English ICA must show rather than tell in today's sceptical world, warns vice-president

Speaking at a meeting of the Institute of Actuaries on the role of professions in society, the English ICA vice-president, a PricewaterhouseCoopers partner, saidprofessional bodies need a new style of relationship with both their members and the public if they are to be relevant in the 21st Century.

He argued that the world is more sceptical about the value of professions that it was 50 or even 25 years ago.

‘In the minds of both of our members of the public the concepts of ‘tell me’ and ‘trust me’ have been replaced by the concept of ‘show me’,’ he said.

He referred to recent moves by the instituteto introduce a new ACA qualification combining rigour, cost effective and practical, work based learning and;

co-operate with members of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, to promote a new system of independent regulation for the accounting profession.

Mr Ward argued: ‘We must guarantee our relevance by entering new and closer partnerships with members, their employees and government and must earn respect by embracing transparency in education and training, technical standards and discipline.’

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