BUSINESS adviser Adrian Simpson is the new president of the Southern Society of Chartered Accountants, which represents more than 4,000 members of the profession in south Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

He takes over from Russell Bowman, finance director for the Beaulieu Estate.

During his year in office Mr Simpson aims to promote chartered accountancy as a career to teenagers and encourage more firms to train chartered accountants.

"If the interest of 14-to-18-year-olds can be sparked, we can attract good students for the future," he said.

Mr Simpson (44) qualified as a chartered accountant with Spicer and Pegler in Bournemouth, before moving to pharmaceutical giant Warner-Lambert as an international auditor.

He worked for Coopers Lybrand in Sydney before joining Touche Ross as a senior manager.

He became a partner in Marshall & Company in 1995 and a partner with Mazars in the same year.

SOSCA's new deputy president, Martin Pearson (34), joined CMA Financial Recruitment in 2001 as a partner, with responsibility for senior qualified placements and business development across the four south coast offices in Southampton, Havant, Bournemouth and Basingstoke.

Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants have voted to introduce a scheme that will set them apart from unqualified practitioners.

They have backed the introduction of a regime of practice assurance and professional development.

Institute president David Illingworth said: "We now have a strong mandate for a quality assurance system, which will help members distinguish themselves from unqualified accountants and will demonstrate to the public, government and others that institute members are committed to upholding the highest professional and ethical standards."

The scheme will be introduced from autumn 2004 and members will be required to submit an annual return covering all areas of work undertaken. In addition, more than 2,000 firms will be visited each year.

The scheme will apply to all members, except those who have fully retired, from January 2005.

Mr Simpson said: "This is a very welcome move and is endorsed by our members. It reinforces in the minds of the business community our commitment to the highest standards and helps to keep chartered accountancy's position as a leading business qualification."

Members also voted to introduce new assessment programmes in corporate finance and international financial reporting standards.