 Africa cannot rise as a continent without women playing a stronger role in the accountancy profession
The African Congress of Accountants 2015 (ACOA) saw more than 850 participants from across the African continent discuss and analyse the challenges impacting the industry today. One of the key sessions focused on the gender divide and the belief that Africa cannot rise as a continent without women playing a stronger role in the accountancy space. Some of the key takeaways included the value of women in the workplace, the importance of finding balance and the need to engage across gender to find solutions. “The role of women in the corporate environment cannot be underestimated. Not only is it socially fair to ensure a greater gender balance in the business, but studies have shown that organisations with more women are more successful," says Shahied Daniels, Chief Executive at the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA). “The opening of a discussion of this nature at an event as preeminent as ACOA is indicative of a trend towards a more inclusive industry.” Examining the insight Entitled Bridging the Gender Divide, the session was chaired by Asmâa Resmouki, President of the Pan African Federation of Accounting (PAFA), and examined how Africa requires action plans to address this gap and to change the mind-sets of both men and women. One of the key takeaways was that women need to become more confident in their abilities and capabilities within this sector. The panel of speakers participating in the discussion – Bridging the Gender Divide – included Olivia Kirtley, President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Elizabeth Adegite, ex-President of the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Professor May Ifeoma Nwoye of Nigeria and LY Taher Drave, Partner and Principal at Mali Consulting Group. A study undertaken by McKinsey Consulting found that women represented a steady 52% of graduates, but that only 11% of executives in listed companies were women. In addition, statistics from the SAIPA showed that there is a significant difference between trainees and members – 60% trainees against only 41% members. “The questions that need to be asked are: why women leave the profession and how we can make it more attractive to them so they are inclined to stay,” says Daniels. “We must increase voice around this topic, to make it a louder conversation that can potentially ignite further investigation into these issues. This would potentially then find the answers that the industry is looking for.” Glass ceilings: Good reasons The nature of the business is one that demands long hours, tight deadlines, fast paces and high pressure. These are a standard facet of the gem that is accountancy, but not necessarily causes for women to be less inclined to remain within the profession. “Stereotypes about role and women may be playing a part here, especially when many consider those stress factors to be a mitigating factor,” says Daniels. “Gender does not dictate capability in coping with late nights and high pressure, but managing a family life and a highly demanding professional life simultaneously could be.” Ultimately, women and men both have to step forward and build the bridge over the gender gap. Women cannot be victims and should not be expected to fit into a ‘male model’, there needs to be cognisance of the value in developing a new model that adapts to the new workplace. PAFA was unable to persuade any men to take part in the panel – this in itself suggesting that there needs to be a stronger male participation in addressing the challenges. ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Cathlen Fourie, 012 644 2833, cathlen@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za For more information on SAIPA please visit: Website: www.saipa.co.za Twitter: @SAIPAcomms LinkedIn: South African institute of Professional Accountants Company Facebook: South African Institute of Professional Accountants  Professional Accountants have a critical role to play in supporting African growth, says Shahied Daniels, CE of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA). Speaking at the 2015 Africa Congress of Accountants in Mauritius, Daniels argued that the continent needed to redesign its business, industrial and regulatory environments to deal with globalisation to include Africans from benefiting from their continent’s growth.
“African policy makers and business do not have the broad vision (or indeed the motivation) to lead the radical redesign of the business and industrial landscape across Africa,” Daniels says. “The accountancy profession, however, is uniquely placed to play this role.” Professional Accountants have an enormous role to play in enabling the continent’s businesses, which are typically the small medium enterprise sector of its economy “Professional Accountants can help their clients invest wisely and diversify their businesses, especially when it comes to expanding across borders,” he says. “Collaboration and the ability to identify the right alliance partners are vital in today’s highly competitive markets. Similarly, accessing capital at the right time in its growth cycle is critical, and professional advice on when and how to list on a stock exchange can make or break a company.” In particular, African economies need to move up the value chain by gaining the capability to beneficiate commodities before they are exported. This will be dependent on enhancing the capability and capacity of African businesses. “Professional Accountants have to step up to the challenge of helping the continent’s businesses build on their strengths. If this does not happen, we risk ceding many of the long-term benefits of Africa’s growth to companies from outside the continent,” Daniels continues. Professional Accountants (SA) have an important role to play as trusted business advisors. They will benefit from the support of its professional accountancy organisation, SAIPA, which play an active role in enforcing professional codes of conduct and providing continuous education. “A strong accounting profession is the foundation of African growth, and this depends on proactive professional accountancy organisations,” Daniels concludes. “SAIPA takes this responsibility very seriously.” ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Cathlen Fourie, 012 644 2833, cathlen@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za For more information on SAIPA please visit: Website: www.saipa.co.za Twitter: @SAIPAcomms LinkedIn: South African institute of Professional Accountants Company Facebook: South African Institute of Professional Accountants  SAIPA CEO, Shahied Daniels, strongly condems the recent spate of xenophonic violence The South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) condemns the recent spate of xenophobic violence. Shahied Daniels, CE of SAIPA, says that the violence not only damages the democratic society we are so painstakingly trying to build, but severely tarnishes South Africa’s international image at a time when we are in desperate need of direct foreign investment and entrepreneurial skills to alleviate chronic unemployment. “These xenophobic attacks and the criminality associated with them are not only destroying the lives of foreign nationals who are merely seeking to make a living by providing services to communities. They are also impacting the economy’s ability to produce the jobs South Africa needs so desperately,” Daniels says. “SAIPA members who provide accounting and consulting services to businesses in affected areas are also being hard hit. Furthermore, SAIPA members who are building businesses outside our borders stand to lose credibility in those markets simply because they are South African.” SAIPA believes that fellow-Africans working in South Africa should be welcomed for the skills and entrepreneurialism that they bring, and afford them the same dignity and protection that South Africans enjoy elsewhere on the continent. “At the same time, of course, people working here illegally need to be returned to their countries of origin safely and respectfully,” says Daniels. “These attacks do point to the fact that many communities feel that our border-control mechanisms are not functioning well. The authorities need to demonstrate that they are in control of the borders and that work permits are being issued fairly. In turn, this will demonstrate that housing, medical care and job are not being ‘stolen’ by an uncontrolled flood of illegal emigrants.” SAIPA calls on all other professional accountancy bodies to condemn collectively and unreservedly all forms of xenophobia and associated criminality. “As a collective, we must insist that state immediately deploys all the means at its disposal to rid our country of this scourge. Perpetrators should be brought to book, and educational programs developed and implemented to urgently root out this anti-democratic and criminal behaviour,” Daniels says. “As law-abiding citizens of a genuine democracy, we should never allow evil to prosper by not speaking out.” ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Cathlen Fourie, 012 644 2833, cathlen@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za For more information on SAIPA please visit: Website: www.saipa.co.za Twitter: @SAIPAcomms LinkedIn: South African institute of Professional Accountants Company Facebook: South African Institute of Professional Accountants  |
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