Current affairs
Monitoring of mandatory requirements – why it is necessary CIMA is extending its monitoring work in 2012 to include the MiP mandatory requirements. This is in line with the recommendations of the national regulator but CIMA supports this as it will provide us with a valuable way of highlighting and promoting the professionalism of our Members in Practice. As we indicated at the time the new online Practising Certification process was launched, we will be asking a sample of members to submit terms of engagement, complaints handling procedures and continuity agreements for review. We will use the process to reaffirm compliance with the requirements for practicing certificates and to disseminate best practice and improve onward guidance. By the time you read this the process will be under way and you may receive an email notifying you that you have been selected for monitoring this year. In a recent survey of CIMA members worldwide, ethics, conduct and professional standards emerged as the most important aspect of membership to students and members of CIMA. But this is not just a ‘facet’ of your membership – it is a requirement and it underpins everything you do as a professional management accountant.
The clients of CIMA Members in Practice are an important audience for the message of professionalism. Larger businesses are used to “business to business relationships” but as with many professional bodies it is the contact between members and the public or clients in smaller businesses where misunderstandings occur and expectations far exceed what is practical and realistic. That is why it is so important to have good terms of engagement, an effective and accessible complaints procedures and an up to date arrangement with your continuity partner. Things will go wrong – they always do – but your professionalism provides the best way of preventing escalation of issues into complaints. The requirements for monitoring are not burdensome and we will make every effort to assist if you have any questions. More details are available on a new dedicated web page Monitoring For Compliance. The information provided should answer all questions or issues but we are of course happy to address any specific questions. Please contact prof.standards@ cimaglobal.com
You have told us that you value your professionalism so CIMA promotes that to the world, helping to grow your identity and reputation as the experts in management accounting and responsible business. Despite the importance we all assign to professionalism, failure to deal professionally with the public remains the key complaint to CIMA. Why might this be? CIMA promotes the professionalism of its members with confidence but you only have to look at the television to see that the world is becoming an ever more litigious society, quick to complain and increasingly reluctant to pay for a professional service.
MiP News 6