Skills development put to Scottish vote
Post-qualification professional development for Scottish chartered accountants will become mandatory early next year if Scots ICA members vote in favour of it on October 25.
The proposed scheme will apply to practising members as well as finance directors and their staff involved in the preparation of published financial statements in public interest entities.
Statutory requirements already in force in audit, financial services and insolvency have educational requirements and the need to establish and maintain competence levels. But beyond these areas, the Government has left it to the profession to ensure that accountants meet the levels of education, competence and experience demanded by the public.
Robert Smith, president of the Scots ICA, confirmed the institute’s commitment to continuous professional learning at last month’s summer conference and said true professionals should recognise the need for ongoing study.
He said: ‘I am confident that the vast majority of our members actively pursuing their profession are maintaining and developing their skills and knowledge, but they must also be seen to be doing this and the institute has a responsibility to ensure that it happens.’
Scots ICA members will be expected to complete ‘unstructured’ learning relevant to individual specialities alongside structured learning at courses, seminars and conferences. They will also vote later this month on whether to accept the appointment of an independent ombudsman who would be involved in a range of disciplinary matters.
The ombudsman would come into play when a complainant was not satisfied with the institute’s decision not to pursue a complaint against a member.
‘It will give the public somewhere else to go,’ explained Smith.
