-committees.

All in all the Society can justly claim that the ambitions of its founders have been attained and continue to be delivered, through the new regional infrastructure.