Chartered Accountants Global Update

Episode 17 of Chartered Accountants Global Update is out now. Here’s what’s coming up.

World Congress of Accountants 2026

The global profession meets in Seoul, South Korea, from 17 to 19 November for the World Congress of Accountants. IFAC and the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants are hosting, under the theme “Together for a Connected Tomorrow”. In-person places are by invitation only, but anyone can register to watch virtually. That gives you the live main-stage sessions and recordings of the breakouts afterwards. Topics include AI, trust in the financial system, global standard setting, and the next generation of talent.

Register to attend virtually

Relevance by Design: Building the PAO of the Future

At the Congress, Chartered Accountants Worldwide and Ipsos UK will present new global research on AI and the profession. A panel of leaders from ISCA, ICAI, Chartered Accountants Ireland and CA ANZ will then discuss how professional accountancy organisations are rethinking education, member services and strategy to stay relevant.

Find out more

Difference Makers Discuss: Katherine Ritchie

Katherine Ritchie is an ICAS Chartered Accountant and Formula 1’s Head of Future Race Operations. She didn’t follow a five-year plan. She built her career by saying yes to the opportunities that came along. On Thursday 26 November at 6pm GMT, she’ll talk about running a race calendar of 23 or 24 races a year, F1’s move to sea freight to meet its 2030 net zero goal, and how to reset when you’re not sure what comes next. The webinar is free and lasts 30 minutes.

Reserve your place

Episode 15 of Chartered Accountants Global Update is out now. It covers young leaders, the future of the profession and the difference one Chartered Accountant can make.

Next stop, Cape Town

This November, the One Young World Summit returns to Africa for the first time since 2013. As South Africa marks 50 years since the Soweto Youth Uprising, the Summit will celebrate young leaders shaping the future. Chartered Accountants Worldwide is proud to send another group of young Chartered Accountants to connect, be inspired and lead with purpose on a global stage.

AI and the profession: the next wave

At the World Congress of Accountants in Seoul, Chartered Accountants Worldwide and Ipsos UK will unveil the second wave of their global research into AI and the profession. The panel, “Relevance by Design: Building the PAO of the Future”, brings together leaders from ISCA, ICAI, CAI and CA ANZ. They’ll look at how professional accountancy organisations are rethinking education, member services and strategy. You can attend in person or register to watch online.

Radiating light on young people’s dreams

We also look ahead to the next Difference Makers Discuss. Dorica Chanda is a Chartered Accountant, a member of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants and a One Young World ambassador. She founded Young Dream Radiators, a foundation that mentors young people facing school dropout, bullying and mental health pressures. Join her and host Sinead Donovan online on 12 November at 6pm GMT. It’s free to attend.

Global Update Episode 15: Financial abuse, pilates in Cayman and the accountant with a million followers

Episode 15 of Chartered Accountants Global Update is out now. Here’s what’s inside.

A playbook for spotting financial abuse

CA ANZ has launched a Financial Abuse Playbook to help accountants identify, prevent and respond to financial abuse. It can look like coercive control, elder abuse or the misuse of financial authority, and accountants are often among the first to see the warning signs in the numbers.

The playbook covers the main warning signs, when and how to escalate, and how to apply the Code of Ethics. It also includes checklists and engagement letter paragraphs to help protect vulnerable clients.

Women in CAW Pilates and Social Event

CAW Network USA and the CAW Cayman Chapter invite women in the network to a rooftop pilates session and social evening. It’s at the EY Building, Camana Bay, on Wednesday 25 November from 5:15pm. Entry is free for ICAS, SAICA and Chartered Accountants Ireland members, and US$50 for ICAEW and CA ANZ members and guests.

Ramis Ansari: the accountant with a million followers

Ramis Ansari is a Chartered Accountant based in Sydney. He moved from business advisory to full-time content creation, and has built close to a million followers, a fashion label and an events business. He says his accounting skills shape how he reviews contracts and pitches brands. Join his Difference Makers Discuss session with Sinead Donovan today, 29 October, at 6pm GMT.

Coming up

On Thursday 12 November, Difference Makers Discuss returns with Dorica Chanda, founder of Young Dream Radiators, a Zambian foundation that mentors young people. Registration is free.

Episode 14 of Season 2 is a bit of a milestone - this is the 101st podcast episode we've published, so it is, in fact, Episode 101! To mark the milestone we borrowed from Orwell’s Room 101 and banished a few workplace villains: merged cells, meetings that should have been emails, and the last-minute shoebox of receipts. Here’s what made the cut instead.

Sustainability at the heart of strategy

Kreston Reeves, a UK firm with over 200 years of history, became a certified B Corp after reflecting on its purpose during the pandemic. Every board paper now considers B Corp criteria, stakeholder commitments are written into its LLP deed, and the firm plants a tree for every client. In June 2025 it launched an ESG advisory service. Its advice to other firms: don’t wait for perfect clarity, and talk to clients in plain terms, like cutting energy costs, rather than ESG jargon.

From note-taker to nearly one million followers

In 2019, Chartered Accountant Ramis Ansari went home from a Sydney conference and downloaded TikTok. Six years on, he runs a full-time creator career, a fashion label and an events business. He credits his accountancy training for much of that success, from reviewing contracts to pitching brands directly. Join Ramis and host Sinead Donovan for a free, live episode of Difference Makers Discuss on Thursday, 29 October at 6pm GMT.

Feeling a bit “blah”?

Thrive, the wellbeing hub at Chartered Accountants Ireland, explores languishing: that flat feeling of going through the motions. AXA’s 2023 Mind Health study found more people languishing (28%) than flourishing (24%). Small steps can help, like noting what you’re grateful for or setting a realistic goal. If the feeling doesn’t lift, talk to someone. Member institute support is listed in the Wellbeing Hub on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide website.

Listen to the full episode now, and here’s to the next hundred.

In this episode, we cover two important conversations taking place online this month and two new diplomas to help you build the skills the profession needs next.

Helping women CAs thrive in midlife

Perimenopause and menopause can affect women’s health, confidence and careers, often just as leadership roles and caring responsibilities grow. On 29 October, a free webinar, Women Accountants in Midlife and Wellbeing: Helping Women CAs Thrive, brings this conversation into the open.

The panel includes author and UnPause founder Mary Coustas, Monash Business School researchers Associate Professor Carly Moulang FCA and Dr Annemarie Conrath-Hargreaves, and leadership coach Robin Davies CA. The session is open to everyone in the profession, including leaders and managers who are supporting colleagues. It counts for one hour of CPD.

Spotting and preventing financial abuse

Financial abuse can affect anyone, and accountants are often best placed to see the warning signs. On 26 October, CA ANZ hosts Ethical Considerations in Identifying and Preventing Financial Abuse as part of its Global Ethics Day programme.

An expert panel will cover:

• warning signs and risk factors
• how accountants can prevent abuse, or unintentionally enable it
• your duties under the Code of Ethics

The session counts towards your ethics CPD.

Two new diplomas from Chartered Accountants Ireland

Both programmes run for six months, are delivered online and are accessible internationally. Each offers more than 60 CPD hours.

• Diploma in Data Analytics and AI (starts 28 October): Covers analytics, generative AI, automation, data storytelling and responsible AI. No technical background is needed.
• Diploma in Corporate Finance (starts 2 November): Covers investment decisions, valuation, financing, transactions and restructuring, plus a module on negotiation skills.

This month is all about purpose-led careers. We sit down with a Chartered Accountant whose path has taken her from consulting to Ethiopia to impact investing, and we introduce the six delegates representing our profession at One Young World 2026 in Cape Town.

Difference Makers Discuss: Aisling McCaffrey on the forks in the road that shaped her career

📅 Thursday 15 October 2026 | 6:00pm to 6:30pm BST | Online | Free

Every career has its crossroads. The safe option or the interesting one? Follow your passion or build your skills?

Aisling McCaffrey has faced plenty of these. A Chartered Accountant and One Young World ambassador, she built a sustainability consulting practice at Grant Thornton, worked with UNHCR and UNDP in Ethiopia, and now works at the Impact Investing Institute in London.

In this 30-minute conversation with host Sinead Donovan, Aisling will share:

• How to recognise a career crossroads and choose your path
• How the CA qualification opens doors in sustainability and impact investing
• Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a personal purpose framework
• Building new service lines inside established firms
• The role of luck, timing and relationships in career progression

"Every time you meet somebody, a little bit of yourself gets reflected back." Aisling McCaffrey

Meet our One Young World 2026 delegates

This November, the One Young World Summit heads to Cape Town, South Africa, bringing together young leaders from more than 190 countries. It's the summit's first return to Africa since 2013 and marks 50 years since the Soweto Youth Uprising.

Chartered Accountants Worldwide is proud to send a delegation once again, continuing a tradition that spans more than a decade. Meet the six Chartered Accountants representing our profession:

• Talha Essop, CA(SA) Trainee: his research on tax barriers to bursary access has been submitted to National Treasury and SARS
• Gift Mwewa, Advisory Professional: Best Overall Student, CA Zambia 2026 cohort
• Kim Kreutle, Armstrong Watson LLP: ICAEW Council member and former Student Council Chair
• Jemima Jacobs, ICAS: ICAS Top CA Rising Star 2026 and charity trustee
• Ntebaleng Twala, Finance Leader: SAICA Top 35 Under 35 Overall Winner and founder of the EduSnapper Foundation
• Joseph Grant, Bloomberg: Vice Chair of the Chartered Accountants Ireland ACA Professionals Committee

Follow their journey to Cape Town on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Beyond the Numbers: Sustainability, Digital Leadership and Healthy Firms

In this episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update, we cover three developments that are asking the profession to look beyond the traditional numbers.

A voluntary standard with global reach

In July, the European Commission adopted a proposed voluntary sustainability reporting standard. It is for companies that don't have to report under the EU's main sustainability rules, the CSRD. The standard builds on EFRAG's voluntary SME standard and also protects smaller suppliers. Businesses with 1,000 employees or fewer can't be asked for information beyond what the standard covers.

In its consultation response, ICAS called for four things: proportionality, disclosures that are useful for decisions, alignment with the EU's main reporting standards (ESRS), and practical guidance. Voluntary frameworks often pave the way for mandatory ones, and supply chains cross borders, so this matters well beyond Europe.

Leading in a digital-first finance function

Automation, AI and analytics are changing what it takes to lead in finance. On 22 October, CAW Network USA hosts Beyond Accounting: Women in Finance, Empowering Digital Leaders. It is a free online webinar with Nancy Chakabuda (Cummins), Linda Nel (Mohari Hospitality) and Shingi Gwindingwi (CrossCountry Consulting), moderated by Ryan Clacher (The Siegfried Group).

The panel will look at the skills leaders need, how to build digital confidence across teams, and how to use technology to make better decisions.

How healthy is your firm?

Writing for Chartered Accountants Ireland, Sinéad Munnelly FCA notes that 55% of chartered accountants report stress or burnout. She argues that burnout is feedback on how work is structured. Clear decision rights, workloads that match capacity, a culture where people feel safe to speak up, and protected recovery time all help firms protect the judgement the profession depends on.

Difference Makers Discuss – Kingsley Aikins – Why your next opportunity is hiding in your weakest connection

Ask most people to describe their network and they will describe their friends, their family and a handful of close colleagues. Kingsley Aikins calls that the inner concentric ring, and he argues it is the least useful part of your network. The opportunities sit further out, among the loose associations and the people you have not spoken to in three years.

In this episode, Kingsley joins host Sinead Donovan to continue their conversation on networking and to widen it out to something much bigger. There are now 305 million people living outside the country they were born in, roughly double the figure in 1970. Kingsley has written diaspora strategies for national governments, for regions and for cities, and he explains why so many of them have come round to seeing the people who left as national assets rather than lost actors.

Along the way he makes the case that networking is neither an art nor a science, but a process, and one that can be learned. He sets out what companies quietly lost when their networks shrank during the pandemic, why the technical skills that won you your first job matter less as you rise, and the practical tricks that make walking into a room full of strangers survivable.

What you will take away

• Why weak ties and loose associations are where opportunity actually sits, and how to rebuild an outer network that has quietly shrunk
• The five challenges bringing companies to his door: less business development, less learning on the job, less serendipity, thinner loyalty and weaker culture
• Practical techniques for working a room, from why you should look for ones and twos rather than groups, to the quiet usefulness of standing near the bar
• What the global diaspora phenomenon means for countries, regions and cities, and why around 120 countries are now building strategies around it
• The four fundamentals of a network: personal, strategic, operational and online
• Why the skills that earn you a job early in your career are not the ones that carry you later

What Six Difference Makers Can Teach Every Chartered Accountant

On Friday the 25th of September, Chartered Accountants Worldwide is hosting Difference Makers Discuss: Best of Season 4, a free one hour broadcast hosted by Sinead Donovan that brings together six standout conversations from across the year. The stories range from entrepreneurship to sport to social enterprise, but they all point to the same conclusion. The skills that create lasting impact are the ones that are hardest to measure and easiest to overlook.

Connection compounds

Kingsley Aikins built the largest Irish business network in any city in the world, starting from a twelve person dinner club in Sydney. One letter to a stranger became a professional relationship that lasted twenty one years. Aster Thackery built a community of around two thousand parents from a single coffee meetup she started in London, alone, during lockdown. Neither story started big. Both prove that influence is built one conversation at a time.

Resilience shows up under real pressure

Caitriona Jennings qualified for the 2012 Olympic marathon while working full time at PwC, balancing two demanding commitments at once. Manuel Rodrigues, CFO for African Operations at EDP Mozambique, described how a simple change in payment timing, from annual to every thirty five days, transformed household economies for over seventy five thousand farming families. Different scale, same principle. Structure and commitment turn pressure into progress.

Judgment still belongs to people

Nick Riemer of The Invigilator and Liswaniso Namatama both spoke to the same point from different angles. AI can support academic and professional assessment, and it can support audit, but humans must retain the final call. As routine work becomes more automated, professional judgment becomes more valuable, not less.

Why this matters for you

None of these six stories are about technical skill in the traditional sense. They are about the qualities that sit alongside it: patience, resilience, honest judgment. For chartered accountants navigating AI, client relationships, and career pressure all at once, that is a timely reminder.

Registration for Difference Makers Discuss: Best of Season 4 is free. Full details and speaker profiles are available on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide events page.

Four Events Worth Your Calendar Space This Autumn

If you're a chartered accountant trying to keep pace with where the profession is heading, the next few weeks bring a genuinely useful cluster of events, on sustainability, ethics, and the broader question of what transformation means for finance leadership.

First up, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand continues its CA Sustainability Community webinar series on 22 September. Running since 2023, it's built for finance professionals who need practical, ongoing grounding in ESG topics rather than a one-off briefing.

Three days later, on 25 September, CCAB hosts a free virtual session called Ethics in the Digital Age. It walks through CCAB's draft statement on the ethical use of AI, using real scenarios that touch on confidentiality, professional scepticism, and accountability when a tool gets something wrong. Speakers are drawn from all five CCAB bodies, and CPD hours are on offer, though registration is capped at 1,000 places.

On 7 October, ICAS brings its Sustainability Summit to Edinburgh, in a hybrid format for anyone who can't attend in person. Rather than treating sustainability as a compliance box to tick, the summit frames it as a genuine driver of commercial value, with keynotes and panels from voices across the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, GSK, and Swire Pacific, among others.

And closing out the run, ICAEW's Annual Conference lands in London on 16 October, themed Thriving in Transformation. It's a full day covering AI's effect on finance leadership, cyber security, and Making Tax Digital, with Professor Hannah Fry delivering the keynote and afternoon streams tailored to practice, industry, or policy.

Taken together, these four events point to a pattern worth noticing: sustainability and AI keep showing up side by side, not because they're the same issue, but because both are forcing the same underlying question, what good judgment looks like while the rules are still being written.

Full details and registration links for all four are linked below, and you can catch the full conversation on this week's episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update.