Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland had already begun its transformation journey, embarking on a new collaborative design process to reimagine the membership experience for the 21st century.
Informing this process were the collective views of our members, firms, students, staff and stakeholders. Together, we arrived at an ambitious vision for the Institute to deliver a seamless, digital-first membership experience. This vision is now encapsulated
in Strategy24, the Institute’s four-year strategic plan published in July 2021.
At the heart of Strategy24 is a clear commitment, backed up by investment and resources, to deliver on the stated strategic objectives, which include a redesigned member experience, as the Institute strives to become a high-performance organisation on
behalf of members.
Steps to achieve this are already underway, accelerated by the pandemic, as the Institute quickly moved to offer essential services and supports online. In fact, the impact of the pandemic was to set the Institute on a path requiring monumental strides
to meet the immediate needs of members online. And it is through this lens that our digital transformation has evolved, requiring a different approach to the sequencing and delivery of digital initiatives than the one we had anticipated in pre-pandemic
times. That said, our resolve to meet the stated objectives of Strategy24 remains steadfast.
In rapid time, we reimagined our advocacy activities to meet members’ real-world concerns in an online world. Our regulatory processes are in transformation so that we can continue with effective oversight of the profession. Education and examinations
pivoted online, allowing continued progression to membership and, of course, the entire service offering to members has been completely redesigned.
Our members have responded in huge numbers, engaging with us to continue formal education and training, to keep abreast of the latest developments across the business landscape, and to engage with an array of initiatives and events designed to keep us
connected as one membership across the island of Ireland.
The statistics speak for themselves. New student enrolments continued apace to see Chartered Accountants Ireland secure a market-leading 41% share of the new student market. More than 17,000 exams were completed. Attendance at CPD training courses rose
by 45%. Our free event offering jumped 60%, while diplomas awarded grew by 15%. The overwhelming majority of participants, 90%, said online CPD courses met their needs. At every level, members were discovering for themselves the benefits - and possibilities
- of an enhanced digital experience with their Institute. With COVID-19, our members were immediately immersed in our digital transformation journey from the start.
From all this, come the challenges and learnings that go with technology, but also greater insight about the road ahead. We know that our members, students and firms value the enhanced access and education and training services made possible by digital
transformation. What does that look like in real terms? The ability to engage with one another as part of a global network. More and better ways to interact with the Institute as a one-stop service. The flexibility to learn any time, any place
and on demand through virtual learning, with content, courses and lectures available online. The possibilities that come from relevant and dynamic content services and supports.
What makes all this possible is continued investment, vigilantly overseen by Council and its Boards. It’s an exciting time for the Institute, and the future of education, training, and development as the leading membership body for Chartered Accountants in Ireland. With the continued support of our membership
so much more is possible as we journey together towards a digital future.