There is more change happening in Chartered Accountancy education right now than at any point in the profession's history. In this episode, Sinead Fox-Hamilton is joined by Ian Browne, Director of Education at Chartered Accountants Ireland, to step through it all.

Ian explains how the ACA syllabus has been transformed for the modern workplace, with AI, data analytics, automation and sustainability now sitting alongside the technical core, and why skills such as critical thinking, professional scepticism and systems thinking matter more than ever. He shares the story of how the Institute became one of the first professional bodies in the world to move to fully online exams, how adaptive learning is giving every student a personalised pathway through their studies, and what the new modular structure, with three intakes a year, means for anyone planning their route into the profession.

Ian also shares his advice for anyone considering the ACA, and why he believes accountancy, as the language of business, is the best possible launchpad for any career.

Find out more at becomeacharteredaccountant.com

In this episode, Emma Lericque, ACA, CPA shares her non-linear route to becoming a Chartered Accountant: qualifying first as an Accounting Technician, then studying through the Flexible Route while raising two young children and working for her father's insurance brokerage, where she helped steer the high-stakes sale of the family business.

She reflects on the confidence knocks of returning to the job market, the mentoring and support from Chartered Accountants Ireland that helped her find her feet, and her work today as a Financial Accountant at Dublin City University. Her advice for anyone unsure of their path: feel the fear and do it anyway, because becoming a Chartered Accountant opens all the doors.

In this episode, Sinead Fox Hamilton speaks to Ruth McLoughlin, Chartered Accountant, tax adviser, business consultant and fashion rental business owner, about building a career on your own terms. Ruth reflects on her journey from Deloitte and international tax into senior in-house roles, before launching her own consultancy and stepping into retail entrepreneurship with Happy Days. A standout moment comes when she shares the striking statistic that 1.7 million sequined garments are sent to landfill after Christmas, highlighting the sustainability mission behind her business. Warm, practical and energising, this episode is full of insight on entrepreneurship, confidence, travel and why investing in yourself can open unexpected doors.