• Current students
      • Student centre
        Enrol on a course/exam
        My enrolments
        Exam results
        Mock exams
      • Course information
        Students FAQs
        Student induction
        Course enrolment information
        F2f student events
        Key dates
        Book distribution
        Timetables
        FAE elective information
        CPA Ireland student
      • Exams
        CAP1 exam
        CAP2 exam
        FAE exam
        Access support/reasonable accommodation
        E-Assessment information
        Exam and appeals regulations/exam rules
        Timetables for exams & interim assessments
        Sample papers
        Practice papers
        Extenuating circumstances
        PEC/FAEC reports
        Information and appeals scheme
        Certified statements of results
        JIEB: NI Insolvency Qualification
      • CA Diary resources
        Mentors: Getting started on the CA Diary
        CA Diary for Flexible Route FAQs
      • Admission to membership
        Joining as a reciprocal member
        Admission to Membership Ceremonies
        Admissions FAQs
      • Support & services
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        CASSI
        Student supports and wellbeing
        Audit qualification
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    • Students

      View all the services available for students of the Institute

      Read More
  • Becoming a student
      • About Chartered Accountancy
        The Chartered difference
        Student benefits
        Study in Northern Ireland
        Events
        Hear from past students
        Become a Chartered Accountant podcast series
      • Entry routes
        College
        Working
        Accounting Technicians
        School leavers
        Member of another body
        CPA student
        International student
        Flexible Route
        Training Contract
      • Course description
        CAP1
        CAP2
        FAE
        Our education offering
      • Apply
        How to apply
        Exemptions guide
        Fees & payment options
        External students
      • Training vacancies
        Training vacancies search
        Training firms list
        Large training firms
        Milkround
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contract
      • Support & services
        Becoming a student FAQs
        School Bootcamp
        Register for a school visit
        Third Level Hub
        Who to contact for employers
    • Becoming a
      student

      Study with us

      Read More
  • Members
      • Members Hub
        My account
        Member subscriptions
        Newly admitted members
        Annual returns
        Application forms
        CPD/events
        Member services A-Z
        District societies
        Professional Standards
        ACA Professionals
        Careers development
        Recruitment service
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
      • Members in practice
        Going into practice
        Managing your practice FAQs
        Practice compliance FAQs
        Toolkits and resources
        Audit FAQs
        Practice Consulting services
        Practice News/Practice Matters
        Practice Link
      • In business
        Networking and special interest groups
        Articles
      • Overseas members
        Home
        Key supports
        Tax for returning Irish members
        Networks and people
      • Public sector
        Public sector presentations
      • Member benefits
        Member benefits
      • Support & services
        Letters of good standing form
        Member FAQs
        AML confidential disclosure form
        Institute Technical content
        TaxSource Total
        The Educational Requirements for the Audit Qualification
        Pocket diaries
        Thrive Hub
    • Members

      View member services

      Read More
  • Employers
      • Training organisations
        Authorise to train
        Training in business
        Manage my students
        Incentive Scheme
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        Securing and retaining the best talent
        Tips on writing a job specification
      • Training
        In-house training
        Training tickets
      • Recruitment services
        Hire a qualified Chartered Accountant
        Hire a trainee student
      • Non executive directors recruitment service
      • Support & services
        Hire members: log a job vacancy
        Firm/employers FAQs
        Training ticket FAQs
        Authorisations
        Hire a room
        Who to contact for employers
    • Employers

      Services to support your business

      Read More
☰
  • Find a firm
  • Jobs
  • Login
☰
  • Home
  • Knowledge centre
  • Professional development
  • About us
  • Shop
  • News
Search
View Cart 0 Item

Career Pathway

☰
  • Young professional
  • Developing
  • Expert
  • Leader
  • Home/
  • Career Pathway/
  • Leader/
  • Professional & commercial skills
T4: Technical skills
L4: Leadership skills

PC4 This code refers to content for Level 4 Leader (C Suite CEO/CFO) in professional & commercial skills ? Professional & commercial skills

What do they look like?

Your skills now empower others and you keep teams on track to meet the needs of the organisation so that it keeps going in the right direction. You are the key driver and keep all stakeholders engaged to ensure success.

Professional skills include commercial awareness, self-management, and a recognition of the culture of the organisation and broader business, economic and political contexts.

Development activities
Career development support
Courses & publication
Future of the profession

Influencing - What are the landmarks?

  • You are skilled at stating an opinion with confidence and impact: you present complex concepts strongly, persuasively and convincingly
  • Deal with difficult on-the-spot questions from internal and external stakeholders
  • Anticipate and build on other's reactions to keep momentum and support for an approach
  • Explore creative solutions with others to overcome challenges
  • Accomplished at managing conflict; the ability to identify key issues, find creative and mutually acceptable solutions, and reduce the emotions that prevent a resolution

Agile thinking - What are the landmarks?

  • You can think creatively in response to challenges from internal and external environments and stakeholders. You can devise and adjust strategy in response to change and challenges

Resource management - What are the landmarks?

  • Ensure resources are in place to enable line management to achieve strategic objectives

Resilience/endurance - What are the landmarks?

  • You show resolve and commitment to your decisions and continue with your chosen path even in the face of opposition or resistance
  • Endurance and hard-working
  • You are loyal, dedicated and tenacious
  • Remain calm, composed and maintain concentration and focus in a crisis thereby setting an example to and reassuring others
  • Put things in perspective and don't react emotionally to or take criticism personally

Professional values - What are the landmarks?

  • Have strong professional values including integrity, impartiality, intellectual honesty, objectivity, respect and confidentiality and encourage these values in others and within the profession
  • Demonstrate a commitment to quality, continuous improvement and accountability for decisions and actions
  • Display a commitment to the public interest and acting for the public good
  • Exercise professional scepticism and judgement

Developing talent - What are the landmarks?

  • Delegate authority and responsibility with the capacity to do a task in your own way. Empower and encourage others to take the lead and learn new skills
  • Promote the sharing of expertise and support learning opportunities across the organisation
  • You are transparent about staff's potential to take over new responsibilities and ensure that an effective succession plan is in place for talent.

Stress management - What are the landmarks?

  • Can recognise the triggers and impacts of stress. You have ways to positively manage the stress levels associated with your role and level
  • You recognise the symptoms of stress in others and encourage and support them to take the appropriate actions.
  • Maintain a consistently high standard of work when working under exceptional and sustained demands and pressure

Stakeholder engagement - What are the landmarks?

  • Meet stakeholders needs and ensure their objectives are met. Adjust strategic direction to achieve this where necessary
  • Build high level relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Leverage these to the maximum benefit of the organisation

Performance improvement - What are the landmarks?

  • Translate organisation strategy into concrete actions that improve organisation performance
  • Work closely with line management to ensure that they are motivated and they have the resources to improve organisation performance

Self-mastery/emotional intelligence - What are the landmarks?

  • As a leader who drives change, you can see, understand, control and evaluate your own emotions and those of others. This enables you to influence, motivate and inspire those around you. You have the ability to reflect on your own strengths and development needs and have the discipline, focus and will to use these for the benefit of others.

Performance management - What are the landmarks?

  • Devise and define the objectives and goals for the organisation. Work with line management to monitor, review and interpret performance
  • Translate business opportunities into concrete measures that benefit the organisation

Negotiating skills - What are the landmarks?

  • Encourage the use of and demonstrate competence in more than one style of negotiation and adapt your approach depending on the counterpart and context

Career management - What are the landmarks?

  • Invest time in planning and preparing for the next stage of your career. Seek and use professional support with the development of a career plan

Organisational alignment - What are the landmarks?

  • Ensure your management team aligns people, processes and structures with the needs of the strategic direction of the organisation

Organisational knowledge - What are the landmarks?

  • Use your indepth knowledge of corporate politics to handle complex situations effectively with tact and discretion
Back to Top

Development activities

How can you get there?

Here are our suggestions for boosting your skills in the three main areas at this stage of your career.
Don't forget, many of these are FREE!

  • Continue to refer to and use this Career Pathway template to set goals, improve performance and identify gaps
  • Continue to work with you Chartered Accountants Ireland career coach or mentor
  • Enhance your professional brand and profile
  • Consider media training
  • Mentor junior staff members
  • Develop a career or personal development plan
  • Keep a reflective learning journal
  • Review performance appraisal feedback and act on it
  • Keep up with your CPD training needs
  • Join a board
  • Read Chartered Accountants Ireland publications and Accountancy Ireland
  • Read "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
  • Refer to Harvard Business Review and Forbes articles
  • Volunteer for cross-functional projects
  • Volunteer for social committees and events
  • Get involved with sports teams
  • Watch TedTalks
  • Develop your LinkedIn Profile
  • Join industry or professional groups
  • Speak or present at events
  • Exercise, yoga, mindfulness
  • Develop your emotional intelligence
Back to Top

Career development support

As a member at any stage in your career from newly qualified to post-retirement, our career service is here to support you. In full confidence, we'll coach you, help with your CV, give interview preparation tips, set up mentoring, help you find a role, or to find the best staff. Call us anytime you need us on +353 1 637 7331 or email us at careers@charteredaccountants.ie. We want to hear from you.

Back to Top

Courses & publication

Recommended specialist qualifications

Title Date (closing application)
Diploma in Corporate Finance Read more
Diploma in Excellence in Financial Reporting Read more
Executive Diploma in Leadership Read more
Diploma in Strategic Finance and Business Partnering Read more
Diploma in Taxation Read more
Certificate in Cyber Security and Data Incident Management Read more
Diploma in Risk Management, Internal Audit and Compliance Read more
Chartered Tax Consultant Read more
Diploma in Forensic Accounting and Investigation Read more
Back to Top

Recommended CPD courses

TitleStart datePriceCPD hours 
CPD Blitz 2025 (ROI) Online17 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 (NI) Online11 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 - (Dublin) In Person04 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 (NI) In Person27 Nov 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 - (Cork) In Person26 Nov 2025 10Read more
Risk, Governance and Leadership Conference 2025 (ROI/NI)05 Nov 2025 4Read more
Mercia Masterclass: Preparing for a Monitoring Visit (ROI/NI)27 May 2025 4Read more

Recommended CPD courses

TitleStart datePriceCPD hours 
CPD Blitz 2025 (ROI) Online17 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 (NI) Online11 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 - (Dublin) In Person04 Dec 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 (NI) In Person27 Nov 2025 10Read more
CPD Blitz 2025 - (Cork) In Person26 Nov 2025 10Read more
Risk, Governance and Leadership Conference 2025 (ROI/NI)05 Nov 2025 4Read more
Mercia Masterclass: Preparing for a Monitoring Visit (ROI/NI)27 May 2025 4Read more
Back to Top

Recomended CPD online courses

TitleStart datePriceCPD hours 
2025 Financial Reporting Essentials for Practice (ROI & NI) On Demand15 May 2025 4Read more
Spring 2025 Company Secretarial Update (ROI) On Demand20 Mar 2025 4Read more
Back to Top

Recommended publications

 TitlePrice 
A Practical Guide for Company Directors€40.00Read more
A Practical Guide to Corporate Governance€35.00Read more
A Professional's Guide to Understanding Stress and Depression€5.00Read more
Capital Investment: A Guide to Making Better Decisions€40.00Read more
Corporate Governance for the Irish Arts Sector€24.99Read more
Corporate Social Responsibility: A Guide, with Irish Experiences€25.00Read more
Digital Marketing€16.99Read more
Family Business: A Survival Guide€19.99Read more
Leading with Integrity: A Practical Guide to Business Ethics€30.00Read more
Managing Professionals and Other Smart People€34.99Read more
Meaningful Performance Reviews€16.99Read more
Strategic Cost Reduction (2nd Edition)€26.99Read more
The Essential Manager: 30 Core Elements of Leadership€17.99Read more
The Governance of Credit Unions in Ireland€45.00Read more
Your Brand: Advance your Career by Building a Personal Brand€17.99Read more
Back to Top

Future of the profession

IFAC

Title Source
Future-Fit Accountants: Roles for the Next Decade See PDF
Source
A Vision for the CFO & Finance Function See PDF
Source
Evaluating the Finance Function See PDF
Source

CPA

Title Source

What’s next for the profession? Listen to the forecast initiative podcast series

See page
Source

SAICA

Title Source

Leadership in a time of crisis series: Fact-based view of why the world is getting better

See page
Source
Back to Top

Professional & commercial news

  • State of the nation: What to expect as a newly qualified accountant

    May 01, 2025
  • The benefits of student societies for career success

    May 01, 2025
  • The coach's corner - April/May 2025

    Apr 10, 2025
  • Building connections, careers and confidence through student societies

    Mar 07, 2025
  • “I am deeply committed to the vision outlined in our Net Zero by 2040 strategy”

    Dec 09, 2024
12345678910
Back to Top

Level 3: Expert [FCA]
Back to choose your career pathway

Was this article helpful?

yes no

The latest news to your inbox

Please enter a valid email address You have entered an invalid email address.

Useful links

  • Current students
  • Becoming a student
  • Knowledge centre
  • Shop
  • District societies

Get in touch

Dublin HQ

Chartered Accountants
House, 47-49 Pearse St,
Dublin 2, D02 YN40, Ireland

TEL: +353 1 637 7200
Belfast HQ

The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast,
Antrim, BT2 8BG, United Kingdom

TEL: +44 28 9043 5840

Connect with us

Something wrong?

Is the website not looking right/working right for you?
Browser support
CAW Footer Logo-min
GAA Footer Logo-min
CCAB-I Footer Logo-min
ABN_Logo-min

© Copyright Chartered Accountants Ireland 2020. All Rights Reserved.

☰
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Event privacy notice
  • Sitemap
LOADING...

Please wait while the page loads.