ACCA Greece and SOEL Foster the Next Generation of Chartered Accountants

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to developing the next generation of chartered accountants in Greece through a series of targeted initiatives. These initiatives focus on supporting members, partners, and university students, with the aim of bridging the gap between academia and the job market.

ACCA Greece’s recent actions were structured around three key pillars:

1. Welcoming New Members and Honouring Top Performing Students
   ACCA celebrated new members and recognized students who achieved the highest scores in ACCA exams. These new members join a dynamic global community of over 252,000 fully qualified professionals and 526,000 aspiring members across 180 countries. Through the Joint Examination Scheme (JES), new ACCA members in Greece are also eligible to join the ranks of professional auditors as members of SOEL (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Greece).

2. Career Day – in Collaboration with IESOEL (SOEL’s Training Institute)
   With the strong support of IESOEL, a Career Day was held to connect academia with the labor market. Students had the opportunity to meet ACCA-approved employers in Greece and learn about their career prospects.
   Distinguished ACCA members shared their professional journeys during the event. Among them, Mr. Stelios Dotsias, representing SOEL, discussed the professional opportunities enabled by SOEL and ACCA. Contributions were also made by Ms. Anastasia Chalkidou, FCCA, member of the ACCA Global Council, who spoke on the international dimension of the profession, and Ms. Elina Apostolopoulou, DipIFR, FCCA, CIA, who addressed developments in the accounting field.
   Additionally, Mr. George Damalos, M.A., MBA, FCCA, PMP, PBA, representing UNIC Global Training, conducted a workshop on the essential skills future professionals need to thrive.

3. Networking Evening for ACCA Members
   ACCA hosted a networking event aimed at strengthening direct connections and peer engagement. Members had the opportunity to interact with the ACCA Southern Europe team and the ACCA Greece Advisory Committee.

Mr. Apostolos Polyzos, President of SOEL, stated:“ ACCA’s collaboration with SOEL, through the Joint Examination Scheme, has now spanned over 15 years. During this time, we have achieved significant milestones together. We have enabled hundreds of young professionals in Greece to earn a prestigious international qualification and join a high-caliber global network. Both SOEL and I personally have strong confidence in this partnership, and we remain committed to its continued growth.”

Ms. Andreia Stanciu, Head of ACCA Southern Europe, added: “We often hear that change is the only constant—but never before has the pace and visibility of change been so intense. The fact that our members have been able to drive such meaningful and targeted change in their lives is a testament to the exceptional ecosystem built in Greece by SOEL, ELTE, and ACCA, supported by employers and education providers—and, of course, thanks to their own hard work and dedication.”

It is worth noting that several high-profile executives from leading international audit firms—key partners of the ACCA network—participated in the new members’ welcome event. Notably, the following industry leaders congratulated the new members: Mr. Dimitris Koutsopoulos, CFO of Deloitte, Mr. Vasileios Kaminaris, Partner at KPMG, Mr. Dimitrios Athanasopoulos, Partner at Ernst & Young, Mr. Andreas Riris, Territory Assurance Leader at PwC, Mr. Vasilis Kazas, Managing Partner at Grant Thornton, Mr. Panagiotis Alamanos, CEO of SOL CROWE and Mr. Themis Polyzos, Partner at Forvis Mazars.