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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has named the winners of its annual young talent competition at an awards ceremony in London.
Audit supervisor Jemima Jacobs was named the overall winner of the 2026 competition from a shortlist of 35 accountants aged 35 and under. Jacobs works at Bank of America and also serves as audit committee chair and trustee of the Meningitis Research Foundation.
The overall winner will represent the institute at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town this November, which draws young leaders from more than 190 countries.
Four category winners were also named at the event at London’s Oxo Tower. Koyejo Abraham, finance, insights and strategy worker at Microsoft Gaming, won the changemaker award for equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Finance director Gemma Collings won the ethical leader award for embedding sustainability principles at Webmart. Gaige Kinsella, artificial intelligence and intelligent automation strategist at EY, won the innovator in technology category.
Finance business partner Cameron Dunlop won the community and social value award for his voluntary work at London Stansted Airport. Accounting manager Stephen Mahon received a highly commended award.
David Cruickshank, president of the ICAS, said: “Congratulations to Jemima on being crowned CA Rising Star for 2026. Her exceptional contribution both within her organisation and the charity sector embodies the purpose-driven leadership that this competition was designed to celebrate.
“The judges were impressed by her ability to apply her CA skills in a highly complex area of practice, whilst also using her professional expertise as a force for good, making her a worthy ambassador for a new generation of socially conscious chartered accountants.”
Jacobs said: “I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this award, particularly given the calibre of this year’s nominees. One of the things I value most about being a CA is that it has equipped me to make a meaningful impact in very different environments, from my career in technology audit and cyber risk within the financial services industry, to helping shape the strategic direction of the Meningitis Research Foundation as a trustee.
“Having experienced life-threatening meningitis as a university student, the Foundation’s mission is deeply personal to me. I’m grateful that this recognition also shines a light on the charity’s vital work and the support it provides to people and families affected by meningitis.”
Cruickshank added: “This year’s Rising Stars showcase the remarkable breadth and versatility of opportunities the ICAS qualification can unlock. The talented young professionals recognised through this competition are a powerful reminder that chartered accountants are not only embracing change across business and wider society, but leading it from the front.”
