Associate feature: Brexit gives us the chance to rethink the way we do business in Scotland

ACCA is the global body for professional accountants with over 80,000 members in the UK and over 200,000 worldwide as well as 486,000 students. Today our members are at the forefront of business leadership, innovation and transformation.

They guide businesses and organisations, across all sectors, and enterprises of all sizes. As a professional body we are responsible for advancing the accountancy profession for the public good. This means ensuring that our members act ethically and in a ways that promotes sound and sustainable business practice that delivers growth and employment.

Whilst the uncertainty and inevitable change that we face from Brexit can be unnerving they also open up an opportunity to rethink the way that we do business in Scotland and – a topic very close to our core purpose at ACCA – how we go about ensuring that we are developing the talent that will meet the needs of tomorrow’s economy, and in the process create opportunity for all.

Last year we launched our new ethics and professional skills module. In an interactive environment, the module supplements technical knowledge by helping future ACCA members develop the ethical and professional behaviours they will need in a fast-evolving business landscape. It develops employability by exposing them to realistic business situations and developing the full spectrum of advanced ethical and professional skills.

Leadership is often identified as one of the areas that can help Scotland to improve its productivity and to try and close the gap on the rest of the UK and beyond. Our students will undertake a strategic business leader case study from September. These changes will equip students with the future focused skills they will need as professional accountants aiming to reach the highest levels of business.

Craig Vickery is Head of ACCA Scotland

This piece was sponsored by ACCA Scotland