Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

President’s update – virtually back in-person

Congratulations – we got to 2022.

Happy new year to you and your families. I hope you had a peaceful, restful Christmas, using the opportunity of, ideally, less email traffic to fully recharge the batteries ready for a brighter year ahead.

In anticipation of brightness I am beyond thrilled to showcase imminent Northern Society in-person events, the first for almost two years.

In person events

Firstly, I look forward to you joining me at a beer tasting and brewery event at Newcastle’s Brinkburn Brewery on 10 March. For obvious reasons we had to cancel the last two October Business and Prize Giving Dinners so, although just after my tenure as President, you are also invited to a Summer Barbecue in sunny June (9 June).

These two fantastic events are available to book right now. Imagine…a set of Zoom-free events.

Graduation event 2022

Keeping the Northern Society’s wheels on, but also ensuring they keep turning, have been the General Committee’s and my priority over the last two years.

Our usual Northern Society graduations in 2020 and 2021 could not happen but immediate past President Keith Proudfoot and I were adamant that we still marked our region’s students’ accomplishments.

Cue the inventiveness that was the norm during the COVID-19 years, with two virtual events in September and October for respective in-person ceremonies missed.

Two masters of ceremonies for the price of one you might say: Keith for the 2020 equivalent ceremony and me for the one missed in 2021.

Keith and I would like to again thank Anthony Garnett and Mick Thompson for their excellent and inspiring speeches and Joanne Lucking and Alison Tait for their technical prowess on Zoom.

Congratulations to our students once again!

The May 2022 Northern Society graduation is all ready to return to the wonderful King’s Hall at Newcastle University. It will be so good to be back.

Northern Society CPD courses

In addition to the ICAEW Essentials course programme, Northern Society’s excellent course offering continues to innovate and evolve and I remain hugely grateful to Pam Clarke for the continuation of our programme.

We move away slightly from a virtual to a hybrid model in 2022 with an exciting new venue also being part of that evolution.

Whether you are watching or attending our courses in-person, you will always receive course notes thereby offering a new flexibility.

Our course offering now extends to younger members allowing for soft skill development, so important for career development.

As we run our courses for our members we are keen on hearing your thoughts on new courses that would be of interest.

18 month Presidency

My waxing lyrical of the months to come is likely to be result of my realisation that I have four months left of my 18 month Presidency of the Northern Society.

This is likely to be one of my last articles as your 2020-2022 President but, even as a virtual president, it has been an honour to represent and lead this fantastic District Society.

We have a rich history with dedicated volunteers and you are always welcome to join our branches to help their rich future. Our Annual General Meetings will be in May 2022.

The next Presidential team

Collaborative working with collective responsibility has made my role easier and allows for a smooth transition to the next president at the Northern Society AGM in May.

I wish Yvonne Gale, with current Vice President Richard Slack as Yvonne’s Deputy, an enjoyable and, ideally, a non-virtual tenure.

My thanks to all on the General Committee, the branches and ICAEW friends who have contributed to numerous meetings and fill me with full confidence that our District Society is in safe hands.

The sun is shinin’ in the sky; There ain’t a cloud in sight. Oh I hope that is true and that I see you at one or all of our imminent in-person events.

Chris Soan
President, Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

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 140 years.

About ICAEW

There are more than 1.8m chartered accountants and students around the world and 189,500 of them are members and students of ICAEW. They are talented, ethical and committed professionals, which is why all of the top 100 Global Brands employ chartered accountants.^*

ICAEW promotes inclusivity, diversity and fairness. We attract talented individuals into the profession and give them the skills and values they need to build resilient businesses, economies and societies, while ensuring our planet’s resources are managed sustainably.

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.

We believe that chartered accountancy can be a force for positive change. By sharing our insight, expertise and understanding we can help to create strong economies and a sustainable future for all.

Founded in 1880, we have a long history of serving the public interest and we continue to work with governments, regulators and business leaders around the world. And, as an improvement regulator, we supervise and monitor over 12,000 firms, holding them, and all ICAEW members and students, to the highest standards of professional competency and conduct.

ICAEW is proud to be part of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network of 750,000 members across 190 countries, which promotes the expertise and skills of chartered accountants on a global basis.

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

*CAW, 2020 – Interbrand, Best Global Brands 2019

 

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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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Meet the chocolate contenders 2021

Teesside Pan Professional Joint Supper 2021

Britain’s favourite chocolate bars being considered are below, but first:

a link to some explanation about the networking event

1. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk

The original Dairy Milk bar (“with a glass and a half of fresh milk”) is a brand of milk chocolate manufactured by Cadbury. It was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1905 and now consists of a number of products. Every product in the Dairy Milk line is made with exclusively milk chocolate. In 2014, Dairy Milk was ranked the best-selling chocolate bar in the UK. 

There is a variation of taste between the UK Cadbury-produced products and the equivalents produced by Irish Cadbury; the same can be said for locally produced Cadbury products elsewhere in the world.

Slogan:        “a glass and a half of milk in every bar”

2. Galaxy bar

Galaxy is a chocolate bar, made and marketed by Mars, Incorporated, and first manufactured in the United Kingdom in the 1960s.  In 2014, Galaxy was ranked the second-best-selling chocolate bar in the UK, after Cadbury Dairy Milk.

Slogan:        “Think Chocolate – Think Galaxy”

also

“Why have cotton when you can have silk?”

3. Snickers

Frank Mars, founder of Mars, Inc. (originally called Mar-O-Bar Co.), invented the Snickers bar in 1930. The bar is named after one of Frank Mars’ favourite horses, Snickers. But, until 1990, the bar was sold under the name “Marathon” in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and Ireland

Peanuts are one of the star ingredients in a Snickers bar, and each bar contains about 16 peanuts. About 100 tons of peanuts go into making the 15 million Snickers bars that are produced every day.

Slogan:        “You’re not you when you’re hungry”

4. Cadbury Fruit and Nut

The bar was launched in 1926 as Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut, but was renamed Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut in 2003. In the early years, along with the other Dairy Milk varieties, it was advertised as being essentially Dairy Milk with added ingredients.

A mouth watering combination of crunchy almonds and delicious dried grapes all engulfed in Cadbury Dairy Milk milk chocolate to make a chocolate bar like no other

Slogan:        ‘Everyone’s a fruit and nutcase’,

                    (sung by humourist Frank Muir to the tune of the Danse des mirlitons from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. In 2000, the commercial featuring Frank Muir was ranked 36th in Channel 4’s poll of the “100 Greatest Adverts”.)

5. Kit Kat (4 fingers)

Introduced in August in 1935 by Rowntree’s confectionary business based in York.  Kit Kat, now owned by Nestle, is one of the world’s leading chocolate brands.  Kit Kat’s products are chocolate bars which are composed of three layers of wafer and covered with an inner and outer layer of chocolate, conventionally called “Fingers”.

The name Kit Kat came from the Kit Kat club which was named after Christopher Catling who used to hold a literacy and political club in his pie shop in London in 17^th century.  The typical red and silver colours for Kit Kat’s logo has remained constant in the past except for 1942 when the design for Kit Kat’s wrapper was changed to blue to represent the change in recipe due to shortages of fresh milk.  In 1949 with the increased availability of milk, Kit Kat returned to is striking red livery logo

Slogan:        “Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat”

6. Terry’s Chocolate Orange

The Terry’s Chocolate Orange comprises an orange-shaped ball of chocolate mixed with orange oil, divided into 20 segments, similar to a real orange, and wrapped in orange-skin patterned foil.

Terry’s Chocolate Orange is a chocolate product created by Terry’s in 1932 at Terry’s Chocolate Works in York, England. The brand has changed ownership several times, and production was moved to Eastern Europe in 2005. Since 2018, the Terry’s Chocolate Orange is produced in Strasbourg, France, by Carambar & Co.

 Slogan:        It’s not Terry’s. It’s mine

7. Wispa

Wispa is a brand of chocolate bar manufactured by British chocolate company Cadbury. Using aerated chocolate, the bar was launched in 1981 as a trial version in North East England, and with its success it was introduced nationally in 1983. It was seen as a competitor to Rowntree’s Aero (now owned by Nestlé).

Slogan:        “Bite it and Believe It”

8. Crunchie

Crunchie is a brand of chocolate bar with a honeycomb toffee (or known as “sponge toffee” in Canada and “honeycomb” or “cinder toffee” in the UK) sugar centre. It is made by Cadbury and was originally launched in the UK by J. S. Fry & Sons in 1929.

Slogan:        “Thank Crunchie it’s Friday”

 

9. Bounty

It was introduced in 1951 in the United Kingdom and Canada. It is a coconut filling coated with milk chocolate (which is sold in a blue wrapper) or dark chocolate (which is sold in an orange wrapper) and is usually sold as two pieces wrapped in one package.

Slogan:        “the taste of paradise”

10. Dairy Milk Caramel

Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel has a smooth caramel centre wrapped up in a delicious layer of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. 

The bar was first launched in 1976, originally called Cadbury’s Caramel until 2003, when it was renamed. In early 2009 it was relaunched, with the Caramel name re-emphasised as the main on-pack brand, and the Cadbury Dairy Milk brand logo reduced in size.

In March 2009 a survey carried out by Cadbury Dairy Milk found the Caramel Bunny to be the third-sexiest cartoon character of all time, after Jessica Rabbit and Betty Boop.

Slogan:        “Still got it”

          &        “Take it easy with a Cadburys Caramel”

11. Mars bar

The Mars bar is a candy bar made from chocolate, and depending on the region its produced can include either nougat or roasted almonds. There are 2 versions of the Mars bar, the original being from the UK, and another version sold in the United States. The Mars candy bar has many fans but is most popular in the United Kingdom, where it was originally invented. The Mars bar has gone through some changes to its ingredients over the years, and when the Mars bar was first invented it used chocolate acquired from Cadbury.

 Slogan:        “A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play”

12. Twix (2 bar)

Twix is a chocolate bar made by Mars, Inc., consisting of a biscuit applied with other caramel and milk chocolate. Twix are packaged with one, two or four bars in a wrapper

Slogan:        “It’s time to decide which side are you? “

 

13. Milky Way

This Milky Way was created in 1923 by Frank C. Mars and originally manufactured in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the name and taste derived from a then-popular malted milk drink (milkshake) of the day, not after the astronomical galaxy.

Slogan:        “The sweet you can eat between meals”

14. Double Decker

A contrasting combination of crispy cereal and soft, pillowy nougat, layered up and coated in smooth Cadbury milk chocolate, giving you two bars in one!

Slogan:        “crispy, crunchy, chewy and nutty”.

15. Cadbury’s Flake

The original Flake product was first developed in 1920 and was discovered by chance by an employee of Cadbury’s at the Bournville factory who noticed thin streams of excess chocolate falling from moulds cooled into flaky ripples.

The Flake Girl became famous as a symbol of indulgence and secret pleasure. Her emphasis – to a jingle (“Only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, tastes like chocolate never tasted before”) – was on allowing herself a guilt-free luxury.

Slogan:        Only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, tastes like chocolate never tasted before”

16. Curly Wurly

Chewy and curly, wavy and wurly!  A swirly ladder of golden caramel, draped in Cadbury milk chocolate –everyone’s favourite twist treat

An urban legend says that the Curly Wurly was invented almost by accident. A research confectioner at Cadbury’s Bourneville factory, David Parfitt, was examining some left over toffee that had been used for another sweet when he inadvertently invented the unique shape that is now iconic in the British chocolate range.

Slogan:        Miles of chewy toffee covered in creamy Cadbury’s chocolate

 

 

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 1.8m chartered accountants and students around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 181,500 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants and students, a powerful and diverse network of talented people, whose initiative and integrity help economies thrive. 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 speak for the profession, uphold standards and campaign for progress in a volatile world. We work with others to develop strong, accountable and open economies where people can trust data, leaders can make good decisions, public finances are transparent and businesses are accountable.

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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Northern Society of Chartered Accountants AGM 2022

An opportunity for you to meet members of the Northern Society Committee & find out what is planned.

Notice is given for the 140^th Annual General Meeting of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants to be held at Northern Counties Club, 11 Hood Street, Newcastle upon Tyne at 12:30 hours on Thursday 19 May 2022.

Event information

Agenda

1 Notice of Meeting

2 Welcome by the President

3 Apologies

4 Deceased Members

5 To Receive and, if thought fit, Approve the:

Minutes of the 139^th Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 22 May 2021

6 Review of the Year by the President

Including

To Receive and, if thought fit, Approve the:

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 (including the Report of the Independent Reporting Accountant)

7 Election of Committee Members under the provisions of Rule 13(a)

8 Election of the Independent Reporting Accountant under the provisions of Rule 13(c)

9 Any other business

Joe Walsh
Hon Secretary

Booking is essential as a buffet lunch will be provided after the event.

 

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Pandemic Perspectives interview – Venator, Stephen Ibbotson

Pandemic Perspectives is a series of fascinating informal chats with senior finance leaders working in organisations that have been impacted in different ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing their reflections and unique perspectives on how they, and their organisations, have reacted to the unfolding crisis.

Stephen Ibbotson interviewed by Keith Proudfoot

In this video Stephen Ibbotson is interviewed by Keith Proudfoot, Northern Society of Chartered Accountants President on how the multi-national chemical company has coped through the pandemic.

The interview was recorded on 11 August 2020.

 

Watch and read more about Pandemic Perspectives on the ICAEW website at icaew.com

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 1.8m chartered accountants and students around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 181,500 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants and students, a powerful and diverse network of talented people, whose initiative and integrity help economies thrive. 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 speak for the profession, uphold standards and campaign for progress in a volatile world. We work with others to develop strong, accountable and open economies where people can trust data, leaders can make good decisions, public finances are transparent and businesses are accountable.

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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Pandemic Perspectives interview – Greggs, Richard Hutton

Pandemic Perspectives is a series of fascinating informal chats with senior finance leaders working in organisations that have been impacted in different ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing their reflections and unique perspectives on how they, and their organisations, have reacted to the unfolding crisis.

Richard Hutton interviewed by Keith Proudfoot

In this video Richard Hutton is interviewed by Keith Proudfoot, Northern Society of Chartered Accountants President on how COVID-19 has affected the ‘food to go’ retailer. From loans to the introduction of the click & collect App.

The interview was recorded on 4 August 2020.

 

Watch and read more about Pandemic Perspectives on the ICAEW website at icaew.com

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 1.8m chartered accountants and students around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 181,500 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants and students, a powerful and diverse network of talented people, whose initiative and integrity help economies thrive. 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 speak for the profession, uphold standards and campaign for progress in a volatile world. We work with others to develop strong, accountable and open economies where people can trust data, leaders can make good decisions, public finances are transparent and businesses are accountable.

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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Pandemic Perspectives from Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Join Northern Society of Chartered Accountants for a series of informal chats with senior finance leaders working in organisations across the northern region who have been impacted in different ways by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic Perspectives will be a series of fascinating informal chats with senior finance leaders working in organisations that have been impacted in different ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing their reflections and unique perspectives on how they, and their organisations, have reacted to the unfolding crisis.

Event Information

Over the next few weeks we will hear from a different speaker from a different key business across the North East will be interviewed and invited to talk about how the COVID19 pandemic has affected them. Unique insight and perspective will be given as they spend half an hour giving their reflections on the changes that they have witnessed and helped shape since the start of the year, both from an organisational and a personal point of view across the business as a whole. 

We’ll also hear how business models have been forced to adapt and which new skills have had to be rapidly learned as the businesses have evolved.

The interviews will cover businesses across different sectors including: Metnor Construction, Greggs, Venator, Tyne Theatre & Opera House and PD Ports, and more.

Book to watch live online

Read about upcoming pandemic perspective interviews, and book your place to watch the live interview on icaew.com.

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 1.8m chartered accountants and students around the world – talented, ethical and committed professionals who use their expertise to ensure we have a successful and sustainable future.

Over 181,500 of these are ICAEW Chartered Accountants and students, a powerful and diverse network of talented people, whose initiative and integrity help economies thrive. 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 speak for the profession, uphold standards and campaign for progress in a volatile world. We work with others to develop strong, accountable and open economies where people can trust data, leaders can make good decisions, public finances are transparent and businesses are accountable.

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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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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Keith Proudfoot – the year ahead as NorSCA President

Keith Proudfoot has been appointed as President of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants.

Keith replaces Alan Johnston who has now completed his term across the 2018-19 year.

Business insight

Keith is a familiar face in business circles across the region, having been the ICAEW Regional Director for the Northern Region and Scotland for over 16 years until his retirement at the end of 2017.

support over 4,000 ICAEW members

As Northern Society President, Keith will support over 4,000 ICAEW members across the North East of England, Teesside, northern Yorkshire and Cumbria.

His role will involve overseeing a range of events and services for members, including a number of technical and networking events, such as the Northern Society Business and Awards Dinner.

This year’s Northern Society Business and Awards Dinner takes place on Friday 11 October 2019; the guest speaker is award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield.

Support for ICAEW members across Northern England

Northern Society of Chartered Accountants was established in 1882.  Since then our members have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for over 130 years.

assisting businesses in the north of England for over 130 years

Keith will be supported in his role as President by:

Deputy President Chris Soan, who is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting at Newcastle University; and

Vice President Yvonne Gale, who is CEO of NEL Fund Managers.

Keith was appointed at the recent Northern Society of Chartered Accountants AGM, which took place at the Northern Counties Club in Newcastle on Thursday 30 June. 

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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