GOAL 1: Ensure full professional equity for CGAs
Ensuring full professional equity for CGAs is an important stepping stone towards becoming the most important accounting designation in Canada. By working with our provincial affiliates to create an integrated strategy, CGA-Canada can ensure that all legal and practical barriers between designations are ultimately dissolved. Moreover, CGA-Canada will play an important role in influencing standard setting across Canada and abroad, and is determined to retain its acquired practice rights.3
Overview:
We are encouraged this year by several events that signal that the tide may have turned in our fight to attain full practice rights for CGAs. After many years of using the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) as a mechanism to allow CGAs to practice across Canada, we were constantly frustrated, as others are, by the agreement’s inadequate dispute resolution mechanism. Accordingly, we released our fourth paper on the AIT this year, advocating for improvements.
We were rewarded at the end of this fiscal year by recommendations coming out of the federal Committee on Internal Trade. After meeting in Halifax, the committee agreed with our position, recommending that internal trade barriers be removed to allow labour mobility across Canada, and that the dispute resolution mechanism in the AIT be overhauled to increase effectiveness. We applaud this action, and will press governments to take the necessary steps to implement these changes.
PULL OUT QUOTE:
6 |
Number of statements delivered to Senate and House of Commons committees |
4 |
Number of CGA-Canada reports to date on the subject of internal trade |
Internal Trade
Few would argue that a productive and competitive marketplace is necessary for Canada to achieve its full economic potential. And an open, efficient and stable domestic market is necessary to accomplish this goal.
CGA-Canada spoke out again this year on the issue of internal trade, releasing its fourth paper on the subject titled It’s Time to Move on from the Agreement on Internal Trade! In this paper, a new approach was proposed to regulate domestic trade based on an “open trade principle” whereby no government will maintain measures that restrict or impair interprovincial trade, investment and labour mobility unless these measures are necessary to achieve a legitimate purpose.
Public Practice Rights
Long awaited Quebec legislation to reform public accounting in Quebec died on the table as an election was called shortly after the bill was introduced. However, the fact that it was introduced demonstrated that the government is serious about reforming the public accounting licensing regime in Quebec. The Ordre des CGA du Québec recently met with the Quebec Minister of Justice who plans to redeposit the legislation at the opening of the new session in October 2007. CGA-Canada strongly supports this initiative.
CGA-Canada has been supporting CGA Ontario with consultation regarding education requirements and exams as CGA Ontario undertakes to satisfy the sufficiency testing requirements to be permitted to license public accountants under the provisions of the Public Accounting Act 2004.
Elections E-Guide
In early June, CGA-Canada launched its Elections E-Guide, a valuable tool for those who audit federal political campaigns. For the first time, the guide is an interactive web based tool that includes the new changes to the Elections Act as recent as those that came into effect in January 2007. A practical adjunct to the Canada Elections Act, the guide will help candidates and official agents to understand the stringent accounting and financial reporting requirements of the act.
Parliamentary Relations
CGA-Canada contributes to public policy discussions and consultations in part by making presentations to Senate and House of Commons committees. A record year, CGA-Canada delivered statements to the following committees:
- House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women
- Study on Economic Security of Women
- Special Senate Committee on Aging
- Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
- Bill C-25, An Act to Amend the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Income Tax Act
- Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
- Fixing Canada’s federal-provincial Agreement on Internal Trade
- Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
- In relation to its study of Bill C-2 The Federal Accountability Act
- House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
- On its prebudget consultations 2006
Of special note is CGA-Canada’s appearance before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce regarding changes to Bill C-25. As an association of professional accountants, CGA-Canada recognizes the important role it plays in assisting Canada’s law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing. Indeed, since the enactment of Canada’s Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, CGA-Canada invested significant time and effort in developing professional and educational materials, seminars, as well as other initiatives to ensure that members comply with all aspects of this legislation.
The association expressed concern that the new legislation requires professional accountants to exercise considerable judgment in recognizing whether a transaction is in fact money laundering or terrorist financing. It was suggested that a set of guidelines be provided to accountants to clarify expectations.
Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB)
Last year, CGA-Canada launched an application for a judicial review of the independence and authority of the CPAB in overseeing the performance of reporting issuers’ audits in Canada. The case is expected to be heard by the courts in the new year.
Standards
As a national professional accounting body, CGA-Canada plays a critical consultative role in the development of accounting and assurance standards. The association has further enhanced its role in standard setting through a collaborative relationship with the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB). The AcSB is responsible for setting accounting standards for Canadian companies and not for profit organizations.
In September 2006, Kamalesh Gosalia, CGA, joined the AcSB and now serves as secretary on the AcSB Emerging Issues Committee (EIC). The EIC provides a forum for the timely review of emerging accounting issues that are likely to receive divergent treatment in practice in the absence of some guidance.
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GOAL 2: Be the fastest growing accounting designation
CGA-Canada will continue to lead in designation growth. To that end, CGA-Canada will support the affiliates to continuously grow the CGA population in both absolute numbers and market share. Through this integration of effort and resources, CGA-Canada and its affiliate partners can ensure that quality remains a top priority throughout the execution of the strategic process. CGA-Canada can support affiliate initiatives by setting entry level and certification targets. CGA-Canada will enforce appropriate quality standards.
These are the key elements that must be in place for the federation to meet this goal. The right recruitment strategy is vital to attracting new members and students. Ensuring that current programs are up-to-date in addressing current professional issues will further promote the growth of students entering our program.4
Overview:
CGA-Canada continues to broaden the range of options available to enrol in the CGA Program of Professional Studies. While the flexibility of study options available and the number of opportunities for accountants continue to drive intake for students in their early and mid careers, this year CGA reached out to international students, making options available for students at Tecnológico de Monterrey. To round it all off, an agreement with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) makes it possible for ACCA members to become CGAs and vice versa, making opportunities available for CGAs both in Canada and in other countries to become ACCA members.
New Agreement with Tecnológico de Monterrey
In late 2006, CGA-Canada signed an agreement with Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico that gives Mexican students the opportunity to earn a CGA designation and to study at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Tecnológico de Monterrey is a highly regarded private university with campuses throughout Mexico and partnerships with universities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The first student exchanges under the CGA agreement begin in August 2007.
Students spend their first three years enrolled in public accounting and finance degree courses at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Their next year – comprised of two semesters and two advanced online CGA courses – is spent at the UBC campus in Vancouver. Students then return to Mexico to complete their last two online courses, which will prepare them for the final professional exams. CGA accreditation is awarded when they receive their degree in public accounting from Tecnológico de Monterrey and have obtained three years work experience.
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GOAL 3: Be a value provider to the profession and the public
CGA-Canada must ensure that it is providing the best value to three target groups: CGAs, the accounting profession and the general public. For members, this implies the provision of products and services which address their needs. For the profession, CGA-Canada will be committed to delivering the best standards and related research. Finally, for the public, the federation will be committed to providing the best possible public policy input, government committee participation and advocacy on behalf of the broad public interest.5
Overview:
This goal speaks to the work CGA-Canada does in providing value to a broad spectrum of interest groups – from CGAs, who rely on the association to provide services and information, to the general public, who look to accounting associations to play a role in protecting their interests in matters related to financial reporting, ethics and business leadership.
In addition to the member services it provides, CGA-Canada has defined a number of areas of interest that it routinely addresses to meet this goal. Taxation, productivity, government regulation, issues that concern the small/medium enterprise(SME), small/medium practice (SMP) sectors, securities regulation, accounting and auditing standards, professional standards for accountants, aging populations, income trusts, sustainability reporting, internal trade and pensions are some of the areas we have provided comment on this year.
PULL OUT QUOTE:
Over 50 |
Number of years Canadians have debated the structure of securities regulation |
8 |
Number of exposure drafts CGA-Canada addressed in 2006-07 |
Securities Regulation in Canada
The topic of securities regulation has been on the public policy agenda for over 50 years but recently the debate has heated up again. This year, CGA-Canada weighed in on the subject with a discussion paper titled The Regulation of Public Accounting and Accounting and Auditing Standard Setting under a Common Securities Regulator in Canada.
Commissioned by CGA-Canada and authored by Professor Poonam Puri of Osgoode Hall Law School, the paper offered a new perspective on the mandate of a common securities regulator in relation to public accounting, standard setting and auditor oversight. Three possible models were put forward for public comment.
Federal Budget Consultations
Each year, CGA-Canada participates in the consultations leading up to the federal budget and provides comments on budget day. This positions CGA-Canada as an informed and credible source of information and advice on matters relating to Canada’s tax and fiscal policy.
The process begins with a presentation of the prebudget brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. This year our brief, Canada’s Competitive Edge: Honing Growth and Productivity, focused on what needs to be done to improve Canadian productivity – an issue of importance not only to accountants but to all Canadians.
CGA-Canada urged the government to reduce the regulatory burden, streamline tax compliance and reduce red tape, and pressed the government not only to look at new spending but bring forward processes that will challenge existing program spending to ensure objectives are met and aligned with priorities.
In our 2007 budget commentary, CGA-Canada welcomed measures which provide Canadian families with more means to earn, save and invest for the future. We applauded measures announced in the budget to reduce the federal paper burden by 20 per cent by 2008 and gave the budget an overall passing grade.
Economic News Luncheons
The Economic News Luncheon Series in Ottawa provides a forum to discuss topics of interest to CGAs and the public at large. This high profile outreach activity promotes the designation by featuring prominent speakers who address important business, economic and policy issues.
This year, speakers included:
- Sheila Fraser, auditor general of Canada
- From Passport Security to Protecting our Cultural Heritage: Is the Government Getting it Right?
- David H. Wilkins, U.S. ambassador (to Canada)
- The Road Ahead in the U.S. – Canada Relationships: How Friends Face Change and Overcome Challenge
- Jennifer Stoddart, privacy commissioner of Canada
- Moving Forward with Private Sector Data Protection
- A panel presentation with: Anthony Ariganello, FCGA, president and CEO, CGA-Canada; Michael Murphy, executive vice president, policy, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Caroline Oades, head of research, ACCA, U.K.
- Compliance: A Canada – U.K. Dialogue
Sponsorships
- Canada’s Top 40 Under 40
This is our second year of a three year platinum sponsorship of the Caldwell Partners Top 40 Under 40 awards. The program honours Canadians under the age of 40 who have shown outstanding leadership and community contributions.
- 17th World Congress of Accountants (WCOA)
CGA-Canada once again was a bronze level sponsor of the 17th World Congress of Accountants held in Istanbul in November 2006. The WCOA is organized every four years by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
- The Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA)
The CAAA's annual conference was held in Halifax in June 2007. CGA-Canada was a diamond sponsor of this event that focused on the theme Accounting and Accountability.
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC)
CGA-Canada was a platinum sponsor once again of ICAC's annual Caribbean Conference of Accountants, held in June 2007 in St. Kitts and Nevis.
- Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) of Canada
CGA-Canada was a sponsor of AFOA's seventh National Conference, held in February 2007 in Vancouver.
- Jack Webster Awards
A sponsor of the Jack Webster Awards for Excellence in Journalism since 2002, CGA-Canada supported the awards again in 2006.
- Financial Executives International (FEI)
CGA-Canada continued its sponsorship of the FEI Canada North America Conference held in June 2007 in Halifax.
- Financial Management Institute of Canada
CGA-Canada was a sponsor of the Financial Management Institute of Canada’s three day Public Sector Management Workshop in May, 2007.
Research Overview
As a national accounting association, CGA-Canada contributes to the ongoing public discussion on issues of importance in the business community by conducting research and participating in public policy analysis and discussions. CGA-Canada’s public policy research initiative began in 2004 and to date has published a total of seven research papers. This year, CGA-Canada analyzed the complexities of SME regulation and issues related to Canada’s productivity.
Small Business and Regulation
In October 2006, CGA-Canada and ACCA launched a joint research project on the impact of the regulatory burden on SMEs. Both organizations published research reports, which were launched at events in Ottawa and London.
CGA-Canada’s research included three components: a survey of publicly listed SMEs in Canada; a CGA practitioner survey; and a round table discussion. Concurrently, ACCA conducted its own survey of SMEs in the United Kingdom.
The final CGA-Canada report, titled Tackling Compliance: Small Business and Regulation in Canada, called on governments to assess the costs of regulation, establish reduction targets and make this information available to the public. To reduce regulatory burden, the association recommended appointing a federal minister to oversee the SME portfolio, harmonizing securities regulation in Canada and promoting market forces rather than regulation in influencing businesses to act responsibly.
Canadian Productivity
Throughout the year in 2006 and in early 2007, Canadian productivity became the focus of attention as many indicators pointed to a surprising decline in global competitiveness. Therefore, the 2007 launch of Fading Productivity: Making Sense of Canada’s Productivity Challenge provided timely information and insight. The report points to a weak investment in higher learning, poor quality math and science education, declining employer supported training opportunities, excessive business regulation and weak investment in capital goods as trends contributing to our weakening global competitiveness.
Exposure Draft Responses
A critical element in the work of a national accounting association is providing input to the standards setting process. Exposure drafts play an important role in this function. This year, CGA-Canada provided responses on the following subjects:
|
Issuer |
Subject |
|
Canadian Securities Administrators and Registration Requirements (31-103) |
Internal Control Reporting Requirements |
|
International Federation of Accountants |
Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants |
|
International Accounting Standards Board |
Fair Value Measurements |
|
International Federation of Accountants |
Practical Experience Requirements: Professional Development for Accountants |
|
International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB) |
2007-2009 IAESB Strategic and Operational Plan |
|
International Accounting Education Board |
Approaches to Developing and Maintaining Professional Values, Ethics and Attitudes |
|
Auditing and Assurance Standards Board |
Compilation Engagements |
|
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) |
Presentation of Financial Statements |
IASB Exposure Draft Response
SME standards have long been an area of concern for CGA-Canada, and for many years we have been a frequent and vocal advocate on the subject both nationally and internationally. Therefore, it was with great interest that we reviewed the IASB exposure draft on International Financial Reporting Standards for SMEs. Because of the importance of this subject, CGA-Canada has undertaken to explore the full range of views on this topic before formulating our response.
CGA-Canada is working with Paul Pacter, director of standards for SMEs, IASB, to gather comments and information on this topic. Prior to a presentation to the CGA-Canada board of directors in July 2007, Pacter participated in roundtable discussions at three locations across Canada to exchange views and share information.
CGA-Canada continues to gather input from CGA practitioners, owners of SMEs and users of SME financial statements for its response to the IASB by October 2007.
The Dialogue Publication
This year two issues of the CGA-Canada publication Dialogue were distributed in Canadian Business magazine and Les Affaires, with each issue reaching a total of 185,000 recipients. This outreach to a general business audience focused on CGA-Canada’s key areas of interest and profiled the CGA designation as a leader in research and education.
Azerbaijan
Last year, CGA-Canada worked with the World Bank on the Reports on Observance of Standards and Codes initiative. Building on this experience, a second contract was completed this year, providing training materials for the Institutional Capacity Building project for the Chamber of Auditors of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
MEMBER SERVICES
Public Practice Manual (PPM)
The CGA PPM is updated twice a year, in May and November. The latest version incorporates significant revisions to both the general and small audit programs that reflect changes to audit standards.
PD Net
In February 2007, PD Net, the online resource for continuing professional development for CGAs, was relaunched to target a broader public audience. This project is jointly managed by CGA-Canada and provincial affiliates through the Joint Professional Development Initiative. The newly redesigned site features updated navigation and a contemporary design while still providing access to some information to members only.
CGA Magazine
In March 2007, a newly designed CGA Magazine was launched. The new look, editorial approach and advertising strategy was put in place to increase the depth and breadth of the magazine’s content and reach and to retain and increase reader interest. This publication remains CGAs’ foremost resource for information on current issues and relevant trends in the business world. Printed six times a year, the magazine is distributed to 70,000 CGAs, students and leaders in the business, government, education and regulatory communities.
Professional Liability Insurance
Consistent with our mandate to continually review and enhance member benefits, CGA-Canada brokered an agreement this year with Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. to provide members’ professional liability insurance. Under this new agreement, premiums will be decreased and several enhancements will be made to the office contents package. Practitioners can renew their insurance online as of July 2007.
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GOAL 4: Protect and enhance our leadership position in the delivery of education, certification and continuing professional development
At the heart of this strategy is CGA-Canada’s goal to further develop itself as a leader in education, certification, and continued professional development. We must be leaders in addressing market needs while always being mindful of the changing needs and values of our members. Being adaptable to change is a key element to the success of this strategy. Even more important is that CGA-Canada will take an active role in shaping the changes that occur. By being proactive, we can ensure that CGA-Canada is a key player in determining the direction the profession takes in the future.6
Overview:
CGA-Canada is recognized for providing the highest quality education, certification and continuing professional development. The growth of the designation is realized through constant evaluation of the CGA Program of Professional Studies to ensure it addresses the needs of today’s businesses.
PULL OUT QUOTE:
133 |
Number of publications and products delivered |
30,000 |
Approximate number of exams marked |
Course Development
CGA-Canada had another productive year developing publications and educational materials. A total of 133 publications and products were developed for the CGA Program of Professional Studies, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Laurentian University Honours Bachelor of Commerce and online MBA, post-secondary sales and international versions of CGA courses.
In addition, the Overview of Canadian Tax and Law course was developed for ACCA members who wish to become CGAs. This is consistent with provisions in the mutual recognition agreement signed with ACCA.
Examinations
This year, CGA-Canada developed and delivered 65 examinations and marked a total of approximately 30,000 examinations.
Implementation of a Revised Certification Model
CGA-Canada periodically reviews and enhances its certification model to ensure its leadership position among professional accounting programs. This year program enhancements previously announced were developed and implemented. These updates included the development of the new Professional Applications 2 course Strategic Financial Management, which was available to students for the first time in September 2006, as well as the revision of the Professional Applications 1 course, Issues in Professional Practice, available to students for the first time in January 2007.
Learning Management System Goes National
CGA-Canada and its provincial affiliates have adopted the Blackboard Learning Management System on a national basis as the platform to deliver the CGA Program of Professional Studies. The Blackboard system will be managed and operated by CGA Ontario for all affiliates. A pilot of the new system will begin in 2007 to test systems and dataflow, with all provincial affiliates fully operational by the fall of 2008.
Back by Popular Demand – the Senior Academic Retreat
The senior academic retreat, offered in conjunction with CGA-Canada’s Senior Academic Program was available for the second time this year. This popular program fast tracks academics through the Program of Professional Studies, recognizing the expert knowledge and experience of post secondary academics with a PhD. As part of this program, applicants share knowledge and develop relationships at a weekend retreat. In May of this year, 12 PhDs from across Canada met in Whistler, B.C. to complete the Professional Applications case analysis in a facilitated team based format.
Agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
CGA-Canada is working with the CRA to renew an agreement which outlines positions in the workforce that meet the work experience requirements for CGA certification. The document will serve as a template for similar agreements within other areas of the federal government.
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GOAL 5: Increase our visibility and achieve high brand recognition and value
Increasing CGA-Canada’s profile by making it more visible to business leaders and the general public is vital to the successful promotion of the CGA designation. CGA-Canada is committed to being proactive and aggressive in promoting the designation’s brand recognition. The key to achieving this strategic goal will be to actively seek out, establish and develop strong relationships with key stakeholders who can provide CGA-Canada with the opportunities necessary to achieve greater exposure.7
Overview:
Many aspects of the association rely on our public profile and recognition for success. Recruitment, advocacy and external relationships all rely on the strength of the CGA brand to meet their goals. This year, CGA leveraged its research to gain media attention, developed partnerships and promoted its awards, conferences and publications to heighten awareness of the CGA designation throughout the Canadian business community.
PULL OUT QUOTE:
32,500,000 |
Number of media impressions garnered by CGA-Canada in two research launches |
CGA-Canada Signs Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with ACCA
ACCA, the largest and fastest growing international professional accountancy body and CGA-Canada signed an MRA in December 2006. This agreement not only enables qualified members of either body to become a member of the other body, it also builds a relationship between our two associations which share common areas of interest and a mutual focus on trust, integrity and high professional standards.
This relationship offers opportunities in the future for partnering on various enterprises, and builds our reputation as an internationally recognized designation.
In the year ahead, CGA-Canada will continue to seek out and foster other international alliances and partnerships to serve the needs of increasingly mobile members.
External Communications
CGA-Canada engages in various external communications tactics to raise the profile of the association. Research materials provide an excellent opportunity for media coverage. This year, two research report launches garnered over 32,500,000 media impressions.
National advertising included promotion of the ACCA agreement, CGA-Canada’s international delegates and the CGA Executive program. In addition, printed materials and online information were developed to promote CGA-Canada’s sponsorship of various events and conferences. Speeches and presentations were also developed for staff and delegates who attended national and international events.
Student Awards
Each year, CGA-Canada recognizes students who exemplify the professionalism and expertise for which the CGA designation is known. Based on results of the 2005-06 academic year, a total of 18 awards were presented to 17 new CGAs and students.
John Leslie Award
The John Leslie Award was established in 1988 to honour CGA-Canada’s founder and first president. It recognizes the achievements of exceptional CGAs – those who have achieved national recognition for exceptional service to business, the community, politics, the arts, or have overcome physical adversity.
In July 2006, CGA-Canada announced that Vern Krishna, FCGA was the recipient of the John Leslie Award. A professor with the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Krishna is one of Canada’s leading tax scholars, recognized for making tax law accessible to a general audience.
2006 CGA Fellowship (FCGA) RecipientsIn November 2006,
CGA-Canada granted 24 FCGA awards. The highest honor granted by
CGA-Canada, this award recognizes CGAs who provide exemplary service to the association, the profession, or the public. Each FCGA recipient has made a significant impact in their community and in the profession as a whole.
International Delegates
CGA-Canada’s international delegates play a key role in raising the profile of the CGA designation. By providing expertise to professional bodies and organizations, these CGAs are critical to the association’s goal to be internationally recognized as an influential professional body.
- Former CGA-Canada Chair, Dany Girard, FCGA participated on the IASB’s SME project working group and was named to the board of the Fédération internationale des experts-comptables francophones (FIDEF) in 2006.
- Another former CGA-Canada Chair, Sylvie Voghel, FCGA is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) board of directors and is chair of the IFAC SMP committee. Her role as chair of the IFAC SMP committee will continue until 2008, at which time she will be eligible to serve an additional three year term.
- Pierre Barnès, FCGA is currently president of the Interamerican Accounting Association, one of four regional organizations recognized by IFAC. His term comes to an end in the fall of 2007.
- Dale Gislason, FCGA was appointed to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) Use of Experts Task Force in 2006.
- Jean Précourt, FCGA was appointed president of FIDEF in October 2006 for a two year term. He served as vice president of FIDEF and has been a delegate since 2001.
Shanghai Conference
In November 2006 , the CGA-Canada International Conference titled Current Issues of Sino-Canadian Capital Market was held at the Baolong convention center in Shanghai. The conference was presented by the Beijing and Shanghai chapters of CGA-Canada and the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE). CGAs and professors from SUFE delivered presentations on the Canadian tax system, current People’s Republic of China taxation policies and emerging issues on tax reform. More than 120 CGAs, students and representatives from various enterprises and universities participated in this conference.
Building the CGA Brand
This year the Competitive Analysis Task Force was charged with analyzing the association’s competitive situation. The task force presented its report at the March board meeting and implementation began immediately on the two recommendations included in the report. The recommendations are:
- That CGA-Canada engage a national/multinational branding/image development firm to develop brand attributes, value proposition, look and feel and messages and to develop specific tactical recommendations for the board’s consideration at a subsequent board meeting; the firm will report to the president and CEO of CGA-Canada who will consult with the Chief Operating Officers group.
- That the National Education Committee continues its efforts to identify opportunities to improve the flow through rate for students at all levels of the CGA Program of Professional Studies.
A strong national brand and presence will be of paramount concern in the years ahead.
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GOAL 6: Ensure the health of the organization
In order to achieve all other strategic goals, it is essential that CGA-Canada remain a healthy, sound and vibrant organization. Establishing the financial and human resources required to achieve its mandate, while ensuring that governance, management tools and working relationships are in place will be essential to making CGA-Canada’s mandate a reality. CGA-Canada seeks to be a model organization that others will emulate. It will pursue the highest standards in all respects from its programs and services to the organizational elements required to operate efficiently and effectively.8
Overview:
In order to ensure that a strong operational framework is available to implement CGA-Canada’s six strategic goals, the association’s operations are under constant review with an eye to ensuring overall organizational effectiveness and efficiency. This year, the governance structure was reviewed, CGA Shared Services Facilities Corporation was reorganized, CGA-Canada’s accounting system was re-structured and a decision was taken to purchase an office complex to house CGA-Canada’s head office.
Governance Task Force
This year, the Governance Task Force studied alternative governance models and reviewed CGA-Canada’s governance structure. As a result of this analysis, the task force determined that a two tiered model, consisting of a smaller board and an affiliation council, would provide more effective and efficient governance of the association. The new model, which will be decided on at CGA-Canada’s annual general meeting in September, is designed for a greater strategic focus and a streamlined structure ensures effective teamwork and communication between affiliates and CGA-Canada.
CGA Shared Services Facilities Corporation (SSF)
CGA Manitoba was appointed by the SSF Board of Directors as manager of the SSF and will lead the implementation of a new student and member management system. The new system, which was designed to track student and member information, was acquired from the Aptify Corporation. It is scheduled to be launched in time for the start of the 2007-08 academic year.
Accounting System Restructure
CGA-Canada’s internal accounting system received an overhaul this year, and the result was a restructured budget and a simpler, more efficient financial system. The 2007-08 budget year will benefit from a more transparent and accountable system.
100th Anniversary of the CGA Designation
CGA-Canada and CGA affiliates look forward to celebrating one hundred years of the CGA designation in 2008. Celebrations will commence with a formal launch in February, 2008.
A Workplace for the Future
CGA-Canada is proud to offer a collegial, comfortable and convenient workplace for its 130 staff members as well as fair and equitable compensation packages. This year saw several new staff programs introduced to ensure the smooth and effective operations of the association.
As the lease on office space that CGA-Canada has held in Vancouver expires in September 2008, an extensive evaluation was undertaken to determine the best course of action. After much consultation, it was decided that CGA-Canada would purchase a building. A suitable location has been identified and negotiations for the purchase are underway.
Conclusion
As the association closes the door on one fiscal year and opens the door on a new one, CGA-Canada is well positioned to grow and take the next step in achieving our strategic goals. Our key performance drivers – the education program, government relations, research, international and public affairs functions – continue to flourish and develop relevant products and services. The reputation of CGA-Canada as a credible, knowledgeable and trusted organization grows every year.
Ours is a strong, vibrant organization, one with tremendous potential for future growth and success. We’ve set our course with our strategic plan and strategic goals – and this year has seen significant progress towards those goals. Next year we look forward to building on that success.
3Ibid., 38.
4Ibid., 39.
5Ibid., 40.
6Ibid., 41.
7Ibid., 42.
8Ibid., 43.
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