The CPA Ireland Annual conferring ceremony took place virtually for the first time on Saturday 5 December.
At the conferring, the President of CPA Ireland, John Devaney challenged accountancy firms of all sizes to embrace the opportunities of remote learning. Speaking at the annual conferring ceremony. he said that small and medium firms can level the playing field by instilling a culture of remote learning, but warns that those who fail to do so will slide into irrelevance when it comes to attracting new staff.
CPA trainees were awarded membership of CPA Ireland, becoming the country’s newest accountants. His comments followed a survey of CPA members which said that over half (55%) believe remote working will impact on the recruitment of trainees over the next year.
Mr Devaney told the CPA Ireland Class of 2020 that they should consider the start of their learning journey. “The finance profession is constantly changing. While at its core the role of the accountant will always be one based on strategic advice and financial acumen, we must constantly develop new skillset such as in disruptive technologies including AI, Blockchain, and Fintech.”
“Amidst the many challenges created by COVID 19 there has been some opportunities. The development of a culture of remote learning presents an opportunity to all accountants and their employers. But if employers remain fixated on traditional models of training they will miss out on the best and the brightest. This has potential to impact on the number entering the profession in the medium term.”
Concluding Mr. Devaney commended the graduating group saying “Each and every one of you has lived through the most dynamic period of change in human history. To conclude your studies, you had to adapt quickly to online assessment during a period of social isolation, uncertainty, remote working, economic chaos, and the greatest health risk in our lifetimes. That spirit of adaptability and flexibility is one you need to implant across your new profession as you progress through your career.”