The 20th SOEL Professional License Awarding Ceremony for CPAs and 21st IESOEL Graduation Ceremony 2026 for the Postgraduate Professional Audit and Accounting Qualification (METKEL). took place on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the Manor House at Golf Privé Glyfada.
The event was organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Greece (SOEL) and the Institute of Education of SOEL (IESOEL), in the presence of representatives of institutional and professional bodies, the academic community, as well as executives from the audit, accounting and business sectors.
The evening was dedicated to the newly qualified Certified Public Accountants and METKEL graduates who, having completed their studies and obtained their titles, are laying the foundations for the next step in their professional careers.
At the center of the event and this year’s speeches were the development of professional education for Certified Public Accountants, the continuous development of skills within the auditing profession, and the preparation of the new generation for the challenges of an ever-changing environment shaped by technological developments, the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the contemporary demands of the economy.
At the opening of the ceremony, Ms Vasiliki Lazarakou, Chairwoman at the Hellenic Capital Market Commission, Mr Apostolos Polyzos, President of SOEL, and Mr Panagiotis Giannopoulos, Chairman of the Hellenic Accounting & Auditing Standards Oversight Board (HAASOB), addressed the audience, referring to the importance of professional education, the demands of the modern auditing profession and the role of young professionals.
Addressing the newly qualified Certified Public Accountants, Ms Lazarakou noted in her speech: “Obtaining the Professional License to Practice represents the culmination of a long, demanding and particularly strenuous effort. At the same time, it marks entry into a profession that carries significant responsibility and holds particular importance for both the economy and society.”
Mr Polyzos focused on the institutional role of the Certified Public Accountant, stating: “The Certified Public Accountant serves a profession built on trust. Through their work and signature, they contribute to the reliability of financial information, transparency and the smooth functioning of the economy.” Addressing the newly qualified Certified Public Accountants, he noted that the title they receive represents a significant professional achievement and comes with an equally significant responsibility.
Mr Giannopoulos then took the floor and, in his capacity as President of HAASOB, referred to the impact of technological developments on the auditing profession, emphasizing the importance of professional judgement and responsibility: “Our profession is changing, but it is not disappearing. AI can provide significant support to the auditor, but it cannot replace professional judgement, professional skepticism, objectivity and, ultimately, the auditor’s responsibility.”
This was followed by the presentation of the Professional Licenses to the newly qualified Certified Public Accountants, marking the completion of a multi-year journey of education, examinations and practical training.
In the second part of the ceremony, Dr Charilaos Alamanos, President of IESOEL, emphasized the importance of systematic education and continuous professional development, noting that with this year’s graduates, the number of holders of the Postgraduate Professional Training Title for Auditors and Accountants (METKEL) has now reached 2,000. He further underlined that the meaningful connection between education and professional practice is a key pillar of IESOEL’s work: “The knowledge and experience of Certified Public Accountants are passed on to students, helping them develop not only academic competence, but also the judgement and sense of responsibility required by our profession.”
Ms Caitriona Allis, Head of Europe at ACCA, highlighted in her speech the changes shaping the auditing profession, with technology, sustainability and Artificial Intelligence already influencing the way professionals in the sector work. She also referred to the effort required to achieve an important professional goal, emphasizing: “Talent is important, but resilience is equally important.”
The international dimension of professional education and the challenges shaping the future of the profession were highlighted in her speech by Ms Christiana Diola, Regional Director Europe at ICAEW. Addressing the newly qualified Certified Public Accountants and METKEL graduates, she stressed that obtaining the professional title marks the starting point of a broader professional journey: “This is not your destination. Entering the finance profession marks the beginning of your professional journey.”
As part of the ceremony, three monetary awards and certificates of merit were presented in recognition of students’ outstanding achievements.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Postgraduate Professional Audit and Accounting Qualification (METKEL) to IESOEL graduates.
The event once again highlighted the importance of professional education as a solid foundation for the development of the auditing profession and for preparing professionals capable of responding to the changing needs of the economy and businesses.
The event was moderated by journalist Mr Dinos Siomopoulos.
