CEO's View - December 2011

By Graham Meyer

In 2006, when I arrived at the Institute as CEO, I set myself targets: to build on the proud heritage of this fine organisation, and safeguard its future. Today, as I prepare to retire, I think I’ve achieved those goals.

During the past six years, we’ve managed substantial change within the Institute during an extremely challenging period of business and economic activity. We’ve developed a sustainable infrastructure for future growth; and set the wheels in motion to revitalise the Chartered Accountants Program, establish international influence and transform the Institute’s IT capabilities.

Why is all that so important? Because the Institute needs to remain relevant in a shifting international environment. As accounting becomes more global, the Institute will have to adapt policy and change direction far quicker than it has in the past. It needs to be nimble – and the platform is now in place to allow that to happen.

For me personally, it’s been incredibly rewarding to help the Institute grow from a professional body focused predominantly on education and the designation, into one of the most influential bodies in Australia. The Institute represents the profession, as well as the public interest, in policy development both here and overseas – and decision makers heed our advice. We’ve reached this privileged position through hard work, integrity and no little skill on the part of our technical experts (many of whom are Chartered Accountants themselves).

I’ve learned a few things along the way too. I’ve learned that, when you run a memberbased organisation, stakeholder management is much more difficult than in a corporate (in essence, you’ve got 54,000 bosses!). On the other hand, the people who work here do so because they’re passionate about the organisation and what it can do. The same goes for the hundreds of Chartered Accountants who give their time, voluntarily, to the Institute’s committees and projects. Without them we wouldn’t succeed.

I’ve also learned that Chartered Accountants aren’t boring! They’re incredibly hard working, highly skilled and unquestionably among the most trusted advisors for business and the wider community. For these reasons, I’m particularly delighted to be handing over the reigns to a Chartered Accountant, Lee White FCA, who will become the Institute’s CEO from 1 January 2012.

When it comes to your career, it’s important to know when it’s five to five – and when it’s five past five. I know in myself that now is the right time for me. It just remains for me to thank each and every Chartered Accountant who I have worked with in the past six years. I’m honoured to have played a part in preparing your Institute for the future. 

Article last updated 22 December 2011