I was intending to have a leisurely weekend trying to avoid the rain in Nottingham when I became aware of the following headline on the ICAEW's web site:-

ACAs in business attract average salary of nearly 80k

The high demand for the skills of chartered accountants means that the average salary for those working in business is nearly £80k, according to research from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and specialist financial recruitment consultancy Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

This is not my experience of trying to find roles for my experienced candidates and certainly jobs at £80k are a premium in the SME market, a world in which most accountants in business inhabit. As the "red mist" started to clear I read the survey in some detail and I decided that the leisurely weekend would have to wait.

So I decided to conduct my poll and the response was quite amazing. We now have nearly 100 respondents and I have used the data obtained to write an "open" letter to Michael Izza the CEO of the ICAEW on behalf of all mature accountants. As well as the survey results I was inundated with messages of dismay, outrage and support and I have collated these into a comments page (or should I say pages!) which do not make easy reading.

If you would like to participate in the poll or add anything to this "campaign", or provide help or suggestions please get in touch at martin@matureaccountants.com

Having stirred up a bit of a hornet's nest we need to ensure that the momentum is not lost. The bottom line is that our Institutes need to hear our voice and take practical steps to show that they accept that there is a problem in the jobs market and to acknowledge that they have a duty to all their members, young and old to offer support and guidance.

The results	The comments
Letter to Michael Izza