New program management at the Institute

Editors note: In an continuing effort to familiarize you with the management of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC, we present the directors and managers of the organization's various programs.

In her role as Director of Professional Development at the Institute, Moira Bryans, CA, is responsible for the organization's province-wide continuing education program. In addition to Bryans, the PD department has a three-person team handling all the administrative functions.

"We produce between 250 and 350 courses each year, with about 25 per cent of the attendance from non-members," Bryans explains. "We operate on a 'break-even' mandate on over $1 million in revenue."

Bryans has been at the Institute for 12 years, most of that time in her current position, but in her first few years she was Director of Student Education and before that an instructor in the old School of Chartered Accountancy. She is a 1974 graduate of the University of Alberta with an undergraduate degree in English with honors, and completed her qualifying year of an MA in economics at the University of Victoria in 1979. She articled with Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche) and received her CA designation in 1983.

Bryans serves as the Institute's representative on the Interprovincial Committee of Education Directors, which co-operatively develops courses in the core competencies of audit, accounting and taxation. According to Bryans, the committee actively seeks ways to identify opportunities to share products and education suppliers in the non-core areas as well.

"I also work with four PD volunteer committees - three of which focus on courses for tax, audit and accounting, and management - and one on policy," Bryans says. "Our Executive Breakfasts form the basis of our provincial program and are very well-attended by the members."

Bryans says her plans for the PD department include a continuous assessment of "how the PD program can provide the most value to members."

"We are exploring options for expanding our Internet delivery of courses, looking at the development of conferences for industry sectors or in specific practice areas, expanding our course offerings in new practice areas, and working with members in industry to deliver relevant topics to them," she explains. "We are also defining PD's role with respect to the new CA School of Business and the model of life-- long learning. We continually seek out opportunities to do joint presentations with other associations and always watch for ways to improve our efficiencies."

Chris Utley, CA, is a fairly recent recruit at ICABC. He joined the organization as the Director of Ethics on September 18. Formerly a senior manager in the Vancouver office of Deloitte & Touche, he worked in the firm's Financial Advisory Services group doing forensic investigations and management consulting.

Before joining Deloitte's two years ago, Utley was the Regional Director of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) in Vancouver. In that role, he was responsible for monitoring and examining federally regulated financial institutions headquartered in Western Canada. Prior to moving to Vancouver in iggo, he was with OSFI in Toronto for two years and before that with the Auditor General's office in Ottawa for five years. His career in Canada began with BDO Dunwoody in Kamloops in 1978.

A native of England, Utley qualified as a CA in 1972 and in 1974 went to the Bahamas for five years before moving to Canada. He became a member of ICABC in 1980.

In his new role at the Institute, Utley will manage the investigation of complaints against members and coordinate the peer review process that adjudicates complaints.

"The position ensures that all complaints and discipline matters are handled in a fair and appropriate manner," Utley explains. "There is extensive interaction with the public, members, other regulatory bodies, volunteers and legal counsel."

"The CA profession is rapidly evolving as CAs become more involved in providing non-traditional services and as technological advancements create new ways of doing business each day," he points out. "With this, CAs are facing new challenges in dealing with clients and in transacting business.

"It's my intention to lead the discipline process with a view to ensuring that it remains as fair, reasonable, and positive as possible and our members' interests are well-served," Utley explains. 'At the same time, we must preserve the interests of the public. The involvement of volunteer committee members provides 'checks and balances' to keep the process from becoming adversarial."

Another newcomer to the Institute, Mike Essex, CA, director of Practice Review and Licencing, joined the organization October 2. Most recently the proprietor of his own practice for eight years in Tsawwassen, Essex spent the first 13 years of his CA career with Ernst & Young in their Vancouver and Richmond offices. He holds a 1979 undergraduate degree in Commerce from the University of British Columbia and became a CA in 1981.

"In my role, I am responsible for developing and directing a peer review program for members in public practice," Essex explains. "We also administer the licencing of members in public practice and the approval process for practicing offices wishing to employ students."

Essex points out that the PR&L also provides, on a contractual basis, a practice review program for Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) in public practice in BC.

"I plan to ensure that the peer review program continues to run smoothly while introducing changes and additions to the program which will be made as a result of the recommendations of the Report on Planning, Cycle 6," he said. "The focus of practice review will increase in risk areas of practice and will expand to include more practice areas such as Webtrust, Eldercare and specialist practices. This is where the challenge for the position lies."

Doug Wallis, CA, is the director of Professional Advisory Services and has been at the Institute for over 11 years. He has been in this role since last June and previously was a Professional Standards Advisor for 10 years.

Wallis joined the Institute after three years with BC Rail as Manager of General Accounting. He spent the preceding 13 years as a partner with the Prince Rupert CA firm of Wallis, Scott, Rosario & Vohora (now Scott Vohora). He trained as a CA "...through the old five-year program in Alberta."

"Because we have no regulatory responsibility, the tradition of the PSA department is being 'friends of the member;" Wallis points out. "I plan to continue that tradition as well as the high standards we have in providing quality service to members when they present queries about ethical issues, practice management programs, and a myriad of other problems.

"We also extend our assistance to the public in matters of fee mediation, firm referrals or other situations that may arise from their relationship with their CA," he says. "We are going to enhance our use of technology in conveying relevant information to our members and we will work within the new "Forums" set-up to increase the involvement of a broader and deeper cross-section of members from all areas of work and practice - industry, public sector, and public practice - in subjects and questions of significance to the Institute and individual members."

Wallis says he also anticipates working co-operatively with all the Institute departments on the "enhancement and expansion of the value of Institute membership to those members not in public practice."

Assisting Wallis as a"friend to LA the member" is Stella Y.L Leung, CA. She joined the Institute on September 1 as Professional Standards Advisor.

Previously with the Workers' Compensation Board of BC for four years as a senior auditor in the Internal Audit Department and as a program controller for one of the Board's major strategic programs, Leung has extensive experience working with all levels of management in the public sector and in crown agencies. Before her WCB employment, she spent seven years in the Internal Audit Branch of the Office of the Comptroller General in Victoria, first as a senior internal auditor and then as a project manager.

Leung is a 1986 UBC graduate with an undergraduate degree in Commerce. She became a CA in 1988.

"What I enjoy most about my new position is the diversity of responsibilities," she explains. "I am a 'friend of the member' and, as such, I assist them with questions about ethical, technical and other management issues. I also answer questions from the public about the profession and help them in their dealings with their CAs."

Leung also works with several volunteer forums and is part of the PSA team that produces the department newsletter News 'N Views, distributed to partners and sole practitioners in public practice in the province.

"I would like all members, no matter what sector they work in, to be aware of how I can be a resource to them," Leung points out. "I have spent most of my career as a CA outside of public practice and I bring to the PSA department a very different experience and understanding of what it means to be a CA today."

Leung says she plans to take increased advantage of the available technology to share information with members more quickly.

With almost a decade of experience at ICABC, Registrar Stephanie Langley was well positioned to take over from long-term registrar Noreen Solloway when Solloway retired last summer. Langley was the Institute's Admissions Officer for nine years. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked for five years in Student Affairs in the Dean's Office in the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

A 1979 graduate of the University of Alberta with an undergraduate degree in Science, Langley is responsible for the processing of admission for all members of the Institute. She also reviews requests for waivers and handles enquiries about foreign credential recognition.

"I plan to streamline procedures and improve efficiency in the department," she explains. "After having dealt with registering hundreds and hundreds of students over the years, it's great to move into a role where I actually process them through into membership and deal with them at that level."

Craig Fitzsimmons has been with the Institute three years, first as Senior Communications Officer and most recently promoted to Manager, Public Affairs.

"I manage the Institute's government and media relations programs," Fitzsimmons explains. "My duties include the creation and implementation of media relations strategies, government relations action plans, the CA-government contact program, and working on special projects such as the BC Check-Up."

Prior to joining the Institute, Fitzsimmons was the BC Pharmacy Association's legislative affairs analyst. He holds a 1990 bachelor's degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University.

"It's an exciting time to be part of the Institute with a new management team creating a new set of public affairs goals which are much more focused and results-oriented," he says. "I plan to build on a growing number of media contacts to enhance the position of the CA profession as a leading source of commentary in all areas of business, the economy, and government finance. By doing so, the profession can generate news coverage throughout the entire year, rather than just at tax season."

The Institute also has a new Controller in Sean McClenahan, CA. A native of Vancouver, McClenahan graduated from UBC with an undergraduate degree in Commerce in 199o and articled with the Vancouver firm Rolfe, Benson, Chartered Accountants. He received his CA designation in 1994.

He left public practice shortly after receiving his designation and joined Claimstaker Resources Ltd as controller. He joined the Institute in September.

McClenahan's duties include the preparation of financial statements and budgets, and the monitoring of the organization's cash flow.

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Nov 2000
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