The ICAEW should introduce an independent ombudsman to protect members as the body opens up its disciplinary tribunals, senior figures have suggested.

Last year’s South Western Society president Simon Deane, and former Birmingham West Midlands president John Kelly said there was a ‘common view’ among other 2006 district presidents for the introduction of an ombudsman to represent the needs of members, particularly those facing disciplinary proceedings.

‘Chief executive Michael Izza said he wanted to make the institute more responsive to members’ needs, which he has failed to do so far,’ said Kelly. ‘There’s a view that the institute is a police rather than representative, so someone independent is needed.’

Kelly suggested Ian Morris, the popular immediate past president of the ICAEW, would be a good choice for the ombudsman role.

The plea for member protection follows Society of Professional Accountants’ chairman Peter Mitchell’s concerns over plans to introduce public disciplinaries. An ICAEW spokeswoman said of Kelly and Deane’s call: ‘We are aware of the suggestion and are currently looking into it.’