A “robust and comprehensive” review of CA ANZ conduct procedures is on track to report in April ahead of a vote by members on the revised regime at the October AGM, the professional body said yesterday.
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“This review is timely and the most significant review of our conduct program in more than five years and I’m confident the process is robust and comprehensive,” said CA ANZ group executive advocacy, professional standing and international development Simon Grant.
“We will be encouraging members to get involved and to share their views when the review recommendations come out and then to vote on any bylaw changes at our AGM later in the year.”
The review aimed to ensure its conduct framework remained in line with global best practice, it said, and its team had benchmarked CA ANZ’s rules
against accounting bodies and professional associations in Australia and New Zealand ranging from the Law Society of NSW to Engineers Australia.
The review committee also examined around 25 submissions from members and other stakeholders during an initial consultation.
It was launched last August following widespread criticism of disciplinary measures imposed on just eight unnamed members after hundreds were revealed to be cheating in KPMG internal exams.
The review committee will deliver in-principle recommendations to former Federal Court justice Dennis Cowdroy in March for independent assessment, before communicating the recommendations to CA ANZ members by the end of April.
A vote at the October AGM will then allow members to decide the matter. Last year’s AGM revealed a groundswell of dissatisfaction with the body, and a motion to increase the pay of board members was voted down in a surprise result.
The review committee comprises CEO Ainslie van Onselen, chairman John Palermo, council president Murray Harrington, plus the chairs of the Audit and Risk Committee, People and Remuneration Committee, the Professional Conduct Oversight Committee, the NZICA Regulatory Board and four group executives.
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