Episode 24: Welcoming 2026 - Building Skills, Strengthening Trust, Shaping the Future

Welcoming 2026: Building Skills, Strengthening Trust, Shaping the Future

As we step into 2026, it’s a time to reflect on progress and look ahead with optimism. Chartered Accountants continue to play a vital role in strengthening economies, building trust, and supporting sustainable growth across the globe. Being part of this global community means staying connected, learning continuously, and engaging with ideas that shape the future of the profession. 

The year ahead offers exciting opportunities to grow and connect. From thought-provoking webinars focused on developing critical human skills for future-ready teams, to major international gatherings such as the World Forum of Accountants 2026, professionals can gain insight into emerging trends, technology, sustainability, and leadership. There are also networking and celebratory events, including the Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner, bringing together leaders and peers to share experiences and inspiration. 

As we move forward, staying engaged with learning, collaboration, and innovation will be key to sustaining excellence and impact. Here’s to a healthy, successful, and connected year ahead for the global accountancy community.

Transcript

HELLO! and welcome to Episode 24 of the Chartered Accountants Global Update.

Before we dive into today's content, I want to take a moment to reflect on this fresh start we're all experiencing. As we step into 2026, we would like to wish all our listeners a very happy, healthy and successful New Year.

The beginning of a new year offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on progress and look ahead with optimism. And when I think about the chartered accountancy profession, there's genuine reason for that optimism. Chartered Accountants continue to play a vital role in strengthening economies, building trust and supporting sustainable growth worldwide.

Whether you're working in practice, industry, the public sector, or perhaps carving out a new path entirely, your contribution matters. The work we do extends far beyond spreadsheets and financial statements—it's about creating stability, enabling transparency, and helping organizations navigate an increasingly complex world.

Thank you for being part of our global community. We truly appreciate your engagement, and we look forward to connecting with you through a range of upcoming events designed to inform, inspire and bring us together. And speaking of events, let me share three exciting opportunities coming up that you won't want to miss.

First up, we have a webinar that tackles something I think many of us are thinking about—the evolving skill set required for leadership in our profession. It's called "Beyond the Numbers: The Human Skills Powering Tomorrow's Leaders."

Now, we all know that technical expertise is fundamental to what we do. But as the profession evolves, there's increasing recognition that the leaders of tomorrow need more than just technical mastery. They need strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, the ability to build and maintain relationships, and a capacity for strategic thinking that goes beyond the numbers on a page.

This webinar will explore exactly these themes. What are the human skills that will set leaders apart in the coming years? How can we develop them intentionally? And how do we balance our technical rigor with these softer, yet equally critical, capabilities?

Whether you're early in your career and thinking about your development path, or you're already in a leadership role and want to strengthen your approach, this session promises valuable insights. You can find all the details and register at charteredaccountantsworldwide.com/webinar/beyond-the-numbers-the-human-skills-powering-tomorrows-leader. I'll make sure that link is in the show notes as well.

The second event I want to highlight is a truly global gathering—the World Forum of Accountants 2026, hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants India.

This is one of those events that reminds us just how interconnected our profession has become. The World Forum brings together accountancy professionals, thought leaders, regulators, and policymakers from across the globe to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our profession.

These forums have historically been platforms for meaningful dialogue about the future of accountancy—everything from digital transformation and sustainability reporting to ethics, governance, and the role of the profession in emerging economies. It's an opportunity not just to learn from global experts, but to contribute your own perspective to these important conversations.

The event is being organized by ICAI, and I'd encourage you to visit their dedicated website at wofa.icai.org for full details on the program, speakers, registration, and logistics. Events like this don't come around every day, and if you have the opportunity to attend, it's well worth considering.

And finally, let me tell you about the Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner 2026

Now, while much of what we discuss on this podcast focuses on professional development, thought leadership, and the technical aspects of our work, it's equally important to come together as a community in more relaxed settings. The Annual Dinner is exactly that kind of occasion.

This is an evening where members can connect with colleagues, celebrate achievements from the past year, and enjoy the company of fellow professionals in a more social atmosphere. These gatherings strengthen the bonds within our profession and remind us that behind all the work we do, there's a vibrant community of people who share common values and experiences.

It's also an excellent networking opportunity, whether you're looking to build new professional relationships or simply catch up with familiar faces. 

So there you have it—three distinct opportunities to engage with the chartered accountancy community in 2026. A webinar exploring the leadership skills of the future, a global forum addressing the big questions facing our profession, and an annual dinner celebrating our community.

Each offers something different, but all share a common thread: they bring us together, help us grow, and strengthen the profession we're all part of.

Thank you for listening to Episode 24 of the Chartered Accountants Global Update. Here's to a successful 2026—we'll speak with you again soon.