Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland (the ‘Institute’) Professional Standards Board
The Institute is inviting applications from suitably qualified applicants for the role of Chairperson of the Professional Standards Board.
The Institute is Ireland’s largest professional body, with over 39,000 members in over 100 countries and 2,192 regulated firms. It was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and its activities and those of its members are governed by its Bye-Laws and by Rules relating to professional and ethical conduct.
The Institute plays an important role in promoting confidence in the accountancy profession, a key part of which is achieved by ensuring firms, members, affiliates, and students maintain the highest standards of professional competency and conduct. As part of this role, the Institute Council established the Professional Standards Board to oversee the Institute’s regulatory and disciplinary functions, delivered by the Professional Standards Department and an independent committee structure.
The role of the Professional Standards Board and its Chairperson are more fully described DOWN BELOW ....
The start date for the role is 1 April 2026, and the term of the role is more fully described in the role description.
The chairperson vacancy is for a lay member, which means someone who is not a member, affiliate or employee of Chartered Accountants Ireland or any other accountancy body.
Applications for the position should be made by submitting a covering letter and curriculum vitae to the Institute’s Appointments Committee, c/o Maureen Brown at Maureen.Brown@charteredaccountants.ie by 6 February 2026. Further information is also available from this email address.
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About the Professional Standards Department
The Professional Standards Department (PSD) of the Institute, along with relevant Regulatory Committees and Disciplinary Bodies (regulatory and disciplinary committees), is responsible for the delivery of the Institute’s regulatory and disciplinary obligations which derive both from statute and its own Bye-Laws and Regulations. Core activities of PSD include:
• Professional authorisations: granting, renewing, and where appropriate removing, licences to practice, to act as an auditor, to provide Investment Business advice and to carry out sustainability assurance engagements.
• Policy and standards: developing regulatory policy and professional standards.
• Quality assurance: monitoring members and firms for compliance with those standards.
• Professional conduct: dealing with complaints and taking disciplinary action when appropriate.
The Institute’s supervised population as set out in the Professional Standards Board 2024 Annual Report includes 3,293 practising certificate holders, 825 audit firms, 328 firms authorised to carry out investment business and 2,192 AML supervised firms. The IAASA Profile of the Profession 2024 provides a statistical profile of the five Prescribed Accountancy Bodies within IAASA’s supervisory remit, and may be of interest. Further information on the PSD and the regulatory and disciplinary committees that are involved in the Professional Standards activities is available here.
About the Professional Standards Board
The Professional Standards Board (‘PSB’, the ‘Board’) is established by Council in accordance with Principal ByeLaw (‘PBL’) 37.2 and the authority it exercises is under delegated authority from Council. Under such delegated authority, PSB is responsible for oversight of how the Institute discharges its regulatory and disciplinary obligations which derive both from statute and the Institute’s own Bye-laws and Regulations. The PSB therefore has responsibility for the oversight of the Professional Standard Department. The PSB recommends for the consideration and approval by Council, substantive changes to the Institute’s Regulations and Code of Ethics and approves non-substantive changes to those regulations and code under delegated authority. The PSB has responsibility for the development and approval of policies which underpin the Institute’s regulatory and disciplinary functions. The regulatory and disciplinary committees that are involved in the Professional Standards activities report to the PSB.
Further information on the role of PSB is set out in the Board’s terms of reference, available in the Institute’s Governance Framework linked here.
The PSB can have a maximum of ten members including the chairperson (currently 8) and must have an equal number of members of an accountancy body and lay members. The current membership of the PSB is available here.
THE ROLE
Summary
The Chairperson of PSB ensures the effective operation of the Board, and that the Board fulfils its role as set out in its terms of reference.
The chairperson is a lay member, which means someone who is not a member, affiliate or employee of Chartered Accountants Ireland or any other accountancy body.
Key Responsibilities
• Leadership & Oversight o Provide leadership of the Board through chairing meetings, ensuring effective governance and decision-making and setting the tone of the Board.
o Liaise, advise, and where required, make decisions with the Institute executive and Board members outside of Board meetings where matters arise.
o Provide direction of regulatory and disciplinary issues and ensure the PSB fulfils its remit in disciplinary and regulatory oversight.
o Oversee the performance of the Chief Regulatory Officer in respect to regulatory activities.
o Ensure regulatory and operational PSD risks are identified and controlled.
o Promote and exercise independence, objectivity, and public interest in all PSB deliberations.
• Stakeholder Engagement
o Act as a key liaison between the PSB and Council, reporting as required, and at least annually, on activities, decisions, and emerging issues.
o Engage effectively with external stakeholders, including government, regulators and other professional bodies.
• Governance & Compliance
o Ensure PSB fulfils its role as set out in its terms of reference and that its activities and decisionmaking align with the Institute’s governance framework and relevant regulatory obligations.
o Ensure the receipt of relevant and comprehensive management information and reporting to allow the Board to make decisions and to effectively oversee the Institute’s regulatory and disciplinary functions.
• Board Effectiveness
o Foster a collaborative and respectful Board culture, ensuring constructive challenge and effective decision making.
o Ensure the Board has effective management information to made decisions.
o Demonstrate accountability and require it from others.
o Take into account and respect different views of colleagues and stakeholders.
o Support the induction and development of PSB members.
o Lead and contribute to periodic reviews of PSB performance and effectiveness.
Essential Skills & Experience
• Application of the Fundamental Principles of the Institute’s Code of Ethics are attributes that each Council, board and committee member should possess, including members of the PSB.
• Senior leadership experience in professional services, regulation, or governance.
• Deep understanding of professional standards, ethics, and regulatory and disciplinary frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead complex decision-making processes with impartiality and integrity.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience chairing boards or committees is highly desirable.
Institute Values
The Institute seeks to ensure an environment based on its values of Accountability, Forward Looking, Excellence and Openness. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how these may apply to them in this role and how their previous experience is relevant to them.
Term & Commitment
• The Chairperson is appointed by the Appointments Committee. Initial appointment is for a four-year term. Further information is set out in the Board’s terms of reference in the Institute’s Governance Framework.
• The role requires a time commitment of approximately 15 days per year, including preparation for and attendance at meetings and the annual strategy day, stakeholder engagement (with Council and regulators for example) and other related matters, such as attendance at regulatory and disciplinary committee meetings. Additional time will be required for training dependant on the knowledge and experience of the applicant.
• The dates for the 2026 Board meetings are as follows: Thursday 5th March (Dublin), Thursday 11th June (Belfast), Thursday 10th September (afternoon) and Friday 11th September (all day) (Dublin), Wednesday 9th December (Dublin).
• The role receives a payment of €25,000 per annum.
Independence & Integrity
• The Chairperson must demonstrate independence and avoid conflicts of interest.
• The Chairperson should have a clean criminal, regulatory and/or disciplinary history.
• A commitment to upholding the values and reputation of Chartered Accountants Ireland is essential.
How to apply for the role
Applications for the position should be made by submitting a covering letter and curriculum vitae to the Institute’s
Appointments Committee, c/o Maureen Brown at Maureen.Brown@charteredaccountants.ie by 6 February 2026.
Further information, including regarding the regulatory and disciplinary committees, is also available on request by interested candidates from Maureen.Brown@charteredaccountants.ie
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