Last Monday, Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Ulster Society were pleased to meet with representatives from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland to discuss potential ways forward in the ongoing campaign to reduce the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland. The meeting was very informative and productive and each of the organisations agreed that Northern Ireland needs a coherent, long term industrial policy that attracts investment, creates secure, well paid jobs and fosters innovation. There was also agreement on the end goal of reducing the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland. The key issues and Institute stance One of the main issues discussed was the need for an economic assessment of the impact of reducing the corporate tax rate on employment, earnings and investment. The 2021 ESRI research 'Enhancing Attractiveness of the Island of Ireland to High-Value Foreign Direct Investment' shows that a reduction in the rate of corporate tax to 15% would yield an annual increase of 7.5% in high-value Foreign Direct Investment in Northern Ireland. One of the main issues that remains is the potential impact on the block grant that Northern Ireland receives every year. The Institute outlined various measures that can be availed of to overcome this issue, most notably the use of a low interest loan from Westminster to manage the initial drop in corporate tax revenue that would arise immediately after the rate reduction.  Our progress to date and next steps  This meeting was an important step in achieving a united approach across the business community in Northern Ireland. Work will continue to garner cross-party consensus on reducing the corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland which will be critical when the campaign is taken to Westminster. This point was highlighted during the Institute's recent appearance before the joint Economy and Finance Committee’s in Stormont earlier this month. As outlined previously, in November 2025, the Institute wrote specifically to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on this issue. In this letter, we highlighted that the ultimate aim of a lower rate is for it to become self-funding in the longer term, but that it would necessitate a replacement loan at a low interest rate from HM Treasury to fund the necessary block grant reduction. Last year the Institute published its position paper ‘Enhancing Our Competitiveness: The case for a reduced rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland’.   

On 14 January 2026, the Ulster Society hosted a webinar on the latest Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) landscape, and the challenges and opportunities this brings for chartered accountants in business.  This webinar explores how ESG is influencing corporate strategy, performance measurement and stakeholder trust. The speakers discuss the growing responsibilities of finance professionals, the skills required to navigate ESG effectively, and how chartered accountants can add value in an increasingly sustainability-focused business environment. Speakers Judy McElroy, Head of Sustainability & Environment, NIE Networks Ltd Fiacre O’Donnell, Sustainability Director, Encirc  Helen Donaldson, Group Director of ESG, Graham Group Chaired by David Smith, Finance Director, Firmus Energy A recording of this webinar is available to view, for free and on demand, HERE A copy of Judy McElroy's slides is available HERE A copy of Helen Donaldson's slides is available HERE A copy of Fiacre O'Donnell's slides is available HERE

On Thursday 8 January the Ulster Society ACA Professionals hosted a webinar titled  "Career Progression and Key information for Recently Qualified Members". This webinar hosted  is designed specifically to help recently qualified members make the most of their qualification, understand the supports available to them, and build confidence as they navigate the early years of their career. A recording of this webinar is available, to watch for free and on demand, HERE A copy of the slides used in this presentation are available HERE Event Focus • Career Journeys & Early Insights: Hear from our panellists as they share their routes into Chartered Accountancy and the professional experiences that shaped them. • Getting Involved: Learn how others first engaged with Chartered Accountants Ireland and the value they’ve gained from becoming active members. • Mentoring Matters: Explore the benefits of mentoring—both as a mentee and as a potential future mentor. Hear first-hand reflections on the advantages and impact of mentoring at key career stages. • Institute Supports: Find out how the Institute’s programmes, events and resources can support your development in the years ahead.