CIPFA is inviting their members and students to give their views on the proposed consolidation with ICAEW, at a series of meetings around the country.
The President of CIPFA, Vice President or immediate Past President or a representative will attend these events.
The announcement says that the agenda is deliberately unstructured to encourage a dialogue.
All meetings are hosted by the region in which the meeting takes place.
There is one important point that we should not forget, namely that the membership of CIPFA also have to approve of the merger as well as the membership of the ICAEW.
It would be highly embarrassing for the ICAEW if CIPFA rejected the merger.
One other point that caught my eye on the CIPFA website, is the fact that the CIMA logo is still displayed in the header.
CIMA, you will recall, have pulled out of the current merger plans. Is the inclusion of their logo on the CIPFA site merely an oversight, or has no one told CIPFA that CIMA have pulled out?
The timetable can be viewed via this link Regional Meetings.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Audit Commission Criticises Quality of Public Sector Accounts
The Audit Commission has identified that councils do not take the process of preparing, or publishing, their accounts seriously enough.
The Commission noted that 25% of submitted accounts have to be resubmitted, because of significant errors.
The Commission highlighted "significant" departures from UK GAAP, the Commission is also concerned at the delay in bringing the local government systems into line with UK standards.
The Commission noted that 25% of submitted accounts have to be resubmitted, because of significant errors.
The Commission highlighted "significant" departures from UK GAAP, the Commission is also concerned at the delay in bringing the local government systems into line with UK standards.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Competition or Merger?
There is a good article on the Accounting and Business website, outlining the arguments for and against the merger proposals.
You can access the article via this link Accounting & Business.
You can access the article via this link Accounting & Business.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
ICAEW Shuns ICAS
According to Accountancy (page 6 July 2005) the ICAEW seems to be being a tad disingenuous when it says that it is in "continuous dialogue" with ICAS, over the controversial proposed name of the new merged body.
Des Hudson, CEO of ICAS, is quoted as saying:
"we reiterate that we are anxious to sit down and enter into proper negotiations in a good spirit to try and find a solution. And we're ready to do that any time, any place".
In other words, despite what they claim, the ICAEW are not talking to ICAS.
Why?
Des Hudson, CEO of ICAS, is quoted as saying:
"we reiterate that we are anxious to sit down and enter into proper negotiations in a good spirit to try and find a solution. And we're ready to do that any time, any place".
In other words, despite what they claim, the ICAEW are not talking to ICAS.
Why?
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The Hypothetical Merger
Ian Christison, the new president of CIMA, is quoted in Accountancy (page 136 July 2005) as saying a merger with the ICAEW is "hypothetical".
He goes on to say that he is "part of a team which is working to advance the CIMA brand and reputation of members".
Doesn't sound like he is that supportive of the idea of a merger.
He goes on to say that he is "part of a team which is working to advance the CIMA brand and reputation of members".
Doesn't sound like he is that supportive of the idea of a merger.
Monday, June 27, 2005
ACCA Believe Merger Plans Flawed
Allen Blewitt, chief executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) the world’s largest accountancy organisation outside China, has criticised the ICAEW merger plans.
He is quoted in today's Times as saying:
"The model for merging accountancy bodies is probably flawed..We educated accountants to be sceptical and conservative, yet you are asking people to forget years of entrenched mindsets."
He believes that institutes should collaborate first, then worry about whether or not to merge.
He is quoted in today's Times as saying:
"The model for merging accountancy bodies is probably flawed..We educated accountants to be sceptical and conservative, yet you are asking people to forget years of entrenched mindsets."
He believes that institutes should collaborate first, then worry about whether or not to merge.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Row Between ICAS and ICAEW Deepens
Des Hudson's (Chief Executive of ICAS) article about the proposed ICAEW merger, which is published today in Accountancy Age, has raised the hackles of the ICAEW.
In the article Des Hudson says that the merger is based on "unproven beliefs", and that a "monolithic institute" would not be more effective.
He goes on to say that ICAS sees considerable benefit in an "exclusive and unremitting focus on chartered accountants".
Eric Anstee is reportedly so incensed, by what he calls "spoiling tactics", that he has threatened to "realign" the ICAEW's funding of CCAB; he may even withdraw ICAEW from CCAB.
In the article Des Hudson says that the merger is based on "unproven beliefs", and that a "monolithic institute" would not be more effective.
He goes on to say that ICAS sees considerable benefit in an "exclusive and unremitting focus on chartered accountants".
Eric Anstee is reportedly so incensed, by what he calls "spoiling tactics", that he has threatened to "realign" the ICAEW's funding of CCAB; he may even withdraw ICAEW from CCAB.
Friday, June 10, 2005
12% Vote For Subs Hike
In a staggering display of apathy, a mere 12% (15000) of the membership of the ICAEW bothered to vote on the proposal for the 9% subscriptions hike.
63.7% of those who could be bothered to vote, voted in favour of increasing the basic member subscription by 9%, to £252 from £231.
I hope that the 111000 members, who could not be bothered to vote, feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
If this level of apathy is repeated in the merger vote in October, the ICAEW may well win the vote; even though the majority of the membership will not have made their voices heard.
I hope, that more of the membership votes (even if it is in favour of the merger) in October.
63.7% of those who could be bothered to vote, voted in favour of increasing the basic member subscription by 9%, to £252 from £231.
I hope that the 111000 members, who could not be bothered to vote, feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
If this level of apathy is repeated in the merger vote in October, the ICAEW may well win the vote; even though the majority of the membership will not have made their voices heard.
I hope, that more of the membership votes (even if it is in favour of the merger) in October.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Soap Box
My thanks to Des Hudson, the CEO of ICAS, who emailed me last night; and pointed me in the direction of his article, that appeared yesterday in the Soap Box section of The Herald.
The article is written in response to the one a week earlier, featured on this site, in which Eric Anstee discusses the merger; and makes a play for ICAS merging with the ICAEW.
He points out that Anstee's article was inaccurate; in as much as the Scottish Institute is the oldest when compared to the ICAEW.
150 years old, as opposed to 125 years old, to be precise.
The article goes on to point out that ICAS believes that competition is good for the profession, I tend to agree.
Additionally, it notes that the Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies is the appropriate vehicle for the profession to speak with one voice.
He states unequivocally that ICAS has no current intention to merge, noting that there are far more important issues to be focusing on.
He also notes that the takeover of CIPFA would:
"..be an amalgam of accountants not all of whom are, in an everyday sense, recognised as being chartered accountants. The mixture of qualifications the new body would embrace would mean that ICAS would be the only one in the UK that could accurately claim to be called The Institute of Chartered Accountants".
In other words, as I have said, the takeover of CIPFA will dilute the brand.
Now let us be done with this nonsensical proposal and concentrate on more pressing issues, such as cutting Council down to no more than 12 people.
The article is written in response to the one a week earlier, featured on this site, in which Eric Anstee discusses the merger; and makes a play for ICAS merging with the ICAEW.
He points out that Anstee's article was inaccurate; in as much as the Scottish Institute is the oldest when compared to the ICAEW.
150 years old, as opposed to 125 years old, to be precise.
The article goes on to point out that ICAS believes that competition is good for the profession, I tend to agree.
Additionally, it notes that the Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies is the appropriate vehicle for the profession to speak with one voice.
He states unequivocally that ICAS has no current intention to merge, noting that there are far more important issues to be focusing on.
He also notes that the takeover of CIPFA would:
"..be an amalgam of accountants not all of whom are, in an everyday sense, recognised as being chartered accountants. The mixture of qualifications the new body would embrace would mean that ICAS would be the only one in the UK that could accurately claim to be called The Institute of Chartered Accountants".
In other words, as I have said, the takeover of CIPFA will dilute the brand.
Now let us be done with this nonsensical proposal and concentrate on more pressing issues, such as cutting Council down to no more than 12 people.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Scottish Institute To Fight
The change of president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has done nothing to dampen their ardour, in respect of fighting the proposal by the ICAEW to name the merged body "The Institute of Chartered Accountants".
New President Mike Hathorn took up office at the end of April this year.
Des Hudson, the CEO of ICAS, said that ICAS will oppose plans by the combined English-based organisations to adopt the title Institute of Chartered Accountants.
He said that there had been little attempt by the English bodies to discuss the issue.
He is quoted, in an article in The Scotsman, as saying:
"We would be happy to sit down with them and find a sensible solution, but as yet there have been no negotiations".
As I have noted many times, it seems that the ICAEW have not though the merger proposal through.
I don't think that ICAS need worry too much, the merger proposals do not stand a chance of being approved by the membership of the ICAEW.
New President Mike Hathorn took up office at the end of April this year.
Des Hudson, the CEO of ICAS, said that ICAS will oppose plans by the combined English-based organisations to adopt the title Institute of Chartered Accountants.
He said that there had been little attempt by the English bodies to discuss the issue.
He is quoted, in an article in The Scotsman, as saying:
"We would be happy to sit down with them and find a sensible solution, but as yet there have been no negotiations".
As I have noted many times, it seems that the ICAEW have not though the merger proposal through.
I don't think that ICAS need worry too much, the merger proposals do not stand a chance of being approved by the membership of the ICAEW.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)