Co-operation in training and accreditation of accountants in Southern Africa : views of South African public accountants and auditors

摘要

The study was prompted mainly by the need for and possibility of collaboration or evenmutual accreditation of practising chartered accountants and auditors in the countries ofSouthern Africa. In establishing common ground between these countries of SouthernAfrica it was found that the countries share not only geographical space but also strong andincreasingly important trade links, movement of people between the countries and in someinstances a common history, culture and language in the form of English. The currentharmonisation process of accounting standards worldwide enhanced this process.A literature study was done emphasising South Africa as part of the Southern Africanregion, with a special emphasis on accountancy education. An analysis of currentinternational co-operation was done with special reference to the current internationalharmonisation process. As part ofthe background an analysis was done of the current statusof the accountancy profession in each Southern African country.As this study was done from a South African perspective, the emphasis was on the viewsof members of the accounting profession in public practice with regard to greater cooperationin the region in the accountancy field. This was achieved by means of an empiricalsurvey.It was found that the aforesaid professionals are overwhelmingly in support of greater cooperationin the region. They believe that it would enhance the status of individualaccounting bodies worldwide~ that costs, information and infrastructure could be shared;and that it would enhance professionalism and improve service to clients.Specific areas were identified where co-operation could be improved, namely that academictraining should be harmonised, practical tralning should be interchangeable and agreementsshould be reached with individual countries. Some concern was expressed that above all,control should be maintained over the standards of academic and practical education.It is recommended that the bodies governing the accountancy establishment in South Africa,especially the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants'and Auditors' Board, should increase their current efforts to establish greater formalrelations with other countries in the Southern African region.