A partner with regional accountancy firm Bishop Fleming, which has the largest of its eight offices in Bristol, has been elected vice-president of the profession’s leading membership organisation.
Caroline Smale, pictured, who leads Bishop Fleming’s risk and compliance team, takes up the role at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) this summer for a year.
Caroline has been a member of the ICAEW council since 2017, representing the South West region. She is currently a member of the ICAEW board and chair of its members and commercial board.
She has also previously served as vice-president of ICAEW South West and chair of its practice committee.
The ICAEW, which has more than 198,000 members and students in 147 countries, promotes, develops and supports chartered accountants and students across the globe.
It is also a world-leading improvement regulator, supervising and monitoring around 12,000 firms.
In her new ICAEW role, Caroline will focus on inclusion and diversity in the accounting profession – an important for issue her and, as a mentor at Bishop Fleming, she supports female and younger colleagues.
She said she was delighted to be elected ICAEW vice-president and would be committed to promoting its work and supporting its members, ensuring the organisation remained relevant for the chartered accountants of the future.”
She added: “My focus will be on continuing to improve the experience and engagement of members, developing the sustainability of the profession, and supporting initiatives in inclusion and diversity.”
Bishop Fleming managing partner Andrew Sandiford congratulated Caroline on her election.
“To have a member of our business representing our profession at the highest level is not only rewarding for Caroline but an honour for Bishop Fleming too. I wish her well in her role next year,” he added.
Caroline’s position will become effective in June when current vice-president Derek Blair becomes deputy president and Malcolm Bacchus takes over as president.
Bishop Fleming, which employs more than 500 staff, is ranked fifth in the Accountancy Age UK Mid-Tier Power Rankings and fifth in the inaugural UK Accountancy Age Mid-Tier Power Index.
It is also certified as a Great Place to Work and is in 14th place in the UK’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings.
As well as Bristol, it also has offices in Truro, Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter, Bath, Cheltenham and Worcester.
