Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

NCASS Annual Teesside Dinner

The Northern Chartered Accountant Students’ Society (NCASS) is delighted to be hosting its Annual Teesside Dinner for ICAEW students and newly qualified members at the Judges Country House Hotel on 20 May 2022.

Event Information

On arrival attendees will be greeted with a drinks reception where you will have the opportunity to mingle with friends and colleagues before being invited to take a seat for a three-course dinner. Guests will be seated at tables of 10.

After dinner entertainment includes a DJ, disco and a photo booth.

During the evening we will also be raising money for our chosen charity which this year is the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation. There will be raffle tickets available for purchase with great prizes up for grab.

Tickets can be purchased individually or can be made in groups with a maximum of 10 guests per table.

Dress code: Black tie and evening dresses.

Cost

RATE	COST
Price	£37.50 + VAT

Further information

Menu options

Starter:
Roast carrot and coriander soup (v)

Main:
Chicken wrapped in smoked bacon, fondant potato, braised savoy cabbage, crispy shallots and thyme gravy
Or
Thai green vegetable curry and fried rice (v)

Dessert:
Sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch sauce (v)

Photographs
Photographs will be used by the NCASS committee to share news about the event, and to publicise future events. Images may be used in press releases, social media including Facebook Pages. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please contact Amy Napper ([email protected]).

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Northern Society Annual Report 2020

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) are pleased to present the Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 December 2020.

The report will be presented at the virtual AGM to be held on 20 May 2021.

This is the 2nd occasion that the AGM has had to be a virtual meeting – the first occasion being in 2020 during this extended period of the Coronavirus pandemic.  We hope that by 2022 members will agian be able to meet together to note the previous year’s activities and learn about the Society’s incoming officers.

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) represents 4,000 ICAEW members and ACA students working in business and the finance profession across the North East of England, Teesside, Northern Yorkshire and Cumbria. We have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for almost 140 years. More information is available at norsca.co.uk

Click here to view the annual report and accounts to 31 December 2020

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Northern Society Graduation and Prizegiving 2020 – postponed in response to COVID-19

We look forward to recognising the success of all Northern Society ACA students who became exam qualified during 2019 in our annual Graduation and Prize-giving Event.

The graduation event this year will be at Newcastle Civic Centre and will be hosted by Keith Proudfoot, President of Northern Society and we are delighted that we will be joined by Fiona Wilkinson, ICAEW President

Our newly passed and prize-giving ceremony is one of the largest events for successful ICAEW students and has proved very popular in the past.

 

Students who have won exam prizes and those students who became exam-qualified during 2019 will be invited to attend the event with up to 3 guests. The pass list for the November 2019 Advanced Stage exams has recently been published – congratulations to all successful students. 

Details of the event

***Sadly this event has been postponed in response to HM Government announcements regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Participants will be contacted again when revised details are confirmed.***

ICAEW registered students in the Northern Society area who became exam qualified during 2019 will be contacted by email with full details.

In order to secure your place, please respond to the email and RSVP to Joanne Lucking [email protected] as soon as possible. Joanne will also be able to assist should you need further information.

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants would like to thank CABA, CAPET and Newcastle University Business School for their kind support for the graduation event.

About Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) represents 4,000 ICAEW members and ACA students working in business and the finance profession across the North East of England, Teesside, northern Yorkshire and Cumbria.

We have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for over 130 years.

About ICAEW

There are over 1.7m chartered accountants around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 149,000 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants. We train, develop and support each one of them so that they have the knowledge and values to help build local and global economies that are sustainable, accountable and fair.

We’ve been at the heart of the accountancy profession since we were founded in 1880 to ensure trust in business. We share our knowledge and insight with governments, regulators and business leaders worldwide as we believe accountancy is a force for positive economic change across the world.

ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) is a founder member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and the Global Accounting Alliance.

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News about Redworth 2020

A wide range of key topics, the chance to explore the issues with some of the UK’s leading experts and the opportunity to connect with fellow general practitioners – the Redworth Conference offers it all.

If you’re a general practitioner, you know that your clients often expect your expertise to be as varied as their business needs. You may also know that staying up-to-date with the key issues and keeping on top of new legislation and regulations can be a challenge.

The Redworth conference has been designed with this in mind; the programme incorporates topics that delegates have identified as key, so it’s a great opportunity to get up-to-speed with the issues and developments that matter to you, your clients and your business.

From employment law and essential accounting updates, to understanding financial crime; the packed programme covers the hot topics and helps you get to grips with the latest legislation, whilst providing you with the insights and information you need to add extra value to your client offering. 

Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #Redworth2020

What’s happening at Redworth 2020?

Booking is already open for Redworth 2020, which takes place from Friday 28 February to Sunday 1 March (2020 is a Leap Year) at Redworth Hall Hotel in County Durham.

And whilst the team behind the event is still developing the full programme, a number of expert speakers have already been secured. And with topics spanning the spectrum from tax and accounting updates, to tips to enable you to make the most of new networking opportunities, you can be sure that Redworth will tick many of your main CPD boxes.

Meet the experts

Among the confirmed speakers for Redworth 2020 are personal finance expert Karen Barwick; financial crime specialist Andrew Swan, who’ll be exploring the real world of financial crime; funding expert Yvonne Gale; and one of the UK’s most in-demand tax experts, Rebecca Benneyworth, who’ll not only be delivering an essential tax update but will be taking questions at the perennially popular “Rebecca on Request” session.

We’re delighted that as well as numerous requested returning speakers, there are some new faces joining the line-up, including Stephanie Henshaw – a founder member of ICAEW’s Financial Reporting Facility and its current Chair. Many NorSCA members will know Stephanie from previous events so will understand why she’s long been on the “wish list” for Redworth.

In addition to the technical and business sessions, CABA will be offering advice on how to improve your networking skills, so that you’re always ready to make the most of each and every opportunity.

A powerful network…

Speaking of networking, the conference is a great chance to do just that. All too often, sole practitioners (and those working in smaller firms) miss out on the chance to explore issues, share concerns or simply bounce ideas around with colleagues.

Whilst Redworth is big enough to attract respected speakers, it’s also small enough to allow people to talk openly to each other and share experiences in a relaxed, pressure-free setting.

Plus, because the event is as informal as it is informative, delegates are also able to connect with speakers outside the confines of the lecture room, giving them a rare chance to ask questions and discuss issues one-to-one over coffee.

Find out more

Visit the Redworth 2020 page on our events centre to find out more.

About Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) represents 4,000 ICAEW members and ACA students working in business and the finance profession across the North East of England, Teesside, northern Yorkshire and Cumbria.

We have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for over 130 years.

About ICAEW

There are over 1.7m chartered accountants around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 149,000 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants. We train, develop and support each one of them so that they have the knowledge and values to help build local and global economies that are sustainable, accountable and fair.

We’ve been at the heart of the accountancy profession since we were founded in 1880 to ensure trust in business. We share our knowledge and insight with governments, regulators and business leaders worldwide as we believe accountancy is a force for positive economic change across the world.

ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) is a founder member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and the Global Accounting Alliance.

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A review of 2019 #ICAEWintheNorth

A special anniversary, celebrating student success and a milestone event: 2019 has been a busy and notable period for #ICAEWintheNorth. Jane Walker looks back at some of the events that shaped the last twelve months.

Remarkable Redworth

Many members rely on the annual Redworth Conference to deliver key CPD and help them keep abreast of the issues that matter most to their business. With a programme that’s as varied as the needs of the general practitioners it was created for, the event covers everything from soft-skills to essential updates on key legislation and rule changes.

2019 was a special year for the Conference, as this was the twenty-fifth anniversary of this ever-popular event. Attendees celebrated in style with a special anniversary banquet and a number of long-standing speakers and delegates (and some new faces) were there to mark this milestone in Northern Society history.

Event co-founder, Pam Clarke, believes that Redworth is one of the longest running conferences of its kind in the UK, and we’re delighted to confirm that the programme for 2020 is almost finalised and that booking is now open.

As Pam explained in a special anniversary interview in early 2019, the event really does have something for everyone and is shaped by the needs and feedback of delegates, so it’s always on topic and covers the areas that really count.

Celebrating student success

One of the highlights of the NorSCA diary is the annual Graduation and Prize-Giving event at Newcastle University’s stunning King’s Hall – it’s a great chance for friends and family to join our students and newly qualified ACAs in celebrating their exam success and career progression.

A record number of students took part in this year’s ceremony which recognised the achievements of those who had completed their Advanced Stage exams in 2018 and students who were best in their subject or who had excelled across all subject papers to achieve the Northern Society Order of Merit at the Advanced Stage or Professional Stage exams during 2018.

Dishing up the laughs

Celebrating student success was also on the menu at the annual NorSCA Dinner, where top performing ICAEW trainee Chartered Accountants picked up prizes, including the coveted Presidents’ Awards, which are awarded to students who have demonstrated both Academic excellence and who have made an exceptional contribution to their firm/organisation by their professionalism, business acumen, teamwork or to the Northern Society or wider general community.

This year’s Presidents’ Awards were won by Sam Bell of Dodd & Co, who won the Professional Stage Presidents’ Award; and Andrew Jacott of Deloitte who won the Advanced Stage Presidents’ Award.

Guests at the Dinner found themselves – and their websites – under scrutiny at the hands of award-winning comedian, Jo Caulfield, whose witty analysis of the clichés of business websites, had guests in stiches.

From declaring one company’s website decidedly “Scandi-Noir” to deciding that NCASS were the “hipster accountants”, Jo spared few in the room; much to the delight of those present  – as the queue for selfies suggested, Jo was a real hit (and many of those who escaped her attention expressed disappointment that they’d got off so lightly!).

ICAEW President Fiona Wilkinson also spoke at the Dinner, sharing her insights into the profession and highlighting a special anniversary in ICAEW history.

Fiona is only the third woman to hold the post of ICAEW President and, as she explained in her speech, her Presidential year serendipitously includes the anniversary of the centenary of the Institute’s first-ever female member, Mary Harris-Smith.

Fiona highlighted Mary’s determination to become a member – Mary was denied the chance to take her exams on the grounds that a woman in the exam room would be too distracting for the male candidates – and talked about how the centenary would be celebrated around the world.

Women in Leadership

Thankfully the profession and the Institute have come a long way in the last hundred years. Inclusivity and accessibility are now key considerations in everything we do. As part of the commitment to nurturing and developing talent, this year saw the first Women In Leadership programme event take place in Newcastle.

Executive coach, trainer and author, Susan Ritchie led a workshop (Becoming A Woman of Power) in Newcastle in September that focussed on helping delegates raise their profile and create impact at work.

We’re delighted that Susan will be joining us again in the Autumn to deliver her “Women of Achievement” course – this interactive workshop is the perfect complement for the 2019 session, and will also benefit members who wish to raise their visibility and claim their place at the table (Mary Harris-Smith would surely approve!).

Dates for your 2020 diary

• Redworth Conference – 28 February – 1 March
• NorSCA Graduation & Prizegiving  – 2 May
• Women of Achievement Workshop – 6 October
• Northern Society Business & Awards Dinner – 16 October

You’ll find more information, plus details of a wide range of CPD and networking events on our dedicated events pages.

About Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) represents 4,000 ICAEW members and ACA students working in business and the finance profession across the North East of England, Teesside, northern Yorkshire and Cumbria.

We have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for over 130 years.

About ICAEW

There are over 1.7m chartered accountants around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 149,000 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants. We train, develop and support each one of them so that they have the knowledge and values to help build local and global economies that are sustainable, accountable and fair.

We’ve been at the heart of the accountancy profession since we were founded in 1880 to ensure trust in business. We share our knowledge and insight with governments, regulators and business leaders worldwide as we believe accountancy is a force for positive economic change across the world.

ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) is a founder member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and the Global Accounting Alliance.

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Message from the President

In the first President’s Message I wrote last September I mentioned that we live in interesting times; how true this continues to be. I expected that by now Brexit would have happened and we would all be involved in working through what the full implications of this would be. As I write we are no nearer reaching an agreement although whether you are a “leaver” or a “remainer” we can all agree that the continuing uncertainty is not good for our economy and does impact our region.

I have just returned from the United States and from news coverage two things are apparent. Firstly, it is clear that President Trump continues his policy of “America First” and secondly there is very little interest in U.K. politics and Brexit in particular. Again, this will have an effect on UK Plc and inevitably the North East and Cumbria.

In February, Deputy President Keith Proudfoot and I attended the District Society Office Holders’ Conference at Moorgate Place. This was an interesting day and very useful to catch up on ICAEW priorities.

• President Paul Aplin discussed the value of membership and the Institute’s international strategy. He stressed that increasing membership numbers across the globe does not decrease the value of our qualification and that the rigour of the exams remains a priority.
• CEO Michael Izza talked about strategy with particular focus on the future of audit and the ramifications this may have right across the profession. The Institute is fully engaged with all of the various enquiries currently taking place to ensure our voice is heard in the process.
• Council Member Will Brooks has recently led a working party looking at District Societies organisation and finances. The conclusion is that most Societies do not lack funds and the majority are in good shape.
• There was an interesting discussion on the constitution of District Societies; whether they should be branches of the Institute or separate legal entities as now. Although each has its advantages it is quite clear that my fellow Presidents and I are strongly in favour of maintaining the status quo.
• Communication with members is a continuing issue and at present the future of “Economia” is under review. The majority of members want a more personal multi channel approach with more use of technology and Apps.
• Finally, there was some discussion of District Society boundaries. There are some historical anomalies which may be to resolve although there is likely to be no impact on NorSCA.

I am looking forward to welcoming newly qualified members to the Northern Society Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony which is to be held on 11 May 11 at King’s Hall, Newcastle University. This is an opportunity to recognise the achievement of students and also to acknowledge the support given by families and friends. It’s a very happy occasion so let’s hope for good weather for the all important photos!

We are also in the process of organising an event to recognise 10 years of qualification (more details to follow). The significance being that this is the time when members can apply to become an FCA. It will be a great chance to catch up with old friends and to find out more about how to become involved with NorSCA and Branch activities.

Both of our Student Societies; NCASS and CCASS continue to go from strength to strength with a varied programme of events in the North East and Cumbria. Please encourage students to be involved. I also must congratulate NCASS for winning the PQ Award for national Student Body of the Year 2019. This is the second time NCASS has been successful in three years, a wonderful achievement and great credit to all involved.

In conclusion I want to thank all of my fellow officers, in particular Keith Proudfoot and Chris Soan, members of district and branch committees (Please do get involved it really is great fun!) various sub committees and groups for help and support throughout my Presidential year. Particular thanks to our ICAEW regional team, Joanne Lucking, James Callaghan and Alison Tait for making so many things happen.

Northern Society is without doubt one of the most vibrant and active District Societies, (find out more at norsca.co.uk) and it has been my privilege to be your President.

Alan Johnston,
President, Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

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Northern Society Awards winners

Congratulations once again to the finalists and winners in the Northern Society Awards which were presented at our dinner.

Our awards recognise not only those who attained first place in the ICAEW exams in the calendar year 2017 (our Order of Merit Awards) but also those who demonstrated an exceptional contribution to their firm or wider general community through their professionalism, acumen or teamwork (Northern Society Presidents’ Awards).

You can read more background about the different Northern Society awards on this website.

2018 winners

The winners were:

Order of Merit awards

Northern Society Order of Merit Professional Stage Student of the Year – Khadija Hayat, PwC and Christopher Rome, Armstrong Watson

Northern Society Order of Merit Advanced Stage Student of the Year – Jennifer Armstrong, EY

Presidents’ awards

Northern Society Presidents’ Award Professional Stage – Benjamin Stern, National Audit Office

Northern Society Presidents’ Award Advanced Stage – Ross Jackson, Armstrong Watson

Congratulations all finalists and winners for your contributions as ICAEW Chartered Accountants in connecting communities.

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Northern Society Business and Awards Dinner with Jo Caulfield

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants Business and Awards Dinner will be on Friday 11 October 2019.

Join Keith Proudfoot, President of Northern Society of Chartered Accountants, fellow Northern Society members and their guests for an inspiring talk by our keynote speaker Jo Caulfield.

Our Business and Awards Dinner will be held on Friday 11 October 2019 in the Banqueting Hall, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne from 6.45pm until late to allow for informal networking after the meal.

Event information

Our principal guest speakers this year will be Jo Caulfield and ICAEW President Fiona Wilkinson.

During the course of the evening we will raise funds in support of Macmillan Cancer support.

Event information

Why you should attend:

• meet fellow ICAEW members, their guests and ICAEW staff – it’s a great chance to network
• meet ACA students and celebrate their exam successes and achievements
• Order of Merit, Presidents Awards will be announced
• we will raise funds in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Recognition awards will be presented to:

• Order of Merit Advanced Stage ICAEW exams – highest scoring student of the year
• Order of Merit Professional Stage ICAEW exams – highest scoring student of the year
• The Presidents’ Award

Pre-dinner drinks 18:45, Dinner 19:30.

Dress Code: Black Tie/Posh frocks

Special message for sole practitioners and members in business:
Again we will be hosting tables exclusively for Members in Practice and Members in Business allowing the opportunity to be seated with fellow chartered accountants.
If you think that this would be applicable to you then please contact Joanne Lucking to discuss this further.

Programme

Time	Description
18:45	Drinks reception
19:30	Guests take their seats Dinner Awards Ceremony Charity raffle Keynote speaker Followed by networking
01:30	Carriages

Cost

Rate	Cost
Early bird (Expires 30 August 2019)	£58.33 + VAT
Standard rate	£62.50 + VAT
Retired/younger members (under 35)/Students/Past Presidents*	£41.67 + VAT

*Please email the Events information team at [email protected] confirming which discount would need to be applied to your booking. We will apply the discount for you and place in your online basket so that you can proceed to book online.

Guest Speaker – Jo Caulfield

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Return to work with confidence – CABA

Gain practical tips to boost your confidence and develop the skills to make returning to work a smooth process.

Return to work with confidence – a wellbeing and personal development workshop

Audience: practice / business

Duration: 3 hours

Having a break from working life can leave you feeling you lack the confidence to return to work. Your own thought patterns and feelings of fear and anxiety can make the process even more difficult. This workshop will help you overcome these challenges. With a focus on overcoming negative thinking and practical tips to boost your confidence, you will develop the skills to make returning to work a smooth process.

Key outcomes

• Explore the thoughts and feelings experienced when returning to work after a period of absence
• Know how to deal with negative thoughts
• Identify some strategies of how to minimise fears and manage anxiety
• Recognise the importance of acknowledging yourself and what you have to build self-esteem and confidence

Suitable for

Anyone who has had a career break for any reason and would like to build their confidence to help them return to work.

Price

This workshop is free for ICAEW members.

Please note: registration starts 30 minutes earlier than the start time listed.

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NEYCAG: Women in Finance

Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day.

To celebrate International Women’s day NEYCAG will be hosting an event with inspirational speakers to talk about their careers in the profession and how they have used the ACA to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Event information

We will also hear from the IoD North East Chair on building your confidence in the work place.

Cost

Rate	Cost
ICAEW Member	No Charge
Student	No Charge

Please note: This event is open to younger members up to 10 year qualified and students.

Programme

Time	Session
18:00	Networking and buffet
18:30	Welcome and CABA update
18:40	Dr Yvonne Gale, NEL Fund Managers – How the ACA has helped her career to date
18:55	Dr Joanna Berry, Durham University – confidence building
19:10	Speaker TBC
19:20	Q&A
19:30	Close

Speakers

Yvonne Gale
NEL Fund Managers are an economic development impact investor committed to growing the North East economy by investing in growing local small businesses.
Yvonne is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and an Associate Member of the Institute of Economic Development. She holds a DBA, MBA, IOD Diploma in Company Direction and is an FCA approved person. Dr Gale’s area of research is investment decision making. She is also a member of the Advisory and Decision Committee for the UAE Ministry of Finance-backed, Mohammed bin Rashid AED 2 billion Innovation Fund.
Prior to joining NEL, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant with BDO Binder Hamlyn and has held senior management positions in several high growth businesses. She brings a wealth of experience of working with growing businesses.

Joanna Berry
Joanna was born and brought up in Hartlepool, NorthEast England. Her academic experience runs from her Oxford University law degree (1985) to her MBA and PhD from Newcastle University. Her MBA focused on the impact of broadband connectivity on the TV industry, and her PhD took this one step further, using her creation and management of a London-based record label as a lens through which to assess the impact of digital technologies on the music industry’s business models and value chains.
Joanna is Regional Chair for the Institute of Directors and Board member of the Social Acumen Community Trust, where she focuses on community businesses and social enterprise. She is Board member for the NorthEast LEP “ScaleUp NorthEast” programme, where she is advising companies across the NorthEast LEP geography and in most industrial sectors, to help them scale and succeed.
Her professional experience encompasses law (mostly company and contract, practiced in South Africa from 1985 to 1987) but also science, creativity and technology. Joanna has undertaken a variety of international business development roles in marketing, advertising and publishing. Roles include Manager of Europe and East Asia for the World Economic Forum and international PR manager for Mobil 1 Motorsport with McLaren.
Joanna has founded, bought and run a variety of digital and creative companies, and continues her personal and practical involvement with new venture start-ups. Her current research and teaching interests encompass innovation, entrepreneurship, big data, ageing and health and the digital/creative industries. She places a particular emphasis on supporting the ‘women in STEM’ agenda in a variety of ways. She works closely with the Assistant Dean of External Relations and undertakes a wide variety of public and media activities, writing regular columns for NorthEast business paper The Journal and presenting a variety of insight activities with regionally-based businesses including Kromek, Ford Aerospace, Aston Martin, Barbour and intu MetroCentre.

 

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