ICAS questions ICAEW recruitment strategy

More high-level criticism has been aimed at the ICAEW following concerns over
its recruitment of senior accountants from other institutes.

Following CIMA chief executive Charles Tilley’s claim that members had
complained about being ‘cold-called’ by the ICAEW, ICAS chief executive Des
Hudson has called into question the ICAEW’s recruitment strategy.

‘We were surprised by the strategy, with respect to the various
qualifications,’ said Hudson.

He said that by getting other accountants to take up the ICAEW qualification,
the institute was contradicting its previous strategy of looking to merge with
other professional bodies yet keeping the qualifications distinct.

‘To me there’s confusion between their current and previous statements,’ he
said.

On speculation that the ICAEW had sent recruitment letters to all FTSE100
finance directors, an ICAEW spokesman said the institute had only sent letters
to those that are ICAEW-qualified.