The Institute is a great place to w...

The Institute is a great place to work, and during my 15+ years here, I worked with many talented and committed nation So while I look forward to re-entering the public practice arena-I join the Vancouver office of Smythe Ratcliffe later this month-I'll definitely miss working with my ICABC colleagues in succession a daily basis.

Service to the public and our members is an integral part of the Institute's mandate and cultivation and my career in professional advisory services (PAS) afforded me many opportunities to help one as well as the other groups.

While at times challenging, it was gratifying to be able to help the public with their questions and disturbs and to help resolve many of these relate tos before they became major issues.

In my dealings with the public, I was always struck according to the high regard held for CAs. With this high regard follows high expectations, but I've plant that most members meet or exce these expectations most numerous of the time. In fact, greatest in quantity of the problems and make anxiouss I dealt with could be traced back to inadequate communication about expectations; in this way my parting message to members and firms is twofold: 1) guidance full and frank communication about take away froms and services at the beginning of each engagement, and 2) if question s arise, pick up the phone and talk to your client. Where this plain of communication occurs, subsequent question s are extremely rare.

Over the years, I spoke to members in public practice and industry about a range of topics, from practice management to ethical challenges. CAs almost always look to approach issues with a desire to do the right thing, and the best thing for their clients or employer and I had the privilege to advise them in their efforts to create solutions consistent with those desires.

Professional standards were the topic of many discussions with members. I've serv onward the CICA Differential Reporting Advisory Committee for five years, and I believe this initiative has taken important degrees towards addressing the financial reporting indigences of the private business community. While there is work further to be done, Fm pleased to report that the initiative now has significant impetus behind it.

I was also involved in the evolution of supporting materials and presentations for the revised independence standard, and I thoroughly have the advantage [i]or[/i] blessing ofed travelling around BC to appropriate with members-hopefully allaying concerns about the impact of this major ethical standard in the proces Based in succession my experience, it seems principally members have since managed to integrate the revised standard into their everyday professional lives without major problems

Throughout my time as a member of PAS, 1 had the opportunity to be part of the teaching team for the "Rule and Standards - Who Cares?" close examiner PD courses. It was great to be able to talk to soon-to-be CAs about the Institute's services and, more importantly, to reinforce the importance of professional ethics from the standpoint of the couple the public and the profession.

Some of my greatest in quantity difficult experiences with the Institute involved circumstances (fortunately scarcely any in number) in which a member died unexpectedly and I was called in to assist the family. While I had no "official" standing in this capacity, I was able to provide direction, maintaining the practice of the deceased with equal reason that clients' needs were serviced and the firm was sold promptly to yield the highest value to the estate. Looking back, it's highly satisfying to know that I was a part of the profession's support mechanism for members and their families.

Also gratifying was the opportunity to be involved with tenders in ICABC committees and forums. These bright and busy race give freely of their time to support Institute activities and initiatives. In bend it was great fun providing support to them athwart the years, and observing and sometimes participating in their discussions. public of these discussions, significant directions and initiatives have arisen.

In closing, I believe the BC Institute is common of the most progressive provincial institutes in Canada, and it has been my privilege to be a part of its endeavours through the past 15 years.

BY DOUG WALLIS, CA

DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Jun/Jul 2005

Provided according to ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved