News from CGA-Canada
FROM: JUL-AUG 2003 ISSUE
Competencies Development an Ongoing Process
Earlier this year, CGA-Canada completed a survey, which asked members and employers to rank the competencies required of a newly certified CGA. For the purposes of the survey, a competency was defined as a behaviour whereby a CGA applies knowledge, skills and professional values in a work environment.
Practitioners and subject matter experts assisted in developing 147 competency statements, which were grouped into four categories: technical knowledge, general management, leadership and professionalism. Data analysis is still underway and, once completed, will be used to guide education policy, as well as develop pre-certification curriculum and examination content in coming years. The results will also have a direct impact on the creation of continuing education resources and professional development products for members.
Currently, the primary tool available to members to identify professional development resources is PDNetwork — a comprehensive, online resource featuring a virtual library of articles, a bibliography of publications and details on professional development opportunities. PDNetwork also contains a self-assessment tool, which enables members to design customized, professional development plans. This comprehensive tool identifies the most common characteristics expected of members at different stages in their careers. It outlines three levels of proficiency — introductory, intermediate and advanced — for each competency. Also on the site are several sample profiles, which identify the relevant competencies and the performance level expected of someone in a senior role.
For students beginning their careers and members with years of experience, self-assessment is critical to ongoing success. Continuous professional development takes your expertise and career opportunities to an advanced level.
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Quebec City Plays Host to FIDEF
The Fédération Internationale des Experts-Comptables Francophones (FIDEF) Board of Directors met in Quebec City on May 31, the first time FIDEF has ever met in North America.
At a dinner following the meeting, CGA-Canada Chair Michel Guindon, MBA, PhD, FCGA, welcomed the group to Canada. He also had a private meeting with the board's executive committee to outline the CGA program of professional studies and discuss how it might address the needs of some FIDEF members.
CGA-Canada has been a member of FIDEF since 1996 and is represented by Jean Précourt, FCGA, presently one of two vice-presidents of the federation. FIDEF is an international organization of professional accounting organizations from 24 countries where French is a common language of the accounting profession. CGA-Canada is the only North American member.
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Barbados Admits 29 New Members
CGA-Barbados welcomed 29 new members at ceremonies held on May 17. Sean Boland and Margo Watkins received the gold and silver medals, respectively, for the highest marks at the Level 4 and PACE Level. CGA-Canada Chair Michel Guindon and Vice-President of International and Corporate Affairs Lyle Handfield represented CGA-Canada at the event. In addition to Guindon, speakers included Brian Robinson, Vice-President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, and Vince Yearwood, CEO of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation, who delivered the feature address.
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Guyana Recognizes CGA Designation
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG), at its annual general meeting on March 31, approved CGA-Canada's request for recognition as a qualifying accounting body in Guyana.
The approval follows recognition of the CGA designation last year by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC). CGA-Canada continues discussions with Jamaica, the only one of the eight ICAC member countries to not yet formally recognize the CGA designation.
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Member Benefits
Contribution to Standards
Responding to accounting, audit and assurance exposure drafts and other related papers — both nationally and internationally — is an excellent opportunity for CGA-Canada to continue to be seen as a respected national accounting association. For the most part, the objective of these exposure drafts is to seek input from stakeholders before an organization finalizes its position on a matter of public policy or practice. As a prominent Canadian professional accounting association and a major force in accounting education, CGA-Canada is often invited to provide input.
These invitations can originate from organizations such as the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB), various committees of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) such as the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) or even such entities as the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Recently, the Association has submitted responses to a number of exposure drafts, some of which are posted on the CGA-Canada Web site. These have covered topics such as continuing professional development standards, audit or independence standards, audit risk and accounting for stock options.
Our ability to provide input often relies heavily on the expertise of CGAs who volunteer their time to the Association. Al Peron, CGA, an Alberta practitioner, and Keon Kwan, CGA, a partner with Jones Richards & Company in British Columbia, are two such volunteers. They are members of our "Rapid Response Team," which has the unique opportunity to provide input from the perspective of a small or medium-sized practitioner to IAASB drafts at the pre-exposure stage.
This process of sharing CGA knowledge and experience contributes to accounting, auditing and assurance standards that meet our needs. CGAs can feel confident that when they see changes made to standards, their Association was representing their interests in this very important area.
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