Anthony William Thomas FCCA has died, aged 95. Through his commitment to professional excellence and extensive mentorship, he made a significant contribution to the accounting and auditing profession in Ethiopia. A founding member of key professional bodies in the country, including the Ethiopian Professional Association of Accountants and Auditors, he played a pivotal role in strengthening professional standards and ethics and building capacity.
Born in England in 1930, Thomas spent the first two decades of his career in the UK, gaining extensive experience in audit and professional practice at firms in East Anglia and London. After qualifying with ACCA in 1959, he became a partner a decade later and in the same year relocated to Ethiopia.
He helped shape the aspirations and careers of many professionals
Arriving in Addis Ababa in 1970, he joined Price Waterhouse Peat as an audit manager and later became director of finance and administration at the International Livestock Centre for Africa. In 1981, he founded his own firm, AW Thomas, built on ethical values and professionalism; it is now known as MSE Audit Service and a member firm of Grant Thornton International.
Thomas embodied the highest standards of integrity, competence and professionalism long before formal codes emerged. His example helped shape the aspirations and careers of many individuals, earning deep respect and affection among accounting professionals.
His legacy lives on through the ACCA-qualified professionals he trained and mentored – many of whom are among the country’s licensed auditors – who continue to serve the nation with the values he instilled.
