As 2023 is coming to an end, I would like to highlight some of the exciting and innovative projects which CPA Ireland has been working on over the past year.

Sustainability Micro-credentials

As the new European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is coming into effect from 2024, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve and for you to show your commitment to sustainability. Your clients will expect you to help them navigate these new ESG reporting requirements.

To help you in this regard, in September 2023, CPA Ireland launched a series of stackable micro-credentials in Sustainability. These credentials cover Sustainability Reporting Standards, ESG Challenges, ESG Strategies and Sustainability Assurance. You have the option to take individual micro-credentials and complete an online assessment, or you can opt to take all micro-credentials to gain an overall certificate in Sustainability.

Accountants in particular play a crucial role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives within organisations so I would encourage you to have a look at our Sustainability Hub where these credentials can be found: https://cpaireland.ie/Resources/CPA-Sustainability-Hub/Sustainability-Micro-Credentials

CPA Metaverse School of Innovation

At the Presidents dinner in September, I was delighted to officially launch a new bespoke training service that exists in the Metaverse. This project is a first for the accounting profession and, by harnessing the most immersive of technologies, virtual reality, the team at CPA Ireland has created CPA Metaverse, School of Innovation.

Designed with Sia Partners for students and fully qualified accountants, we have created a safe space to practise activities and increase knowledge retention through a collaborative, gamified and practical learning experience for the application of digitalisation in the workplace.

Digitalisation is a complex and, to some, an uninteresting topic that can be challenging to understand. Learning in Virtual Reality makes abstract concepts more concrete. In the CPA Metaverse we have created engaging and fun ways to understand the benefits, opportunities and challenges of implementing digitalisation in an organisation.

Accounting in the modern era is becoming an increasingly digital profession. Accountancy is evolving at an incredible pace and training needs to be able to match that pace, preparing the next generation of accountants to operate in this new world.

Switch your Perspective, Change your Future

In October CPA Ireland launched a new business development campaign “Switch your Perspective, Change your Future”. This campaign has been rolled out across university career fairs over the last few months and is live on the CPA website. The campaign aims to defy the perceived perceptions of a career in accounting by using profiles from some of our members to showcase the many paths you can take with your career as a CPA Accountant.

CPA 2024 Graduate Programme

I would like to remind everyone that one of the services CPA Ireland offers is a Trainee Placement Service (TPS), which assists candidates in securing trainee accountant positions with relevant employers in Ireland. The Trainee Placement Service is a completely free recruitment service for all employers. Currently the team in CPA is seeking employers with open roles for 2024 which would suit accounting students currently in their final year of third level education. If you have, or are planning on, taking on a trainee next year please contact CPA Ireland so we can add your company to our 2024 Graduate Programme.

It has been another busy year for CPA Ireland with the development of these exciting projects, and I look forward to many more in 2024. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support for your institute and wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas.