From the Chairman, ACT Regional Council
Michael Watson FCA
Chairman, ACT Regional Council
We are approaching the end of another successful year, and the ACT Regional Council is already preparing for another busy and exciting year ahead. New Council members are welcomed while some are fare welled. Innovation, creativity and originality look to be the major focus for 2008!
To begin with, I would like to extend large congratulations to Mr Steven McDonnell FCA, who as of January 2008 will be the new Chairman of the ACT Regional Council. I have been elected to replace Ms Jenny Morison FCA as a Board Representative due to her retirement from the Institute Board.
Congratulations are also in order for Mrs Kelly Fenner FCA, who will be the new Vice Chairman of the ACT Council from January 2008. Good luck to you Kelly!
I am pleased to welcome new to the ACT Council Mrs Josephine Stevens FCA, Mrs Jodi George CA and Mr Stephen Holmes CA. I am positive that their experiences and vast knowledge will ensure they become valuable members of the Council.
For Mr Frank Lo Pilato who is retiring from the ACT Council, may I give extended thanks on behalf of the ACT Council and the Institute. Frank has been a valuable member of the Council for three years and we wish him all the best.
I have been fortunate to be part of many of the developments and growth between the Council and the members of the Institute. I wish all those who I have work and dealt with well, and thank you all for your continued support. I look forward to my role as Board Representative, and hope that I can pass on my experiences and knowledge gained as Chairman of the ACT Regional Council.
I also look forward to seeing you all at the Institute’s Members Christmas Party on the 10 December at The Boathouse by the Lake. It will be an evening of fun and celebrations!
Finally, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and safe and happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you all revived after your holiday breaks, and eager to start another New Year!
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From the General Manager ACT
You can all appreciate the challenge the Chartered Accountant Program involves. According to a survey conducted by candidates, it was agreed that one of the most difficult elements of the Program is balancing work, study and life.
The Institute introduced Candidate of the Year when the new Program was developed in 2000. The award is presented to the candidate in each region who has attained the highest average mark of all candidates, and completed the Chartered Accountants Program in the past 12 months from 1 October to 30 September.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the Candidate of the Year. This candidate has achieved the highest combined score of all their modules within their region - an outstanding effort that deserves recognition.
Congratulations Kent Smith, from the Australian Federal Police! Many admire your hard work and determination. On behalf of the Institute we wish you well in your future endeavours.
The award is recognition of an outstanding achievement given the high calibre of candidates who completed the Chartered Accountants Program this year. The winners from around the country are presented with a certificate, plaque and $1000 cheque.
With the festive season fast approaching, it provides us with a wonderful opportunity to catch up with our members. My sincere thanks to the ACT Council members and all the members who have assisted with the transition of the ACT branch - which is now fully standing alone. The support you have offered the ACT team and myself, is truly appreciated.
I hope that you can join us to celebrate at the Christmas Party on Monday, 10 December as we have some very special guests for you to meet.
Finally, the ACT team wishes you all a safe and happy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year!
Renee LeGrande
General Manager, ACT
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
National Surveyor's House
27-29 Napier Close
Deakin ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6285 2198
Fax: 02 6282 9800
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The Institute Touch Football Competition
Is your team ready for the 2008 Institute touch football competition?
Experience the camaraderie and team spirit of this fantastic six week competition commencing in January 2008! Whether you're a first-timer or professional, the competition is sure to offer fun on and off the field.
Following the grand final match on the last evening of the competition, a delicious BBQ will be served up for all players involved in the competition. The winning team will be presented with the legendary trophy to keep until the following year.
Register your team today
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18 ACT students attain accounting work experience placements
Eighteen students studying accounting and business at Canberra universities have attained prestigious work experience placements in the accredited firms across the region.
The first year students secured places as part of Achiever Work Experience, the Institute’s annual initiative that recognises outstanding up and coming accounting talent across Australia. There were more than 210 Achiever Work Experience places nation-wide.
The students will gain valuable hands-on experience in the accounting profession that will help them learn skills that may assist them later in their degree and more importantly provides the opportunity to make a lasting impression with a potential graduate employer.
The students that passed the initial application, were selected to attend a rigorous selection process involving group activities and one-on-one interviews with Institute personnel and recruiters from accounting firms.
The work experience placements are from two to 12 weeks with Institute accredited firms ranging from the Big 4, mid-tier public practice firms, government and commerce organisations. The placements will be taken during the 2007 summer break.
For more information please visit the Achiever Work Experience Program page.
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WANTED - Focus Session Leaders for 2008!
Members have the opportunity to apply to become a Focus Session Leader this month for modules offered in the Chartered Accountants Program in 2008.
A Focus Session Leader helps candidates engage with the practical application of the technical material within a module. They guide candidates in the application of the theory to work based situations, and help them identify any gaps in their knowledge.
The highlights of the role are:- The opportunity to contribute knowledge and experience to the training of future Chartered Accountants
- The experience of facilitating and leading a group-learning situation
- Being remunerated, while ‘giving back’ to the profession
- Earning qualifying hours
To be a Focus Session Leader you must be a Chartered Accountant, or a person with comparable and recognised overseas qualification, and must have a minimum of two years work experience in a relevant technical area.
The five modules of the Program are: Taxation, Audit & Assurance, Management Accounting & Analysis, Financial Accounting & Reporting, and Ethics & Business Application. The Ethics & Business Application module requires a broad understanding across all the technical areas.
For more information:
Members interested in becoming a Focus Session Leader for the Chartered Accountants Program please email: registration.act@charteredaccountants.com.au
AAA108 & MAA108 Focus Session Leaders needed!
If you are already a Focus Session Leader and would like to apply to facilitate a module next year we are currently accepting applications for Audit & Assurance 2008, and Management Accounting & Analysis 2008 - they commence in term one next year.
To apply please email: joanna.destoop@charteredaccountants.com.au
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Job Search turns 1 - celebrate with free movies tickets*
With Chartered Accountants Job Search having just turned one year old, the Institute would like to celebrate by finding out what you think of the site.
For your chance to have a say and win a double pass to the movies* be one of the first 25 readers to complete and return the attached feedback form.
Chartered Accountants Job Search is a dedicated and specialised online recruitment service. It has recently been enhanced to make it even easier for you to look for a new start, or to target your recruitment process.
Employers
Only Chartered Accountants and candidates can apply through the service, which means no time is wasted reviewing applications from unqualified job seekers. Job Search enables you to post job ads, manage and respond to applications, view résumés, and set up screening questionnaires.
Employers can also build awareness of a firm/organisation on the website by creating company profiles, displaying banner ads and utilising premium listings. Discounted rates for Chartered Accountants using the service apply on all products and services on the website.
Jobseekers
As a jobseeker, you’ll have access to a powerful search engine to view the best jobs available in the market. Role types and industry search functionality are geared toward members, with the system being directly linked with the Institute’s database, allowing quick and seamless registration and log in. From the one website you can search jobs, set-up job alerts, build an online resume and track your applications. You can also access recruitment tips and research industry trends.
For more information please visit Chartered Accountants Job Search.
* Terms and conditions apply. Offer is valid for the first 25 members and/or candidates who complete all the fields in the attached feedback form and return it via email or fax. The free double pass to the movies is valid at Greater Union cinemas which are located in NSW, QLD, SA, WA, VIC, NT and the ACT.
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Financial planning papers released
The Institute has recently released two papers tackling the key issues facing the financial planning industry.
The key observations are: A forum on the financial planning industry and reinventing financial planning are the latest installment in the Institute’s leadership initiatives, which aim to look ahead, question and positively influence the growth of the accounting profession.
The white paper key observations: A forum on the financial planning industry was produced as a result of a financial planning forum facilitated by the Institute in July this year, to discuss the Institute commissioned leadership paper reinventing financial planning written by Chartered Accountant Robert M C Brown.
The forum, which was designed to encourage open communication and debate in the industry, brought together: industry associations; consumer advocates; regulators; product manufacturers; 'dealer' groups; and practitioners.
The key issues debated at the forum and raised in the white paper included:- The issue of professionalism and the financial planning industry
- The importance of financial planning education and qualification standards
- The further development of a pro bono culture among the planning sector
- The enhancement of consumer financial literacy within an evolving industry
- The ongoing real and perceived issue of remuneration and conflicts of interest.
The various views discussed at the forum are presented in the white paper. It is important to note that while there were areas of disagreement, there was unanimous agreement that the industry needs to work together to address the key issues raised in the white paper.
By publishing both papers, the Institute acknowledges that many of its members are involved in the financial planning industry and recognises that it is a growing area for many of its members.
Relevant links:
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Knowledge at your finger tips with EBSCO's online business resources
The Knowledge Centre is pleased to offer members and candidates free access to a wide variety of online business resources through two databases provided by EBSCO Information Services.
Business Source® Corporate contains full text articles for over 10,000 periodicals and other sources ranging from general business journals to specific accounting research publications. In total, the service provides full text access to:- Over 1,500 trade journals and general business magazines
- In excess of 1,300 academic and research journals
- Almost 200 books indexed and abstracted by chapter
- Close to 1,500 country economic reports
- Over 5,000 industry reports and yearbooks
- Company profiles of the top 20 Australian companies
- Almost 1,000 market research reports.
The Australia/NZ Reference Centre™ is the largest collection of full text Australasian magazines, newspapers and newswires. This database includes:- Full text articles from over 900 leading Australian and New Zealand newspapers, magazines and regional sources covering news, current affairs and general reference
- In excess of 80,000 full text biographies of internationally renowned individuals
- An image library of almost 300,000 photos, maps and flags.
EBSCO enables you to access all of these resources at your fingertips through a variety of convenient options:- Create a personalised account that can be accessed from work, home, or wherever you have an Internet connection
- Subscribe to e-mail and/or RSS delivery of the latest editions of journals, sometimes before they are printed
- Set up search alerts to be informed of the latest additions to the databases based on successful past searches
- Search the historical archives of publications, some going back over 100 years (and access full text articles going back over 40 years)
- Create and export lists of citations and references for use in papers, reports and presentations.
Members and candidates will receive training on how to maximize the value of this comprehensive resource over the coming months. In the meantime, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with EBSCO's databases
In addition, links to EBSCO's online training guides are provided below.
Training guides:
More information:
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Conference rooms at the Institute
Did you know that the Institute of Chartered Accountants offices in Deakin have two function rooms that are available to hire for meetings and conferences.If you would like information regarding availability and charges please contact Debbie on 6282 9600 or send an email to deborah.harper@charteredaccountants.com.au |
ACT December 2007 Issue 12
In this Issue
From the Chairman, ACT council
More >
From the General Manager ACT
More >
The Institute Touch Football Competition
More >
18 ACT Students Attain Accounting Work Experience Placements
More >
WANTED - Focus Session Leaders for 2008!
More >
Job Search turns 1 - celebrate with free movie tickets*
More >
Financial Planning Papers Released
More >
Knowledge at your finger tips with EBSCO's online business resources
More >
Conference Rooms at the Institute
More >
Library
More >
Editor
Melinda Katavic 02 6282 0590
Email: Melinda Katavic
ACT State website
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Library
The Library catalogue is available via the library web page, as well as the latest August articles of interest December articles of interest. If you require any articles, books or research please contact the library email library@charteredaccountants.com.au or Tel: 1800 809 828.
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The official e-newsletter of the ACT region of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
National Surveyors House
27 Napier Close
DEAKIN ACT 2600
GPO Box 396
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Ph: 02 6282 9600
Email: service@charteredaccountants.com.au
ABN 50 084 642 571 |
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