Aplin qualified as an ICAEW chartered accountant in 1985 and as a CIOT member in 1989. He writes for various tax and accountancy journals, regularly commenting in the media on tax issues and is a member of HMRC’s administrative burdens advisory board.

He joined ICAEW’s tax faculty committee in 2001, serving as its chairman for the last 15 years, and now chairs its technical committee.

Aplin said: ‘I look forward to helping shape our future. As a membership body, ICAEW must continue to act in the public interest, and uphold the standards and reputation of the profession. 

‘For me, the ACA was the key to a great career – it changed my life - and part of my ambition is to help more young people discover it as the key to building their own careers, wherever they might be in the world.’

Andrew Ratcliffe, current ICAEW president, said: ‘I would like to congratulate Paul and thank his opponents in the election, Ian Davies and Howard Gross. It is fantastic to have such strong candidates, all of whom bring such great enthusiasm and commitment to their work on ICAEW’s council.’

Aplin, who was appointed OBE in 2009 for public service and services to the accountancy profession, will serve as vice-president from June 2016 to June 2017, subject to his formal election at the June council meeting. He will serve as ICAEW president from June 2018 to June 2019.