ICAEW poaching plan has failed, claim rivals

A year on from the launch of the controversial plan to poach ACCA and CIMA members, known as Pathways, no headway had been made by the institute.

Last week, the ICAEW took out a full-page advertisement in Accountancy Age saying that 65 members from ACCA, CIMA and CIPFA, with over five years’ experience, who had passed an entrance paper, had joined the institute.

CIMA chief executive Charles Tilley this week claimed that few members had joined the ICAEW, with more heading to his institute than vice-versa.

‘The initiative is, from our perspective, a very small number of people. In fact, the number of people coming through the other way is greater,’ said Tilley.

Tilley also questioned the rigour of the scheme, which involves only one paper. ‘It is not underpinned by conventional training,’ he said.

ACCA chief executive Allen Blewitt described the 65 as a ‘mediocre result’.

‘Maybe, as it’s a relatively unimpressive result, they’ll see it as a waste of time,’ said Blewitt. ‘I’ll be surprised if there are any FTSE 250 representatives in their figures.’

More than 50 members joined ACCA from other institutes during the year, including 21 from the ICAEW.

Dr Raymond Madden, ICAEW learning and professional development director, welcomed the new members, saying that the institute was intended for high calibre professionals and was ‘delighted’ by the quality of individuals who joined.

‘They believe they will be able to benefit from the range of technical representation, advice and support that the institute has to offer,’ said Madden.

The launch of the scheme last year triggered an angry row between the leading institutes.