Described as “the Davos of the ethical finance world”, the EFF is a 12-day gathering that brings global leaders to Scotland’s capital for a programme of events designed to drive meaningful change across all areas of finance.

Last night, ICAS was honoured at the festival’s Evening of Celebration, hosted by NatWest Group and festival organiser, the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI). The reception marked 171 years since ICAS was founded by Royal Charter in 1854, establishing it as the world’s oldest professional accountancy body. It also acknowledged 170 years since the designatory ‘CA’ letters were first introduced – a mark of distinction exclusive to ICAS members that has become synonymous with trust and excellence in accounting.

The event also recognised the milestone anniversaries of other distinguished financial organisations including the Chartered Banker Institute, David Hume Institute, Social Investment Scotland, Morgan Stanley, and GEFI.

Bruce Cartwright CA, ICAS CEO, delivered a speech reflecting on the organisation’s enduring influence: “Since 1854, ICAS is proud to have remained at the forefront of the global accounting profession, representing a diverse community of world-class business leaders in more than 85 countries.

“Our heritage is one part of the story, and our impact is the other. We engage with government and policymakers to drive meaningful change across business and society – from reshaping the financial reporting landscape and advocating for audit reform, to guiding the responsible use of artificial intelligence.”

Mr Cartwright attributed ICAS’ long-standing legacy to its commitment to continuous evolution, most recently demonstrated by the launch of its new CA qualification in 2024. The industry-leading syllabus has been designed to align accountancy education with the demands of a rapidly changing world, equipping accountants to lead in areas such as climate reporting, digital transformation, and ethical governance.

He also drew parallels between ICAS values and the festival’s focus on ethical leadership in finance, adding: “Our vision of business as a force for good is one we hold in common with the thousands of festival delegates here this week. For ICAS and our members, taking a leading position on sustainability isn’t a greenwashing nice-to-have – it’s an ethical imperative and an extension of our commitment to work in the public interest.”

As part of the festival, ICAS will host a partner event on 18 September at CA House in Edinburgh. With growing expectation for accountants to play a pivotal role in the green transition, the interactive session will bring together expert panellists from SSE Renewables, Royal London, and Deloitte to explore how to build credible and investable transition plans.

The EFF runs until 26 September and is expected to welcome more than 2,500 delegates, delivering an estimated £1 million boost to Edinburgh’s economy. The festival agenda covers topics ranging from the impact of US tariff policies under Donald Trump to faith-based finance.

Omar Shaikh CA, managing director of GEFI, said: “Edinburgh is the natural home for green and sustainable finance, given that Scotland was among the world’s first governments to integrate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into its national performance framework.

“By drawing on this heritage, the festival creates space for systemic thinking and reflection – a way of looking at the past to help us shape the future.”

Discover the full EFF programme at gefi.org.