Kenya - July 2007
PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS EVENT AND ANNUAL MEMBERS' DINNER
Nairobi, Kenya, July 2007
The ACCA Kenya Professionalism and Ethics event, held in conjunction with the annual Member's Dinner, took place at the Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi. The evening event, comprising drinks, dinner and a show, was attended by ACCA members in Kenya, a number of whom are also members of the national accountancy body, ICPAK (the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya). Also present were representatives from the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board, the Capital Markets Authority, and the Controller and Auditor General's office. Partners from Big 4 firms also attended the event, alongside principals from ACCA accredited tuition providers.
Fatuma Sichale, deputy director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission gave the keynote speech, and delegates also heard from ACCA global president, Gill Ball; Shalini Popat, ACCA Kenya branch president; Steve Lugalia, chairman of ICPAK; and John Nyakahuma, ACCA head of corporate development, Eastern Africa.
The event focused on ACCA's approach to ethics and professionalism in the context of accountancy. Emphasis was given to the proper training of accountants, and to the understanding that good ethics relies very much on the individual making the right choices when faced with ethical dilemmas.
In her speech, 'The role of finance and accounting professionals in combating unethical practices', Fatuma Sichale, stressed that 'accountants should no longer see themselves as merely finance managers or providers of historical information, but they should see themselves as having a central role to play in being the conscience of the corporation. It is imperative to implant ethics in accounting practices all over, not only because the wrong behaviour of a few might taint the good reputation of the many, but also because you need to uphold the public trust ... I therefore applaud ACCA for introducing the subject of ethics and professionalism in the new qualification. When people have been taught what is expected of them in regard to ethics, then it becomes morally justified to apportion blame and punish non-compliance.'
Related photographs
(click on each photograph to see a bigger version)
Photo 1: ACCA president Gill Ball and guests
Photo 2: ACCA president, Gill Ball