Gillian Bowen, Host: Hello, I'm Gillian Bowen, Public Affairs Manager at Chartered Accountants ANZ,
Gillian Bowen, Host: or CA ANZ. This is Small Firm, Big Impact.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, it'd be fair to say that none of our
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: members would be enjoying the headlines of recent weeks, especially
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: especially the overwhelming majority who live up to the charge
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: every day and do the right thing. And so what
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: I will say is there is never an excuse for
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: unethical behavior. And you're right, there is a spotlight on
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the accounting profession right now, how it carries out its
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: work and the role of professional bodies to hold to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: account those who breached the code of ethics.
Gillian Bowen, Host: It's the podcast giving you and your clients the up
Gillian Bowen, Host: to date information you need to do your jobs. Each
Gillian Bowen, Host: fortnight I share resources, tools and expert advice provided by CA ANZ
Gillian Bowen, Host: and a range of people across our profession. So make
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Gillian Bowen, Host: And if you've got an idea for the show email
Gillian Bowen, Host: podcast@charteredaccountantsanz.com This episode, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand CEO
Gillian Bowen, Host: Ainslie van Onselen is back on the podcast. The topic:
Gillian Bowen, Host: the Professional Conduct Framework Review. Ainslie, welcome back to Small Firm,
Gillian Bowen, Host: Big Impact.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Hi Gill. Great to be here.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay, so on June 7th, 2023, CA ANZ released what is
Gillian Bowen, Host: a pretty comprehensive piece of work, the results of the
Gillian Bowen, Host: Professional Conduct Framework Review. Now, before I dive into the
Gillian Bowen, Host: nitty gritty of what's in it with Ainslie, I just
Gillian Bowen, Host: want to set up this situation for our members and
Gillian Bowen, Host: for anyone else listening along to the episode. The Professional
Gillian Bowen, Host: Conduct Framework Review was announced in July 2022. In August
Gillian Bowen, Host: last year, the Terms of Reference were released. It was
Gillian Bowen, Host: also confirmed at that time, former Federal Court Justice the
Gillian Bowen, Host: Honorable Dennis Cowdroy AO KC, would be involved - in that - he
Gillian Bowen, Host: would carry out an independent review of the recommendations. Submissions
Gillian Bowen, Host: by members who wanted to provide feedback on the professional
Gillian Bowen, Host: conduct review closed in November last year. The reviews committee
Gillian Bowen, Host: then spent months going through the submissions, benchmarking CA ANZ and
Gillian Bowen, Host: NZICA's framework against other leading accounting bodies and other professional
Gillian Bowen, Host: associations and doing a range of other work related to
Gillian Bowen, Host: the review. Mr. Cowdroy then played his part before all
Gillian Bowen, Host: the work was collated and finalised and handed to the
Gillian Bowen, Host: CA ANZ board by May 31st as per the Terms of Reference.
Gillian Bowen, Host: And then here we are now. So that's the timeline sorted.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Ainslie let's look at some headline points of the review
Gillian Bowen, Host: first and then dive deeper. What are the headlines?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, Gill I'd say there would be about
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Three main key parts of the headline. The first is
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that the review was extensive. It was thorough. It's about
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: ensuring ethics and integrity remain the cornerstone for our profession
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: under a framework that's robust, independent and fair. The second
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: key takeaway is that the recommendations extend the existing disciplinary
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: framework to deal with firm events so that we can
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: better address some of the systemic and cultural issues that
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we see today. And thirdly, there's some key recommendations, and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: these include, for example, a five fold increase in the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: maximum fines for events involving firms, which shows how we
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: use this process to test the limits of our framework
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: in the public interest and in line with community expectations.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Another key recommendation is reinforcing with our members what their
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: ethical and self-disclosure obligations are. And the third was the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: ability for our independent disciplinary bodies to investigate former members
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: in Australia, noting that this is already able to happen
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: in New Zealand.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay, so firm events that stood out for me and
Gillian Bowen, Host: former members, that's also a recommendation I want to ask
Gillian Bowen, Host: more about. So looking at the list of consolidated recommendations
Gillian Bowen, Host: on the website, it's a dropdown menu for those listening along.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Under recommendation two is the information you mentioned about firm events.
Gillian Bowen, Host: So it details increasing the maximum fine that may apply
Gillian Bowen, Host: collectively to the members who are partners principals in relation
Gillian Bowen, Host: to firm events. So at the PCC level it would
Gillian Bowen, Host: become $100,000 under a consent agreement and at the disciplinary
Gillian Bowen, Host: tribunal level it would be a max of $250,000, a
Gillian Bowen, Host: $250,000 fine for a firm event. The big four, for example.
Gillian Bowen, Host: They make a lot of money each year and the
Gillian Bowen, Host: big firms have a lot of partners. Will a fine
Gillian Bowen, Host: this size even have an impact?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Look, I understand why you could think that and why
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: some of our members might think that, but it is
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: important to understand that we are a membership organisation and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we are required to work within our charter and its limits.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: So these maximum fines are actually quite significant for an
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: organisation like ours. And what is a significant change is
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that poor behaviour of individuals used to be highlighted and examined.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Now firms are also liable for that behaviour if it's
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: deemed to be a firm event. And in fact our
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: global benchmarking exercise found Gill that this recommendation is either
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: in line with and in some cases it's stronger than
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: organisations similar to ours. And you'll also note in that
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: consolidated recommendations box Gill, that it says sanctions and fines
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: for an individual member who is involved in a firm
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: event and whose involvement conduct may have breached the code
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: of ethics or the bylaws or the rules, remain at
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: current levels. And so that may apply in addition to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: any sanctions that apply to the firm event.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay. So the recommendations from this review extend, as you say,
Gillian Bowen, Host: the existing features of the disciplinary framework to address events
Gillian Bowen, Host: involving firms and the systemic and cultural issues underpinning them.
Gillian Bowen, Host: There is a spotlight on the profession right now, on
Gillian Bowen, Host: the culture within the profession. What's the problem and what
Gillian Bowen, Host: is CA ANZ doing about it?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, it'd be fair to say that none of our
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: members would be enjoying the headlines of recent weeks, especially
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: especially the overwhelming majority who live up to the charge
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: every day and do the right thing. And so what
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: I'll say is there is never an excuse for unethical behavior.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: And you're right, there is a spotlight on the accounting
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: profession right now, how it carries out its work and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the role of professional bodies to hold to account those
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: who breached the code of ethics. So extending our disciplinary
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: framework through the recommendations we've released are about ensuring that
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: ethics and integrity remain the cornerstone of our profession. And specifically,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: as I mentioned, there are recommendations to deal with firm events. Now.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: The review itself was started many months ago and it's
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: come at the right time. And in addition, we offer
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: services to our members. So some include, for example, the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Mentor Exchange program, but there's also the advisory group, which
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: is a counselling and support service for our members. It's confidential.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Members ring up and speak to very senior members of
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the profession and get assistance on things like ethical challenges
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that they may be facing or where they need professional support.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: And of course, there's also work for the firms to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: do in this space regarding their culture within their firms
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: to make it productive, ethical and fair for employees. And
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we will work with them on that. We've also taken
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: a number of steps recently to ease the pressure on
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: auditors in particular and chartered accountants, including, for example, asking
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: for an increase in the skilled migration cap. And because
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we know we've got a talent shortage right now, and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: then also making it easier, not harder to do accounting
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and finance degrees, we've seen the number of finance accounting graduates,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: almost half in Australia alone from 2018 to 2021. So
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we must address that. It's a great profession to be
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: involved on and so we really need to continue to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: put a spotlight on the attractiveness of the profession.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Have you reached out personally to executive management of the
Gillian Bowen, Host: big firms about behaviour and ethics in recent times?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Look, I talk regularly to members right across the profession,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and in fact I've written to all 135,000 members about
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: this review, the recommendations and its findings. And I've also
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: reached out to the leadership of the Big Six, and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: I expect to have continued discussions with members from across
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the profession about this review. And I'm really looking forward
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: to everyone's feedback to the report and future engagement of
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: this vital issue.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Look, the recommendations relating to former members. Let's talk about
Gillian Bowen, Host: that now. What can you tell me more about that recommendation?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, we're proposing to change the current situation in Australia
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: where CA ANZ can't undertake an investigation into the conduct of
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: former Australian members, noting, of course, that this is not
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the case in New Zealand, and New Zealand we can.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: What this will do is allow the disciplinary bodies to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: investigate regardless of membership status. So, for example, this would
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: close a loophole that allows members to avoid disciplinary action
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: by terminating their membership.
Gillian Bowen, Host: So then are there former members from the past that
Gillian Bowen, Host: CA ANZ would go after if that recommendation was endorsed?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, this isn't about going after anyone in particular. This
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: change is about bringing us in line and aligning ourselves
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: with our framework in New Zealand. The details of how
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: this will be implemented requires some further work, but this
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: particular recommendation will go to a member vote later in
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the year and we will spend the time in the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: lead up to that vote looking at how best those
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: powers will work in practice.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay. So the review found that the disciplinary framework meets
Gillian Bowen, Host: or exceeds standards set by IFAC and meets or exceeds
Gillian Bowen, Host: peer and international benchmarks, and that it responds appropriately and
Gillian Bowen, Host: proportionately to proven academic misconduct by provisional members in relation
Gillian Bowen, Host: to assessments and exams undertaken for the conferral of the
Gillian Bowen, Host: TESQA accredited CA Program. Did the review go far enough?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, IFAC requires CA ANZ to conduct periodic reviews of the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: system and we continue to do so as part of
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: our commitment to continuous improvement. So this review included an
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: extensive external benchmarking exercise. We looked at other PIOs around
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the world and we also looked at other professional membership
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: bodies such as the Law Society of New South Wales
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and the Law Society of New Zealand, Engineers, Australia and Engineers,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: New Zealand. It was a really extensive comprehensive benchmarking exercise.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: We also looked of course at IFAC requirements and examined those and then finally
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: there was significant engagement with stakeholders. So we invited submissions
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: from all CA ANZ members and members of the disciplinary bodies
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: as well. And then of course we had the independent
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: review of our recommendations by the Honorable Dennis Cowdroy AO KC.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: So the upshot of that is, I believe it was
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: an extensive and thorough process. And it's through this process
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that recommendations have been able to be developed that will
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: extend the existing features of the disciplinary framework to address events,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: for example, involving firms and the systemic cultural issues underpinning them,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: as well as recommending a range of procedural and efficiency
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: improvements in the process.
Gillian Bowen, Host: So on transparency, there's also a recommendation on that. It's
Gillian Bowen, Host: included in item six of the consolidated recommendations for those
Gillian Bowen, Host: listening along and perhaps taking some notes as we discuss this,
Gillian Bowen, Host: on fairer and clearer publication and confidentiality requirements. What should
Gillian Bowen, Host: we point out there?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, Gill, among the opportunities is a recommendation to consolidate
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the disciplinary decisions into a single online public register, which
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: will display all the disciplinary decisions made at all the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: levels so PCC, DT, AT, in addition to the annual report,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the register will also include statistics and data about complaints
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: dismissed and grounds for dismissal. This one stop shop, if
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: you like, will increase transparency and accountability. And the purpose
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: of the register is to centralise and streamline how this
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: information is captured and shared. So again, it's about increasing
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: transparency and continuous improvement.
Gillian Bowen, Host: I want to ask about the KPMG matter which occurred
Gillian Bowen, Host: prior to the Professional Conduct Framework review starting last year.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Let's assume the recommendations are endorsed by members. If a
Gillian Bowen, Host: firm event like that happened again, would the firm be fined?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Potentially it could. This review has really honed in on
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: firm events, and you'll see in the report that we're
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: broadening our focus to ensure we can deal with them
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: more effectively. So what I will say is, yes, you
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: could potentially see a different response to firm events moving
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: forward to address systemic and cultural issues.
Gillian Bowen, Host: What about the names of those involved? If a similar
Gillian Bowen, Host: situation happened again, would they be published?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: If a similar situation happened, potentially it could look different.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: As I said, the review has identified a number of opportunities
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: to enhance the conduct and disciplinary framework and its processes
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and procedures, and we're broadening our focus to ensure we
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: can deal with firms effectively. And that could mean a
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: different response.
Gillian Bowen, Host: What are the key changes for New Zealand members?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, in addition to the ones I've already mentioned, there
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: are a range of other recommendations, including for New Zealand
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: optional firm membership as well as the power of the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: PCC to engage a panel of experts in appropriate cases
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and to allow those experts to confer throughout the process
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: and the use in New Zealand of a conciliation process.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay, so let's whip through some questions members might be
Gillian Bowen, Host: thinking about. What's the process and timeline now, for example,
Gillian Bowen, Host: for implementation?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, some of the recommendations can and have been actioned
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: as a matter of course, but others will require amendments
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: to the CA ANZ bylaws or the NZICA rules and therefore
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: a member vote. Members will hear more about the voting
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: process in the lead up to our AGM in October
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: this year.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Okay. So on that, what recommendations require a vote?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Okay. Well, some of the recommendations that require a vote
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: include a five fold increase in maximum fines for events
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: involving firms, introducing voluntary firm membership in New Zealand, which
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: then will align with the Australian approach and enabling investigations
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: into former Australia members, which will then align with the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: New Zealand approach.
Gillian Bowen, Host: So why don't they all require a vote?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Because not all the recommendations Gill, require an amendment to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the CA ANZ bylaws or the NZICA rules. So for example, recommendations
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: 3, 6.1 and 6.2. And then also some of the elements
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: of recommendation five, which are around procedural enhancements. They don't
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: require any change to the bylaws or the NZICA rules, so
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: no requirement for member approval. We will get on with
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that as business as usual.
Gillian Bowen, Host: So if you're following along at home, you can find
Gillian Bowen, Host: all the consolidated recommendations - so that's a combination of the
Gillian Bowen, Host: review's recommendations and Mr. Cowdroy's feedback laid out for you.
Gillian Bowen, Host: On the CA ANZ website. There's a tile to the review
Gillian Bowen, Host: on the home page, but there is also a link
Gillian Bowen, Host: to the direct page in the email Ainslie sent to
Gillian Bowen, Host: members early on the morning of June 7th. And we've
Gillian Bowen, Host: also shared that link on social media if you follow
Gillian Bowen, Host: the CA ANZ accounts, you can find that there. So why
Gillian Bowen, Host: can't members vote now?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well that work to draw up the bylaw changes and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the NZICA rule changes is underway now. We'll communicate that
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: to our members and information on how to vote in
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the lead up to the AGM in October.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Well, on that, what's your message to members listening along?
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Well, I'd invite them, Gill, to take the time to
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: read the material. There is a lot of it and
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: we've tried to make it as easy to digest on
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the website as we can with the consolidated recommendations. And
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: there's a good executive summary as well in the in
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: the final report. And if you've got questions, ask us,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: you know, I'm sure there's going to be a wide
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: range of views. There always is when you've got a
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: professional membership body of 135,000 people. So keep an eye
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: out in your inbox in the lead up to the
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: AGM in October for the information on how to vote.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: There'll be a range of recommendations and as I've mentioned,
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: that require members to have their say.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Now, I just want to say members have been inquiring
Gillian Bowen, Host: with the CA ANZ about the PwC Tax Practitioners Board matter.
Gillian Bowen, Host: There is a statement on that on our website confirming
Gillian Bowen, Host: the Professional Conduct Committee investigation. And given that there is
Gillian Bowen, Host: now an Australian Federal Police investigation underway, it's not wise
Gillian Bowen, Host: for us to comment on that matter in this podcast.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Nobody wants to prejudice the confidential Professional Conduct Committee investigation
Gillian Bowen, Host: or the AFP investigation. That is all we have time for.
Gillian Bowen, Host: If you want to find out more, if you're a Member,
Gillian Bowen, Host: check your inbox for an email from Ainslie and our
Gillian Bowen, Host: board chair, John Palermo. Of course, everything is on the website,
Gillian Bowen, Host: including the Professional Conduct Framework Review final report, the independent
Gillian Bowen, Host: review by Mr. Cowdroy of the recommendations and the committee's
Gillian Bowen, Host: response to the independent review and some FAQ's. There is
Gillian Bowen, Host: a lot of reading. I'll put a link to the
Gillian Bowen, Host: website in the show notes as well so you can
Gillian Bowen, Host: find it there if you want to. Thank you Ainslie
Gillian Bowen, Host: van Onselen for joining me on Small Firm, Big Impact.
Ainslie van Onselen, Chartered Accountants ANZ CEO: Thanks Gill. Always a pleasure.
Gillian Bowen, Host: Bye bye.