August
CAMBODIA
‘Raksmey Kampuchea Daily' covered the results of the June exams, and included quotes from ACCA's managing director - education, learning and development and ACCA Cambodia's Manager.
CARIBBEAN
The recent launch of a new initiative for members, ACCA Career Pathways, was reported in the ‘Trinidad Guardian'. The pilot online service is geared toward allowing accountants to focus their learning on specific career choices and financial services sector, where more than 30,000 ACCA students and members currently work worldwide.
‘The Daily Express Newspaper' reported that Trinidad and Tobago is one of four Caribbean countries, also including Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana that will host graduation ceremonies to formally recognise a record number of students who took ACCA examinations this year. Some 135, 000 candidates entered ACCA's June 2006 examinations, generating over 263,000 scripts.
CHINA (MAINLAND)
ACCA was found to be in the top five most valued certificates in accounting and finance in China according to ‘Phoenix Website' ‘China Finance' and ‘CPA View website'.
An interview with ACCA president Dennis Yeates appeared in the ‘Southcn website' and ‘New Express. The president discussed his aims and ambitions for his presidential year and explained the roles of ACCA president and council.
‘Beijing Talent Market News' reported that ACCA has announced full details of its new qualification which focus on professionalism and ethics.
Members received coverage in the ‘China Financial and ‘Accounting News' and also the ‘Finance and Accounting Learning Magazine'.
University students gained practical experience through the ACCA Job Hunting Camp and Competition according to ‘Career Post'.
ETHIOPIA
‘Negadrase' reported that 210 students attended a half day workshop which outlined the new ACCA qualifications. A presentation was also made to the country's first registered tuition provider - Zegha College.
GHANA
‘The Moment' covered a half-day seminar held by ACCA Ghana Branch office on “Improving Financial Management at the District Assembly” on 19 July. The seminar was chaired by Edward Dua-Agyeman (FCCA), Auditor General of the Republic of Ghana.
ACCA Ghana held its annual graduation event where 113 affiliates and 36 CAT graduates received their certificates, and a total of 44 specialised awards were presented, reported ‘The Daily Graphic'. Hon. Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science & Sports, was the guest speaker and called on institutions of higher learning to blend professional and academic programmes in their curricula in order to meet the needs of the contemporary environment. Also in attendance at the ceremony was ACCA's vice president who stated ACCA's commitment to maintaining its growth and its enviable reputation in the world's job markets.
HONG KONG
‘Ming Pao Daily' featured an article by ACCA in which Hong Kong President Dilys Chau shared her experience in job interviews and recruitment. Some interview tips for graduates were also included.
HKICPA and ACCA signed a mutual recognition agreement after two years' discussion. ACCA President Dennis Yeates and Chief Executive Allen Blewitt visited Hong Kong for the signing. The event was reported in ‘Oriental Daily News' and ‘HKET'.
A media tea gathering heard ACCA's views on areas including the current ACCA HK initiative to gather opinions on GST. ‘Metro Finance Radio News', ‘InfocastFN.com', ‘Ta Kung Pao.com', ‘Ta Kung Pao', ‘Oriental Daily', ‘The Sun', ‘Sing Tao Daily', ‘Sing Pao', and ‘Hong Kong Commercial Daily' covered the event.
‘Recruit magazine' reviewed the results of recent research conducted by ACCA and CFO Asia Research Services on “Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and CFOs” and how business ethics reveals corporate culture.
In an interview with ‘Hong Kong Economic Times' an ACCA HK Committee Member discussed his career development with his ACCA professional accounting qualification.
INDIA
The ‘Economic Times' reported that business process outsourcing companies are considering the possibility of introducing industry relevant international certification in an attempt to improve productivity and avert attrition. The CAT qualification was praised as helping Indian BPOs to gain credibility.
IRELAND
ACCA advised single premium insurance holders not to panic if they receive a letter from their financial institution notifying them that their details have been provided to the Revenue Commissioners. ACCA advised that the majority of these individuals have nothing to worry about, and this was reported in the ‘Irish Times', ‘Irish Examiner', and ‘Clare FM'.
Limerick accountancy practice Patrick McNamara and Associates made it into the ‘Limerick Post' for receiving the ACCA Quality Checked mark.
MALAYSIA
‘The Edge' featured an article centred on the debate over ethics and corporate social responsibility in general, highlighting the poor corporate governance practices of Proton Holdings Bhd which was recently made public by PwC on the malpractices of previous management.
Five ACCA teams who will be participating in the “Kuala Lumpur Rat Race” received coverage in ‘The Edge' and ‘The Sun'. The charity event is popular amongst Malaysian corporates and is organised by Bursa Malaysia and The Edge.
OMAN
This month's announcement that the ACCA and CAT qualifications can now be directly studied and applied for in the Sultanate of Oman was covered on ‘Oman TV'.
The ‘Oman Observer', ‘Oman Tribune', ‘Times of Oman' all carried articles about the release of the results of ACCA's June examinations. ‘The Times' Reported that a record number of students had received their ACCA exam results, and also carried a table of pass rates.
POLAND
‘Financial Director Poland' carried an article looking at “Financier's Risk” by ACCA Poland's Members Executive Committee's Vice President.
SINGAPORE
‘The Straits Times' and ‘The Business Times' reported on the ACCA and Smart Investor led discussion on “How do we protect whistle-blowers in the absence of legislation?” It discussed the points made by the panellists that the right incentives needed to be put in place to encourage the right type of whistle-blowers who would speak up truthfully. These incentives include measures to protect the identity of the whistle-blower and the confidentiality of their information. Both articles also appeared on ‘Asia one's' website.
‘Smart Investor' highlighted CFOs' view that ethics as more important now than five years ago. It also included the results of the research report by CFO Asia and ACCA and quoted Chief Executive Allen Blewitt as saying that CFOs see their role as important and wanting to play a more important role.
SOUTH AFRICA
“Africa needs strong leadership to thrive” an article written by Peter Mageza, FCCA stated in the ‘City Press'.
UNITED KINGDOM
‘The Western Mail' (Wales) reported that Cardiff accountant Gareth Lynn has been appointed president of ACCA for the South Wales region.
ACCA's call for traditional UK accounting standards to be scrapped and replaced with International Financial Reporting Standards for quoted companies and a new standard for smaller organisations was covered in ‘The Sunday Telegraph', ‘The Independent on Sunday' and the ‘Belfast Telegraph'.
ACCA has counselled against increased regulation in the audit market to break the dominance of the Big Four firms, and this view was covered in ‘The Herald (Scotland)'. In the article ACCA also warned against using “costly market- wide solutions” to defend against the possibility of there only being a Big Three audit firms.
In a special report on alternative energy, ACCA's call for further tax breaks to make alternative power more affordable and accessible for home owners was mentioned in the ‘Daily Telegraph'.
‘Birmingham Post', ‘Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Lichfield and Burntwood Express and Stars' covered ACCA's reminder that those cashing-in a pension should check how much tax is payable, as the taxman could be taking a larger bite than at first anticipated on the received pension payment lump sum.
ACCA's input on the discussion of the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Bill due to be debated in Parliament in the autumn was covered in the ‘Yorkshire Post' and ‘Belfast Telegraph'. Central to articles was the claim that the new legislation will “not make any difference.”
Accounting was gone from “safe to sexy” according to the ‘Financial Times' in the newspaper's accountancy column by Rupert Merson. The BDO Stoy Hayward partner writes that an increasingly complex financial environment is leading to more exciting and fulfilling roles for future accountants. He cited the membership figures of ACCA, ICAEW and the AICPA as showing that there are huge number of accountants with every indication that the profession will get stronger still.
The ‘Financial Times' also carried ACCA's comments on businesses being questioned about old “closed” tax returns in a controversial trial of new Revenue & Customs powers. It was stated that the “heavy handed” powers of Customs officials being extended to those dealing with direct tax was not justified.
‘The Herald' (Scotland) ran an article which looks at calls for the term ‘accountant' to be legally protected, the head of ACCA Scotland Stuart Riddell said: “gaining protection for the public and the profession from the action of unqualified people calling themselves accountants remains on of the key active issues for our members and we will keep pushing with other bodies towards a satisfactory conclusion.”.
The increase in student debt was described as “alarming” it was also suggested that the culture of debt starts too early by ACCA in the ‘Wolverhampton Express and Star', and ‘Walsall Express'.
ACCA's views on the impact of inheritance tax and the need for reform was covered in the ‘Birmingham Post' and ‘The Independent'. This follows news that HM Revenue and Customs generated record levels of revenue from inheritance tax.
VIETNAM
‘Vietnam Business Forum' interviewed Nguyen Phuong Mai, Chief Representative of ACCA in Vietnam on the changes which will come about in the country's financial market on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation, as well as ACCA's plans for the future.
An article on the role of CFOs in ‘Labour Newspaper' (Nguoi Lao Dong), stated that one of the best ways to become a high quality CFO is to get the ACCA qualification. The article explained that ACCA qualification is not just an auditor's certificate – its application is extremely useful for those in CEOs and CFOs positions.
ZAMBIA
Financial crimes were labelled a new scourge of global proportion that need to be fought internationally, regionally, and domestically at the ACCA / ZICA / CIMA 4th joint Annual Business Conference. Accountants were identified in playing an key role in this fight and urged to rise to the implementation challenges of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) reported ‘The Post'.
ZIMBABWE
The ‘Zimbabwe Herald' reported that accountants should look at creative ways of increasing profit for the stakeholders versus decreasing profit for the taxman according to ACCA chairman Mr Fanuel Ndiripo at the association's annual conference. The theme of the conference was "Ethical Fitness". Mr Ndiripo reported that in 2005, ACCA introduced mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all its members. The scheme has helped members worldwide to plan and achieve their career aspirations through ongoing professional development and offer reassurance to employers that ACCA members are equipped with the most relevant and up-to-date skills.