Accounting Influencers Podcast host Rob Brown interviews Julia Penny, incoming President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales - Accounting Influencers Podcast

Episode 23

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Published on:

2nd Feb 2022

The Future for Accountancy with ICAEW President Julia Penny

Episode 23. In today's interview, "The Future for Accountancy with ICAEW's Julia Penny." Julia is the incoming President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales. ICAEW 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.

Julia qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 1989 and moved into a training role, initially teaching students and later moving into CPD training and technical roles. She specialises in audit, financial reporting and anti-money laundering and has worked for diverse organisations including Wolters Kluwer, Wilmington plc, Chantrey Vellacott and Baker Tilly (now RSM).

She rose to become chair of the ICAEW Technical Advisory Committee and then the Ethics Advisory Committee and was a member of both the Technical Strategy and Financial Reporting Faculty Boards. Julia has been a Council member since 2013 and an ICAEW Board member since 2017. Julia will become ICAEW President from June 2022 to June 2023.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

➜ how a smart person can 'accidentally' do an accounting degree

➜ comparing the various accountancy regulatory bodies, professional institutes and associations

➜ the role of the 'powerhouse' ICAEW and where its members come from internationally

➜ the key issues and challenges facing the accountancy profession right now

➜ where the pressures are coming from for accountants in practice, applicable to almost all countries

➜ what makes accountants more adaptable than people give them credit for

➜ who truly has the ear of the accountant with so many stakeholders and vested interests in the profession

➜ the increasing power of technology and its vendors in driving the agendas of accountants

➜ the issues and opportunities that affect how attractive accountancy is as a career for the younger generation

➜ the responsibility that regulators have in the accounting world, particularly in the area of audit reform

➜ what it will take for accountancy to move on from an older man's game, and how ICAEW is pushing for more diversity and inclusion

➜ what makes the reputation of audit difficult, with mistakes being made and intense scrutiny from press and regulators

➜ what separates the good leaders from the great ones in accounting firms and the accountancy profession generally

➜ best advice for newcomers to the accounting profession in being more passionate about the career opportunities ahead

➜ why accountants do not progress far if they cannot network, present well and engage with people

➜ how a love for learning in accountancy and audit fuels a career and keeps one fresh and current

➜ the critical success factors and issues for an incoming president of an international institute for accountants like ICAEW

➜ what making yourself 'bombproof' means for accountants in making skills transferrable

➜ the importance of developing the softer, more commercial skills as well as the technical ones

➜ wisdom for accountants and CPAs who want to shape and have more control over their career

➜ predictions for what the accountancy profession will look like in five years time in regulation, technology, digitisation and working practices

Julia is married with two grown-up children (one of whom is also now a Chartered Accountant). In her spare time she enjoys playing golf, baking, investigating her family tree and working on improving her Spanish. You can reach her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaspenny

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

The Accounting Influencers Podcast is a CPE-accredited daily radio-style show with four segments coming out every Monday which are repeated on the other 4 weekdays as standalone episodes, plus a bonus 'from the client's perspective' episode on Saturdays. On Sundays, listeners get a short min trailer for the coming week's episodes.

Every Tuesday the show gives you a relevant news topic from the accounting and fintech world with a direct application to accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay informed and build your commercial acumen.

Every Wednesday and Friday, we feature an uncut interview with top authors, leaders, thinkers and performers in the accounting and fintech world.

Every Thursday the show gives you a practical 'here's what works' tips concerning a key challenge, need or strategy for accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay current and keep your skills topped up.

Finally, every Saturday gives listeners a bonus episode which focuses on the buyers of accounting services - the clients themselves. In particular how they feel, react to and experience their interactions with accountants. That includes why they buy or don't buy, why they move or stay and why they think how they think about you, your firm, your prices and your offerings.

Martin and Rob love to hear from the show's 20,000 unique listeners in 144 countries around the world. If you like the show, leave a review wherever you listen, and please recommend the show to your friends and colleagues.

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About the Podcast

Accounting Influencers Podcast
Host Rob Brown shows accounting professionals and leaders how to be more influential, grow their personal brand and be more authoritative, relevant and high profile in their roles..
The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is a must-listen for accounting professionals looking to strengthen their leadership presence, stay informed on disruptive forces in accounting and build credibility within their firms. Geared toward firm leaders, managers, partners and influencers, the show covers key topics like career development, influence, personal branding and interpreting the evolving trends impacting the accounting world. Rob brings his expertise to each episode, offering insights and guidance on how to grow your personal brand and stay strategically important in a rapidly changing profession. Whether you're aiming to influence within your firm or expand your reputation outside of it, this international podcast offers practical advice and forward-thinking insights that will keep you informed and prepared for the future.
Accounting leadership
Executive presence for accountants
Building influence in accounting
Accounting industry trends
Personal branding for accountants
Accounting firm strategy
Accounting business models
Leadership in accounting firms
Talent management in accounting
Authority in accounting profession
Career development for accountants
Accounting firm growth strategies
Influencers in accounting
Accounting firm management
Disruptive forces in accounting
Accounting leadership strategies
Accounting career success
Accounting firm decision-makers
Accounting business trends
Building credibility in accounting

About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown hosts the multiple accounting podcast and chair conferences, panels and events globally for the accounting and fintech profession. He is co-founder of Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) which helps vendors, experts and influencers serve the accounting and finance world. He is a dynamic speaker and accomplished expert on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, career development, succession, gen z/generations, employee advocacy and executive presence. Rob is author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk ‘The Personal Brand of You’ has been viewed 400,000 times on YouTube. He is a stroke survivor, has epilepsy, is a committed Christian and has a black belt in kickboxing. He is based in Nottingham UK, home of Robin Hood, plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.