LSCA President calls for positivity in face of crisis

Nathan Steinberg, President of the London Society of Chartered Accountants calls upon members to be positive despite the lockdown of the city, where there is no room for negative energy.

April 2020

“Many of us are going to lose loved ones.” The prime minister’s warning has set the tone for the immediate future. It puts in perspective the real world where people are going to pass away and anything that can be done to prevent it is essential.

ICAEW has taken the lead by cancelling the annual dinner and holding the spring Council meeting by Video conference. LSCA has followed this lead by postponing the Practitioners’ Conference in Cambridge, and holding its annual general meeting online.

Around the country various district societies are postponing events. LSCA's annual dinner, previously due to be held on 28 May, will also be postponed. A sad end to my presidential year, but one moves on.

London will be seriously affected by the virus with people not allowed to travel unless absolutely necessary. In addition, the potential economic downturn which has caused the share crash will affect all of us, particularly those who work in London’s financial centers.

But enough of this, we all have to get on with our lives whatever the problems. When my grandparents and their children, including my mother, escaped Nazi persecution and came to London during the last war they left everything in Europe and came with nothing.

They showed energy to rebuild their lives with the result that their grandson is now London Society President.

I call for all London members to show leadership and positivity throughout. While there are problems, we must not demonstrate negative energy.

Nathan Steinberg is LSCA President and a consultant at Kreston Reeves

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