Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) has updated its guidance on trainee accountant transfers following scrutiny from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

Under the revised rules, trainees no longer need written employer permission before attending interviews for new roles. Approval is now required only after a trainee accepts a position and is ready to transfer.

The previous policy had required prospective employers to verify permission prior to interviews, a practice the CCPC flagged in June as potentially restricting competition. The watchdog said the amended rules "will give trainees more freedom and flexibility should they wish to transfer their training contract to another firm."

Craig Whelan, Director of Antitrust at the CCPC, highlighted the wider implications: "Anti-competitive restrictions don't just harm employees, they can harm the wider economy by holding back productivity growth and stifling the innovation that comes when new people bring fresh ideas into organisations."

He added, "When firms compete to hire and retain talent, workers benefit through higher pay, better conditions and greater career opportunities. Restrictive policies and agreements between firms deny employees these benefits."

The CCPC praised CAI's "timely and constructive engagement" and considers the matter closed but warned professional bodies to review policies that might hinder competition. "Where we find anti-competitive conduct, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action," Whelan said.

CAI described the changes as a "minor change" designed to reflect common practice while maintaining the integrity of training contracts. "We know from our engagement with our training partners, that permission is typically sought at the job offer stage, so we are pleased to amend our guidance to match this common approach," the organisation stated.

Read the full story on how CAI is reshaping trainee mobility and competition in accountancy.