The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has appointed Karen Scholes as the new president for the 2025/26 term.
She is the sixth woman to hold this position in the organisation’s 171-year history. Her appointment was confirmed at the ICAS Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2025.
Scholes is the partner director of Scholes CA, an independent accountancy firm.
She succeeded Alison Cornwell, the former chief financial officer of Vue International.
Originally from Orkney, Karen began her career at AJB Scholes, a practice founded by her late father, where she worked as the sole practitioner until its incorporation in 2008.
Under her leadership, Scholes CA has expanded to a team of 36 staff with offices in Kirkwall, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen.
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By GlobalDataPrior to becoming resident, Scholes served as vice president of ICAS in 2023 and deputy president in 2024.
ICAS chief executive Bruce Cartwright said: “Karen brings a wealth of experience to ICAS from her thirty-year career in practice and directing her own successful business. Like many CAs, she’s devoted her career to nurturing, advising and supporting the type of SME clients that make up thriving local economies the length and breadth of the UK.
“She’s also devoted a great deal of time and expertise to ICAS over the years, through her invaluable contributions to our Council and Practice Board. Her enthusiasm and understanding of the value of ICAS membership and the CA qualification is of huge value to our efforts to grow the profession and inspire the next generation of CA students.
“I would also like to congratulate David Cruickshank CA and Jonny Jacobs CA who have been appointed as our new Deputy President and Vice President.”
David Cruickshank has been appointed as deputy president alongside Jonny Jacobs, who takes on the role of vice president.
Earlier in April 2025, ICAS also celebrated the induction of 760 newly qualified chartered accountants at its annual Admission Ceremony in Edinburgh.
This year’s class included graduates from the Robert Gordon University Graduate Apprenticeship programme, marking a first for the institution.
