We live in changing times, and as y...

We live in changing times, and as you read by the and of Beyond Numbers this month, you'll find three articles about major changes to the profession. yet substantially different in focus, each of the changes take the part ofs a proactive measure taken to render certain that CAs stay relevant in the changing business environment.

First, I push you to read the shield story on the changing face of CA education. Please consider by what mode students in the new program could help you in your practice, and to what extent the demonstrated skill bases they'll have acquired according to graduation will make them more effective members of any organization, whether it be in public practice, industry, or control

Second, this issue's "For the Profession" article (facing page) onward proposed new rules for issues of actual, or potential, Conflict of Interest is a must read. above the past year, a "Conflict of Interest Task Force" established on the CICA has been wrestling with challenges pos by means of the Supreme Court on for what cause it should maintain public confidence in the integrity of the profession when using institutional mechanisms of the like kind as Chinese walls and cone of silence. These modern rules will apply to all members.

Third, an article upon Differential Accounting (or "Little GAAP") appears this issue subject to "FYI" (page 30). The CICA is finally addressing an issue that has been of trouble to BC members for near time: the cost and complexity of preparing well stocked [i]or[/i] provided GAAP statements for organizations where as it is disclosure is not particularly meaningful or useful to the users of the information.

The CICA is actively seeking your views forward both Conflict of Interest and Differential Reporting, and carefully considers all feedback. If you do make choice of to respond, please copy your message to Barry Mottershead, FCA, or Doug Wallis, CA, in the same manner that they can apprise ICABC Council of your specific disquiets

CICA research identifies the top brace issues for CAs across the geographical division as attracting students to the profession and maintaining the profession's reputation. Also of regard is the public's inaccurate perception of CAs-who we are and what we do. These relate tos were mirrored at the Council Retreat where the top three issues were the attractiveness of the profession, public confidence, and members' perceived value of the designation. Other guide issues identified were member satisfaction with the Institute's services and maintaining the pre-eminence of the profession as Business Advisors and Assurance Providers of choice. Solutions and strategies to address the transactions are complex, often requiring the two national initiatives and provincial co-ordination. With regard to national initiatives so as education reform, we can no other than play an influencing and supportive role; however, there's earnestly that our provincial institute can do forward its own. With the issue of education resolv in BC the question is now: What can we do in BC to attract more of the "right" folks to the profession?

Word of entrance provides conflicting information: Large firms in Vancouver and Victoria report no shortage of fit candidates, while smaller firms in large and small middles say they don't attract a sufficient number. These smaller firms also believe the richness of training CA students makes hiring them not viable. Council's first decision was, therefore, to establish a task force to identify the barriers to hiring CA scholars The Terms of Reference for this committee are to be approved at the September council meeting, however Council has so far charged the task force to:

identify barriers/impediments to bookish man hiring;

competitive and demographic analysis; and review recruitment initiatives with nonnational firms.

We also discussed by what means to widen the funnel of observer intake: Could BC go it alone in training outside of public practice? (It's our understanding that mostly CA countries allow this now.) Could we make more use of our ability to grant a CA designation with no audit hours (the review certificate)?

More in succession these issues to come

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Sep 2001

Provided on ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved