Directory of International Professional Accounting & Business Certification Programmes - Review

Internal Auditor,  Oct, 2001  by Anthony J. Ridley

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by Lal Balkaran

ISBN: 0-9699833-7-9

2001 (second edition); 185 pages; paperback;

$59.95 U.S.

Published by LBA Publications

Phone Orders: +1-416-283-4051 Fax +1-416-283-7497

E-mail: lbalkaran@attcanada.net

Web site: www.lbapublications.com

AVING BEEN PART OF ADVANCE parties for an international corporation on many occasions and in many countries, I recognize the value of providing a head start to those involved in the expanded global economy and particularly internal auditors looking at a new venture in an unfamiliar country. Lal Balkaran helps that cause with his new book, the Directory of International Professional Accounting & Business Certification Programmes. Balkaran sets out to provide information on "almost all of the known professional designations in accounting, auditing, finance, investment, insurance, management, purchasing, marketing, actuarial science, management consulting, information technology, banking, taxation, inventory management and other related disciplines." In total, the 185-page book lists nearly 600 professional bodies and more than 1,000 designations in 116 countries.

The directory provides the information necessary to contact the certifying organization directly. Each entry has at least an address and, in many cases, telephone, fax, e-mail, and Web site information. Readers will find contacts for local professional bodies - mostly accounting organizations - for most of the countries in the directory. Nevertheless, this book leaves the reader wanting more.

There is a glossary that may be useful to those entering the international scene for the first time. For example, the glossary defines the terms associate, fellow, and member used in many English and Commonwealth countries, but I wanted to see some measure of quality for the various designations. The author has published other books that provide, for example, details of examinations and criteria to earn the designation and continual professional education requirements. The addition of this type of information would elevate the directory from useful to invaluable.

To determine the resource's usefulness, I tested three likely needs of an internal auditor entering a country for the first time: 1) finding a specialized professional; 2) researching credentials of potential employees; and 3) finding support from the local internal audit profession An often-used professional is the actuary. Actuary contacts were listed for 34 countries. Although most contacts were in developed countries, there were listings for such places as Ukraine and Thailand.

To test the validation of credentials, I took the author's qualifications - FCMA, FCIS, CGA, and CIA - and researched them using the directory. Once I identified the author as Canadian, I was able to find the first three designations listed under Canada in the index, and the directory provided details of Web sites. From these, I determined that the qualifications resulted from examination and that professional quality was maintained. The FCIS qualification also indicated that the governing body was a division of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in the United Kingdom. However, this notation was not a consistent treatment for international bodies with affiliates elsewhere. Also, I could not find the CIA designation under Canada, and one must know that it is listed under the United States to find a description and relevant Web site. Overall, I was able to confirm that the author is very well-qualified. This was easy, because Canada is a developed country, the task would be more time con suming for an undeveloped country.

Only two IIA affiliates were identified outside of the United States. It would have been easy for the author to contact The IIA and include additional affiliates in the directory.

A reorganized index might make it easier to find a professional body or qualification without knowing the country of origin. Also, different treatment of international organizations would be useful. For instance, the International Federation of Accountants is listed as a U.S. organization, but there is no indication of its role or international purpose.

Although there is more work to be done on this directory, it would have helped me considerably if it had existed when I was venturing out to new countries. Even in its present form, it will be of use to practitioners working for corporations without significant global support structures. I hope the author expands future editions of the directory, not only for quantity but also for quality of certifications and the purpose of professional bodies.

ANTHONY J. RIDLEY, CIA, FSCA, is a retired general auditor of Ford Motor Co. and past chairman of The IIA.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group