Tag: Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

In today’s complex financial landscape, business owners need more than just insurance policies. Business owners need the comprehensive, unbiased advice that can only come from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) to create a holistic financial plan. It is important to understand the distinction between a ‘tied agent’ and an IFA.

Procurement and supply body adds voice to discourse over legislation and calls for more radical reforms to root out corruption. We have submitted a series of detailed recommendations for South Africa’s Public Procurement Bill with the intention of advancing the principles of ethical procurement practices within the Southern Africa region.

As we journey through life – from our first jobs to marriage and children, retirement and planning your estate – it is essential to have a certified financial planner. They can guide us through every stage in life, helping us to save enough and leave a legacy for our loved ones.

In the current economic environment, there are various reasons why small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would require an audit of their annual financial statements. An audit could be required by law in terms of the Companies Act of South Africa, the company’s memorandum of incorporation, the bank during an application for funding, potential investors, or the regulators in the industry in which that SME operates (or any other legislation).

The primary responsibility of every accountant is to serve the public interest first. But, as asked by the Roman poet Juvenal, 'Who will guard the guards themselves?' Who ensures accountants remain accountable? This is the function of professional accountancy organisations (PAOs), and it is the reason every accountant should be a member of such an association.

This article by Kerryn Kohl, co-founder of 4thTalent, is about developing competence for the future world of work and is the first-part of a five-part series on the Future of Education run by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

We have begun thinking differently about what accountancy is and needs to be in a world marked by advanced technological capabilities and extreme socio-economic conditions.

The only constant in a tech-driven world is change. Rapid advances in technology are driving change in the workplace. To remain competitive, businesses are having to implement new strategies that include technology, upskilling their workforce, employing agile leaders and promoting a culture of lifelong learning among managers and other employees.

This feature takes a look at how professionalism helps to build and maintain an ethical society, one that upholds the values of honesty, integrity and dependability. It explores the role professional bodies play in setting and upholding industry standards, and how professional development assists in the maintenance of those standards. It also looks at the role business schools are playing in professional development, and what skills will be needed in the future world of work.

As one of the original members of the SAQA commission which worked on the Professional Body framework and regulations, I am now astounded by how existing and aspirant Professional Bodies, but more so, pre-existing Statutory Bodies, are consciously misinterpreting what Continuous Professional Development(CPD) is and how it needs to be quality assured.