Sustainability in Action: How Chartered Accountants Are Driving Real Change

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” — it is a business imperative. Across the Chartered Accountants Worldwide community, professionals and firms are embedding sustainability into strategy, governance and everyday decision-making to create long-term value.

From practice to industry, the impact is clear. UK-based accountancy firm Kreston Reeves demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded at the core of a business. As a B Corp certified firm, it integrates ESG principles into its culture, governance and client services, supporting organisations to navigate regulatory expectations and build more resilient, responsible operations.

Thought leadership also plays a vital role. Moneeza Butt, Partner at KPMG Pakistan, highlights the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement and transparent ESG reporting. Drawing on global frameworks such as GRI, TCFD and the new IFRS sustainability standards, she emphasises that authentic ESG practices drive trust, innovation and long-term success.

Sustainability impact is not limited to traditional accounting roles. Cayley Haig CA shows how accounting skills can shape ethical industries, applying her forensic background to support fair wages, reduce textile waste and address modern slavery risks in the fashion sector.

Together, these stories underline a powerful truth: Chartered Accountants are uniquely placed to lead the transition to a more sustainable future — through insight, integrity and action.

Welcoming 2026: Building Skills, Strengthening Trust, Shaping the Future

As we step into 2026, it’s a time to reflect on progress and look ahead with optimism. Chartered Accountants continue to play a vital role in strengthening economies, building trust, and supporting sustainable growth across the globe. Being part of this global community means staying connected, learning continuously, and engaging with ideas that shape the future of the profession. 

The year ahead offers exciting opportunities to grow and connect. From thought-provoking webinars focused on developing critical human skills for future-ready teams, to major international gatherings such as the World Forum of Accountants 2026, professionals can gain insight into emerging trends, technology, sustainability, and leadership. There are also networking and celebratory events, including the Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner, bringing together leaders and peers to share experiences and inspiration. 

As we move forward, staying engaged with learning, collaboration, and innovation will be key to sustaining excellence and impact. Here’s to a healthy, successful, and connected year ahead for the global accountancy community.

A Decade of Building Trust: Celebrating 10 Years of Chartered Accountants Worldwide

This year marks a significant milestone for Chartered Accountants Worldwide: ten years of bringing the global accountancy profession together under a shared commitment to trust, integrity, and excellence.

What began as an ambitious idea a decade ago has grown into a truly global community, representing more than 1.8 million members and students across over 190 countries. Fifteen leading chartered accountancy institutes now work side by side, collaborating across continents to speak with one voice on the issues that matter most to business, government, and society.

While the scale of this network is impressive, the real story lies beyond the numbers. The tenth-anniversary film released to mark the occasion highlights the people behind the profession — chartered accountants at every career stage, in every corner of the world, united by a commitment to doing the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest option.

Over the past decade, the global environment has been anything but stable. Financial shocks, geopolitical change, a global pandemic, and rapid advances in technology have all tested institutions and markets. In times like these, trust becomes essential. Chartered accountants play a critical role in sustaining that trust, providing reliable information, independent judgement, and assurance that underpins sound decision-making.

The impact of the profession reaches far beyond financial statements. Across the Chartered Accountants Worldwide network, members are supporting sustainable businesses, strengthening governance, advancing sustainability reporting, and helping public and not-for-profit organisations make the most of limited resources. Collectively, this work delivers real and lasting value to economies and communities.

As Chartered Accountants Worldwide looks ahead to its next decade, the focus remains firmly on the future. Technology, sustainability, and rising expectations around transparency will continue to reshape the profession. Through global insight, collaboration, and advocacy, the organisation is committed to helping members and students not just adapt to change, but lead it.

The tenth-anniversary film is both a celebration and a statement of intent — a reminder of what has been achieved together, and a signal of the ambition that lies ahead. Here’s to ten years of building trust, and to many more to come.

Leadership Continuity and Global Connections: What’s Ahead for Chartered Accountants Worldwide

Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) has announced an important milestone in its global leadership: Ainslie van Onselen has been reappointed as Chair for a further two-year term. The unanimous support of the CAW Board reflects strong confidence in her continued leadership and the progress made during her first term.

Ainslie made history in 2023 as the first woman—and the first representative from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)—to take on the role. As CEO of CA ANZ since 2020, she has championed ethics, inclusion, digital transformation, and public-interest advocacy. Her renewed term promises continued momentum in sustainability leadership and in inspiring the next generation of Chartered Accountants.

Alongside this leadership news, CAW members can look forward to three major events on the horizon for 2026:

• World Forum of Accountants (WOFA 2.0) – Hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants India from 30 January to 1 February 2026 in Greater Noida, this global gathering explores the theme “Nation Building to Global Collaboration: Strengthening Trust, Enabling Growth.” The event will spotlight ESG, digital transformation, and the evolving role of CAs in shaping global progress.
• Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner – Returning in 2026, this flagship event brings together leaders and rising talent from across Ireland. Dates are still to be announced, but it remains a highlight for networking and celebrating the profession.
• Sydney Burns Event – Hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland, this lively celebration blends Scottish culture with professional connection. Held at Dockside Group overlooking Sydney Harbour, the evening features traditional Scottish fare, the iconic Address to the Haggis, live music, and energetic ceilidh dancing.

Together, these events showcase the strength, diversity, and global reach of the Chartered Accountant community. For more details, visit charteredaccountantsworldwide.com.

How Chartered Accountancy Institutes are equipping members for the age of Generative AI

Across the global accounting profession, one theme is becoming impossible to ignore: generative AI is no longer a future consideration—it’s a present-day competency. With more than 70% of chartered accountants already using AI tools in their work and 76% looking to integrate them further, professional bodies are stepping up to support their members in building confidence, capability, and ethical awareness in this rapidly evolving space. 

Two recent initiatives highlight this shift: the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) with its new GenAI Accelerator Programme, and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) with its AI Fluency Playbook. Both aim to help accountants navigate generative AI—but each takes a distinct approach.

ICAEW’s GenAI Accelerator Programme

Launched in late summer 2025, ICAEW’s programme offers a structured, progressive learning path built around eight e-learning courses, each with modular content, video tutorials, interactive elements, and practical resources. 

The curriculum ranges from foundational AI concepts to highly targeted applications including financial operations, compliance, governance, and strategic finance. Members earn digital badges as they progress and can accumulate up to eight hours of verifiable CPD. The programme was developed with GenFinance.AI, underscoring a focus on real-world finance use cases rather than theory alone.

Importantly, ICAEW has opened a limited number of discounted slots for members of other Chartered Accountants Worldwide bodies, extending access beyond its home base. 

CA ANZ’s AI Fluency Playbook

Released in August 2025, CA ANZ’s Playbook serves as a practical, ongoing reference guide rather than a formal course. It features real case studies of firms using AI today, prompt templates, ethical guidance, and governance frameworks. 

It also integrates with CA ANZ’s existing learning ecosystem, including its Certificate in AI Fluency, a six-week programme launched earlier in 2025. With capability assessments and AI-readiness tools, members can benchmark themselves and plan their development strategically.

Two Models, One Message

While the formats differ—ICAEW’s structured courses and digital badges versus CA ANZ’s flexible playbook and capability assessments—both initiatives send a unified message: AI literacy is now essential for professional relevance. They emphasize practical application, ethical awareness, and adaptability at a time when AI tools evolve faster than traditional training cycles. 

The result is a growing global ecosystem of support for chartered accountants who want to confidently, responsibly, and strategically integrate generative AI into their work.

As the profession has done with spreadsheets, ERP systems, and cloud platforms, those who engage early with AI will be positioned at the forefront of the next chapter in accounting.

In the newest episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update, we explore one of the most important topics facing the profession today: how chartered accountants can thrive—mentally, emotionally, and physically—in an increasingly demanding world.

This episode dives into highlights from the latest Difference Makers Discuss Live conversation with Brad Hook and Declan Scott, co-authors of the groundbreaking global resilience and well-being report for Chartered Accountants Worldwide.

Whether you’re newly qualified or have decades of experience, this is an essential listen.

The Surprising Strengths of Chartered Accountants

The global report uncovered something many people overlook: chartered accountants are, on the whole, curious, creative, and altruistic. As Brad Hook notes, finance professionals aren’t always recognised for these qualities—but they shine through clearly in the data.

The challenge?
We often fail to apply that same kindness and curiosity inward. The pressure to perform, deliver, and multitask can overshadow the strengths that make us exceptional.

A Profession in Transition

The accounting world has evolved dramatically. Today’s chartered accountant may work in practice, industry, technology, sustainability, entrepreneurship—you name it.

With this abundance of opportunity comes new pressures. This episode is a timely reminder that high performance is not about doing everything at once, but about doing the right things with clarity, rhythm, and intention.

Continue the Journey

Chartered Accountants Worldwide has created a dedicated well-being hub with practical tools and guidance to support members across the globe. A follow-up survey arrives in Q1 2026 to measure progress—and your participation will help shape future interventions.

If you think ethics standards and well-being research sound dry, think again. The latest episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update packs the punch of a TED Talk, the immediacy of a news briefing, and the heart of a conversation we all need right now.

This episode delivers two powerful stories that hit at the core of the profession in 2025: how we build trust in a world of AI and climate claims, and how we rebuild ourselves in a culture that rewards burnout.

1. Ethics Isn’t Boring — It’s a Superpower

In conversation with Sinead Donovan, Carla Vijian of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants proves that ethics is anything but abstract.

Her career spans Malaysia, New Zealand, Sydney, London, and now New York — but it’s her audit mindset that ties it all together. When the rest of us read headlines, Carla sees the incentives, the assumptions, the risks and the unseen forces that really shape global events.

Whether it’s the Northern Lights carbon-capture project or debt-for-policy swaps, she highlights the same truth: without strong ethics standards, big innovations become big question marks.

And when it comes to AI? Carla puts it sharply:

Her “Three C’s” for future accountants — Curiosity, Courage, Consistency — are worth printing out and sticking on a wall.

2. The Resilience Revolution Is Here

The second half of the episode previews an essential follow-up discussion with Brad Hook and Declan Scott — and it couldn’t come at a better time.

CAW’s research earlier this year showed Chartered Accountants are kind, curious, creative… and exhausted.

We’re multitasking ourselves into hypervigilance.
Our boundaries between work and life have dissolved.
And sleep? For many, it’s a crisis hiding in plain sight.

One statistic hits hard:

Brad and Declan dig into why this is happening — and more importantly, what we can do about it. Their solutions aren’t corporate wellness clichés. They’re evidence-based habits that change how teams work:

• Monotasking to restore deep focus
• Friday Flow zones for creativity and long-term thinking
• Sleep as a leadership skill
• Presence as a quiet superpower in a noisy world

It’s practical. It’s human. It’s uncomfortably honest.

Why You Should Listen

This episode captures something rare: the crossroads the profession is standing at — between innovation and integrity, between high performance and human sustainability.

It’s not fear-mongering. It’s not fluffy inspiration.
It’s truth, told by people who care deeply about the work we do and the world we shape.

Leading the Future of Finance: How Accountants Are Embracing AI with Confidence

The future of finance is here — and it’s powered by generative AI. Across the profession, Chartered Accountants are discovering how artificial intelligence is transforming everything from financial operations and tax compliance to corporate governance and strategic decision-making.

This month, three major initiatives from the Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) network highlight how finance professionals can take charge of this transformation — building new skills, driving innovation, and leading with confidence in an AI-powered world.

🚀 Transform Your Career with the ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme

The ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to equip finance professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead in the age of AI.

Through modular, practical courses, participants explore real-world applications of generative AI in accounting and finance — from automating processes to enhancing insight generation. The programme also tackles the ethical and regulatory considerations of AI use, ensuring participants are ready to implement these tools responsibly.

Special offer: As a valued member of the CAW community, you can access exclusive discounts when enrolling in the programme.

👉 Find out more and register today → ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme

💡 Lead with Confidence: The CA ANZ AI Fluency Playbook

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing the profession — it’s redefining it. To help Chartered Accountants not just adapt, but lead, CA ANZ has launched the AI Fluency Playbook — a hands-on guide to building confidence and capability in the use of generative AI.

Inside the playbook, you’ll find:

• Real-world case studies of AI in action across client engagement, reporting, and workflow optimisation
• Toolkits and prompt guides to help you get started with GenAI tools
• Ethical frameworks to manage bias, privacy, and transparency
• Governance and risk best practices
• Learning pathways including micro-courses, readiness assessments, and an official Certificate in AI Fluency

With over 70% of Chartered Accountants already experimenting with AI tools and 76% eager to expand their use, this playbook arrives at the perfect time.

👉 Read more and download → CA ANZ Launches AI Fluency Playbook

🎙️ “AI Will Take Your Job to a Whole New Level” — A Conversation with Nicola Ellam

AI isn’t coming for your job — it’s taking it to a whole new level.

That’s the message from Nicola Ellam, who joins host Sinead Donovan, past president of Chartered Accountants Ireland, for the latest episode of Difference Makers Discuss. Broadcasting on November 6th at 12 noon and 1800 GMT, this conversation dives into one of the most ambitious technology transformations in professional services.

Ellam’s insights are a must-hear for any finance professional looking to understand how AI can elevate their role, expand their impact, and shape the next generation of accounting.

👉 Register for the event → Difference Makers Discuss - “AI Will Take Your Job to a Whole New Level”

The Bottom Line

From practical training and ethical guidance to inspiring conversations, the Chartered Accountants network is helping members future-proof their careers and lead in an AI-enabled world.

This isn’t about keeping up — it’s about leading with insight, integrity, and innovation.

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This week’s Chartered Accountants Global Update is packed with two things every modern professional needs: forward-looking climate for talent and leadership (we’re heading to Munich for One Young World 2025) — and a deeply human, practical conversation about neurodiversity at work from Difference Makers Discuss with Mark Scully.

One Young World Summit — Munich, 3–6 November 2025

Chartered Accountants Worldwide is once again sending a stellar delegation to One Young World — where more than 2,000 young leaders from 190+ countries convene to exchange ideas, build networks and spark action.

Munich — a global hub for innovation, technology and research — is the perfect stage for those conversations. CAW’s delegates this year bring real-world projects and fresh perspectives, including:

• Laura Mason (UK) — public-service innovation
• Sophie Sweeney (Ireland) — integrating sustainable development into professional education
• Saad Bin Asim Zubairi (Bahrain) — ethical applications of AI
• Jaspreet Rayat (UK) — social mobility and inclusion
• Rebecca Casey — governance and diverse leadership
• Christiaan Coetzee (South Africa) — transforming audit workflows globally
• Sitali Chiuyu (Zambia) — entrepreneurship and inclusion
• Khethiwe Sibanyoni (South Africa) — gender-based violence activist and Deloitte audit trainee

Follow the delegation and live updates via #CharteredStar on social — we’ll be sharing reflections, insights and moments from Munich as the summit unfolds.

Difference Makers Discuss — Episode 3: Mark Scully on neurodiversity, courage and compassion

If you only listen to one episode this month, make it this one. Shinayd Donovan’s conversation with Mark Scully is an honest, practical, and hopeful guide to building workplaces where neurodivergent people — and everyone — can thrive.

Mark’s story in brief

Mark’s CV reads like success: qualified at KPMG, rose to tax director. But behind the outward success was repeated struggle: excellent academic performance, yet an inability to decode the unwritten social rules of the workplace. He masked, over-worked, said “yes” to everything — until burnout forced him to pause and seek support.

A counsellor later asked the life-changing question: “Has anyone ever mentioned autism to you?” After assessment, Mark was diagnosed autistic in 2021. That diagnosis gave him a framework to understand his experience and to start changing how he worked — compassionately and deliberately.

What changed — and the important lesson

Through coaching, Mark learned to:

• Say no constructively instead of overcommitting
• Communicate real expectations, rather than assuming others share them
• Use strategies that played to his strengths

The result was tangible: performance ratings improved (from repeated middling results to top ratings). Mark made many of these changes before disclosing his diagnosis — and when he finally told his boss, the response was simple and powerful: “What adjustments do you need?” Mark replied, “You’ve already put them in place. I just asked for what I needed.”

This underlines a vital point: adjustments that enable neurodivergent people to thrive often benefit everyone.

Practical takeaways for leaders and managers

Mark’s conversation is full of hands-on advice. Key actions for firms and leaders:

• Shift from process-focused to person-centered, outcome-focused management. Ask: Is there a different way of working that suits how this person thinks and still achieves the outcome?

This week's episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update is all about saying yes — to opportunity, to change, and to leading the way forward.

We meet Ken Croarkin, a Chartered Accountant whose journey from Glasgow to New York proves that the qualification really is a global passport. Then, we explore how Chartered Accountants Worldwide are putting sustainability front and centre with the launch of the brand-new Sustainability Hub.

A Career Built on Saying Yes

When Ken Croarkin first heard about accountancy, it was almost by accident. Yet, decades later, he’s a partner at EisnerAmper in New York and a Council member at ICAS. His career story, shared with Sinead Donovan on Difference Makers Discuss, is a masterclass in the power of saying “yes” — even when the opportunity seems daunting.

From early work with insurance clients (not his first choice) to a “temporary” assignment in the US that became a 27-year adventure, Ken’s path is proof that flexibility and curiosity pay off. His message to fellow accountants? Don’t underestimate the reach of your qualification. It can take you places you never imagined.

Ken also offers a fresh take on technology. He sees AI as a partner, not a threat, freeing auditors to focus on judgment, insight, and what really matters. In his words, audit is anything but boring — it’s diverse, dynamic, and endlessly evolving.

Leading the Sustainability Charge

The episode then turns to another big theme: sustainability. Chartered Accountants Worldwide’s new Sustainability Hub is designed to help finance professionals become catalysts for change.

This isn’t just another collection of reports. It’s a practical, well-organised resource that covers everything from carbon footprint measurement and governance to SME-friendly green finance guides. Whether you’re advising clients or driving change within your own business, the Hub helps you turn sustainability from a buzzword into a strategy.

As experts like Karen McWilliams point out, sustainability reporting is fast becoming mainstream. For accountants, this is both a responsibility and an opportunity — to add strategic value, anticipate regulation, and help businesses thrive in a greener economy.

A Global Profession, A Global Impact

From Ken’s international journey to the profession’s leadership on sustainability, Episode 16 celebrates what it means to be a modern Chartered Accountant: a strategic advisor, change agent, and global citizen.

Explore the new Sustainability Hub at charteredaccountantsworldwide.com
, and catch the full Difference Makers Discuss series for more inspiring stories.