FOR THE PROFESSION CAs sometimes t...

FOR THE PROFESSION

CAs sometimes take the trust and integrity that are at the core of our brand for granted-until an termination like the unraveling of Enron tenders a tabloid view of for what cause vulnerable all brands can be. It's encouraging that, at a time when questions about our integrity are forward the tips of reporters' confines we have a national leader, like David Smith, FCA, who embodies trustworthiness and integrity.

In his first sum of two units months on the job, CICA's novel CEO has made a point of extending a warm hand of friendship to the provincial institutes, along with a message about the ne for all of us to shake together. During his visit to Vancouver in mid-January, Smith spoke about thawing a of the barriers that have held the provincial and national institutes apart, and about facing up to the challenges of the coming time with a unified voice. "A unified voice," Smith was quick to add, "does not mean CICA's voice." He envisions instead a voice of greater complexity, encompassing differing notes from the West, Central Canada, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.

Such a message might quick skepticism, were it not that Smith inspires in the same state [i]or[/i] condition trust. Calling himself a "change management guy" he greatly understates his twenty years of experience in managing change nationally and internationally, which includes having overseen the felicitous integration of Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse. Smith likens the CA federation itself to an accounting firm, and moves that the same efficiencies wrung from national firms in the last decade as they shifted from isolated offices to integrated networks could also be twist ed from our institutes.

Smith's focus forward cooperation and his desire to forge a in good earnest unified voice from ten provinces and a national office results at an opportune moment for BC We're at a point in our history when the independence of auditors is questioned, when the consulting arms of our firms have been stripped away, when our membership has become diverse, and when other designations and classs tempt students into alternate career paths. With these challenges, the ne for objective, trustworthy business advisors operating with insight and integrity has at no time been greater; nor have CAs to the end of time been more capable of filling this part What we must do now is join forces.

The rise will be more than goodwill and collegiality-the forging of ideas and resources will be derived in a national portal that combines CA effects and services with industry resources and information. It will mean strange self-regulatory standards and new fruitss to support them; it will involve a national advertising program-or integrated communication program-that incorporates the expertise of all players; and it will require a continued effort to streamline education hypothesiss All of these initiatives will support the brand of trust and integrity. They'll also help our profession stay relevant from shifting us from a world defined by dint of historical accounting opinions to single where new standards add value to businesses based in succession ideas, information, and technology.

In the coming month you'll hear more about national chances that will truly allow us to pond our strengths, combine our resources, and work together to bring our members the yields and services needed to stand at the top of the accounting profession. It's by the agency of this kind of joint effort that I believe we'll prevail upon forward. In my three years as CEO in BC I've tried to bring BC members together, hear your different perspectives, and disclose programs that recognize these differences while building in succession our common bond as CAs. It's now time to take our consensus building to the national even As we begin planning for our recent fiscal year in April, our intention will be to find efficiencies, add value, and deliver quality end cooperation.

David Smith increaseed an invitation for us to work together to strengthen our brand, rise above challenges to the profession, and add value to today's businesses. It's an invitation we accept wholeheartedly.

RICHARD REE FCA

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Feb/Mar 2002

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