At a time when businesses continue to seek new and innovative ways to grow, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) is encouraging businesses to lead with integrity for continued success

During its annual business conference held Thursday, October 10, 2024, the focus on Integrity was highlighted throughout the day, beginning with the conference theme “Reimagining the Future: Integrity, Innovation and Impact”.

Keynote speaker Robert Almeida, CEO of National Commercial Bank Financial Group (NCBFG) emphasised that integrity is the cornerstone of success in business and finance. He stressed the critical role of business ethics in professional practice, aligning his message with ICAJ’s core values and its guiding motto, “Integrity First”.

Almeida also underscored the pivotal role of integrity in setting the foundation for long-term success. Quoting Warren Buffett, he reminded the audience that integrity is non-negotiable.

“In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you,” he said.

He added, “Without integrity, nothing else matters. As accountants, we are the foundation of trust in the marketplace, and we must practise that trust every day by adhering to principles.”

ICAJ President Eric Scott further affirmed this point in his opening remarks.

“We live in an era of rapid transformation where technological advances, evolving business models, and shifting societal expectations are reshaping our world. As business and finance professionals, we are positioned at the intersection of these changes, and it is our responsibility to adapt, innovate, and lead with integrity,” Scott stated. 

The ICAJ president further noted that the event’s theme is a call to action for not just accountants, but all professionals.

“This theme not only highlights industry challenges but also serves as a call to action. By exploring these pillars—integrity, innovation, and impact—we aim to equip you with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate this ever-changing landscape, ensuring we remain trusted professionals driving meaningful progress in our organisations and communities,” he noted.

Almeida, sharing his career journey in which integrity guided his path from an accidental accountant to a leader of one of the Caribbean’s largest financial institutions, further underscored its importance in business. Accountants, he says, play a critical role in ensuring that organisations adhere to their strategic objectives.

“Accountants help translate strategy into execution by helping people practise integrity, truly practise it by adhering to strategy, establishing standards of expectation, and measuring performance,” he said. 

“At the end of the day, it’s all for impact…Accountants contribute to the achievement of impact by ensuring that the measurement systems are aligned with strategic objectives. We make sure that organisations, and by extension, the country, are achieving their intended goals,” Almeida added. 

The ICAJ Business Conference, which was a highlight of Chartered Accountants’ Week 2024, also featured a series of expert-led panel discussions and presentations, which explored critical issues facing today’s businesses. Topics included Business Continuity: Strengthening Resilience and ESG Reporting, Digital Resilience, Shipping & Logistics Post-COVID, the Changing Role of the CFO, Jamaica’s removal from the FATF Grey List, as well as AI and the Workforce.

The Business Conference served as a forum for thought leadership, offering professionals the opportunity to explore how the values of integrity, innovation, and impact will continue to shape the future of accounting and business leadership in Jamaica and beyond.