Bishop Fleming partner Caroline Smale named president of ICAEW, bringing four decades of experience to the key role, taking over from Derek Blair after his one-year term
As president, Smale will support the implementation of the institute’s long-term strategy, Direction 2030, and her priorities for the year will centre on supporting ICAEW members in a rapidly-changing world, where accountants are facing pressures from AI and technology challenges and the complex regulatory landscape. She will also focus on improving accessibility into the profession and promoting greater diversity of new talent.
Smale is a partner at private equity backed mid-tier firm Bishop Fleming and has been with the west country firm for almost four decades, with roles spanning audit manager to risk partner. She began her career at Bishop Fleming as a graduate trainee in the late 1980s, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1992.
A very active ICAEW member, Smale has been president of ICAEW South West and also an ICAEW council member for the area, and is a past chair of the insititute’s practice committee, and members and commercial board. Wherever possible she supports female and younger members and has a mentoring role at her firm.
Smale said: ‘I am incredibly proud to take on this role as ICAEW president. In my time as president, I want to ensure accountants remain at the cutting edge of digital transformation, promoting sustainability, and changing market needs.
‘I am keen to increase resilience by empowering professionals and firms to navigate economic uncertainty, workforce pressures, and evolving technical standards.
‘As president, I will champion a profession that is inclusive, forward-looking and encourages talent from every background because the future strength of the profession depends on the opportunities we create today.’
Meantime, as part of the annual round of council changes, Robert Tindle has become deputy president while Neil Cutting has been elected as vice president for the next 12 months.
Chartered accountant Cutting comes from a business background and is currently transformation director at US tech giant Oracle Corporation. He is a finance transformation expert with global leadership experience and was previously vice president of finance and transformation at Jacobs Solutions, a US listed engineering and professional services firm. He has been a member of the ICAEW council since 2023, representing the west of England, having originally trained at PwC, when it was Coopers & Lybrand.
Pictured: Caroline Smale