An interview with Kyriakos Iordanou

Despite the early attraction to performing arts, he has no regrets. ‘I pursued a professional qualification which opened my horizons. This is what a qualification in accountancy does.’

His list of qualifications is extensive, but he says the ‘underlying foundation’ is ACCA. ‘It’s allowed me to see all the angles in the profession and equipped me to think more critically and analytically. I tend to think with more scepticism, whilst approaching matters before me from a bird’s-eye view. ACCA opened and shaped my career.’

That career is now about grappling with the management of an accountancy organisation that is a thought leader, membership body, regulator and economy stakeholder. There are continual meetings with members, firms, the government, parliamentary committees, other economy stakeholders and the press, as well as professional bodies in Cyprus and abroad. 

ICPAC’s work already involves a close working relationship with ACCA. The bodies have successfully run a joint examination scheme for many years, which undoubtedly made a massive contribution to the development of the accountancy profession in Cyprus.

Furthermore, the two bodies work together in the fields of learning and development for members, students and firms. ICPAC also outsources the monitoring of audit and anti-money laundering work to ACCA. The bodies share students and members, and Kyriakos sees a future where they work even more closely together. ‘We are reviewing on a constant basis how we can further the relationship.’

He adds: ‘As accountants, our role is that of credible consultant, trusted adviser, objective reviewer and professional leader.’

Just as well. The current environment, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine, presents particular challenges for accountants, especially in Cyprus. With one of the closest working relationships to Russian companies until recent years, Cyprus has seen much business lost due to implementation of the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Big issues

Working through the nation’s economic issues has placed ICPAC and its expert members at the centre of consultations in areas like tax, enhancing incentives for business activity, attracting foreign direct investment and compliance. ‘We have a lot of interaction with government, parliament, the economy and business community.’ That means ‘the voice we have becomes even more relevant and sought after’.

Kyriakos has views on other big issues of the day too, not least ESG (environmental, social and governance). ‘We need to go back to basics and try to understand what we mean by ESG,’ he says, voicing concerns over whether investors, markets and ordinary people can effectively read and understand a set of financial statements as they are currently presented.

ESG, he says, needs ‘breaking down not only to the overarching theory, but into the various practical elements, which could ultimately help each one of us in achieving a pragmatic presentation of a business’s financial affairs, and engage in sustainable policies and practices’.

Of course, accountants, or at least auditors, may be on the brink of a whole new line of work providing assurance on non-financial reporting, especially now the EU mandates reviews as part of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Trusted adviser

But as well placed as accountants and auditors may be, there is a debate as to who would be the appropriate professional to endorse this information. For Kyriakos this is a moment to stress the enduring values, trust and credibility accountants bring to the economy and society.

‘We need to adapt to developing conditions in the markets and in society. Our role is not confined in recording numbers and figures, or doing audits because they are required by the law.’

And the core value accountants need to carry into the future? ‘As the future is so unpredictable, with digital technology shaping its course, accountants need to adhere to their ethical values and religiously safeguard the element that differentiates them from any other profession – trust.’

Especially important, he emphasises, is that as sophisticated as technology may get, it is unlikely to remove the need for human accountants who will be conducting the critical thinking and taking the ultimate decisions. ‘The profession will, of course, be affected by digital progress, yet other functions and skillsets will emerge that will substitute the ones that shall be obsolete.’

Next generation

But that’s if people can be recruited to the profession. Kyriakos reflects long and hard on the struggle to find people willing to take on the training commitment. Accountancy may fall short on the younger generation’s preferences, he speculates, as other options take over the ‘dreams and aspirations of young people’. Yet he believes it is important to showcase that the underlying principles and factors for a promising professional journey remain more or less the same.

Recruitment difficulties aside, his belief in the core values of accountants suggests they still have a bright future. His own conviction is testament to that.

‘Apart from having the overall responsibility for the effective running of ICPAC, I thoroughly enjoy what I do, which is being creative and making things happen, maintaining a balance between various factors and situations, and making new and/or expanding networks of friends and associates.

‘It may entail a massive number of hours, lots of travelling, and many stressful and cumbersome situations which can sometimes lead to frustrating and energy-intensive situations, but it’s worth it – no doubt about it.’

Top tips

• Choose an academic background that will assist you in your personal development and professional career.
• Keep building on your basic initial studies to expand competencies and knowledge.
• Work for employers who give you what you need to achieve your professional objectives. Always measure the incremental benefit of your current employment vis à vis other opportunities.
• Education is the most important personal investment. Treat it as such by applying the cost and benefit equation. Place on one side the cost of your choices (financial, time, difficulty, etc) and on the other place the benefits to be derived from your choices (opportunities, ease of employment, potential promotions, time factor gain, etc). Then lean on the side that carries the most value and gives the biggest positive outcome to you.
• Always be relevant!
• ‘We don’t carry out the struggle for money, but for virtue.’ Kyriakos Matsis, freedom fighter of the Cyprus liberation struggle 1955-59.

Achievements

• president of the Parallel Parliament for Research, Innovation and Digital Governance 2019–21
• council member of ICPAC 2002–11, and vice president 2009–11
• board member of the Cyprus Institute of Internal Auditors 2006–11
• appeared in two recent poetry editions 
• lyricist for music album launched in 2023
• used to be a badminton umpire in local and international tournaments.