The IFA’s Member Advisory Committee meets regularly to support the organisation and its members.
The IFA has run face-to-face events across the UK for many years. Since COVID, these meetings have been held in eight regions – Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England, the Midlands, London, the Southwest & Wales, Southern England and Eastern England.
Each region is represented by an IFA member who volunteers their time and energy to support members. These regional ambassadors form the Members Advisory Committee (MAC), which supports the IFA and helps shape its strategic thinking for the future. Chaired by Ian Hornsey, this committee provides valuable feedback, insight, and support to the Institute in representing UK members.

The work of each MAC member varies, from hosting regional meetings, building relationships with other business professionals, contributing to relevant and vital consultations that capture member views and help to host webinars. They also attend four MAC meetings each year.
Ian says they are instrumental in building bridges with other businesses as hosts of regional events and meetings. “All are within the accountancy profession but each face different issues based on where they are within the UK,” he says.
The upcoming webinar will cover the work of the MAC and provide a forum for questions and feedback.
The MAC comprises six regional ambassadors including Duncan Walker (Scotland), Bill McGregor (Northern Ireland), Robin Murray (Northern England), Mujibur Rahman (the Midlands) and Ermal Krutani (London).
Ian Hornsey (Eastern England), who is also an IFA Director, says the MAC’s purpose is not only to assist the IFA, but to “be the voice for the members and help with strategic thinking”.
“The eight regions within the UK provide a good coverage to be able to interact with members, especially at the regional networking and CPD events, but also allows members to meet each other and discuss their views, worries and use the meetings as a support network,” he says.
Ian joined the accountancy profession at age 16 after leaving school and worked in local practices in Southend. In 1994, he set up Devonports Accountants with a handful of clients, which has since grown to a client base of more than 3,000.
Since his early accounting practice, the biggest shift has been technology. “From manual accounting and use of double-entry bookkeeping and ledgers, the change in the industry has intensified, especially over the past five years, with most tasks now being automated and the use of technology coming to the fore,” he says.

“The role of the accountant is now more of an advisory one and this will continue to change as the industry evolves further.”
Regional ambassadors help raise standards
What hasn’t changed is the power of networks to help connect members and raise professional standards.
The MAC’s key achievements include helping the IFA to raise standards and ensuring members understand key areas of compliance to improve the “level of work undertaken by all members”, Ian says.
It also provides a a “good sounding board for the IFA staff so that they know what is going on in the country.”
“The MAC allows members to have their voice heard,” he says. “Building good relationships between ambassadors and members is vital, our members need to feel they can trust us.
“Members will come to their regional ambassadors for general help and advice, whether it is within the accountancy profession, or at times, of a more personal nature. It’s about providing support.”
Ian says there are issues with “recognition, especially and potentially with lenders and IFA members struggling with not being on the approved list”.
“However, over the last few years, recognition has been at the forefront of the IFA and we are now [not only] recognised by the majority of lenders, but also on a national basis with HMRC, Companies House and Government.”
The IFA’s UK Town hall webinar: Meet your UK Members Advisory Committee & Regional Ambassadors is on 24 October. More information HERE.