We all need a firm sense of identity

I read an interesting article on subject highlighting the difficulty / confusion about affixing CA prefix / logo.

I had the following suggestion: How about splitting the CA into 2 groups of people. Those who certify the accounts and sign them (Auditors) to be called "Chartered Auditors" and those who simply work in Accounts/Finance functions in the corporate world to be called as "Chartered Accountants". Both would be just "CAs" but their expansion would mean different things - yet signify they nature of work they do. Probably, the ICAI can even waive the articleship with auditors for those who aspire to become only Chartered Accountants (as per the above method) and instead include many other topics which might be of use to such people in the (future) day to day work.

Regards.

- Dilip.

Source: Business Line, Feb 16, 2006

We all need a firm sense of identity

EVERY new chief comes with a list of priorities. So too has the new president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), T .N. Manoharan Called `Mission 2006', his list has ten items, which include:

· Abstract ones such as `anchoring economic growth' and `promoting social development';

· Long-range goals like `strengthening technical and research activities' and `developing infrastructure'.

· Rhetorical targets such as `developing human resources' and `reaching out to members'.

· And the more practical measure of focusing on the brand.

The last one includes, among its sub-goals, `prefix and logo for members'. Not many are aware that CAs can use the letters CA as prefix to distinguish themselves from the non-CAs in their midst. For instance, I can be known as CA D. Murali, by virtue of the new design of the Institute, though it can misleadingly suggest that I do computer-aided design.

My sympathies, therefore, to all the new CABs, CANs, CAPs, CARs and CATs that would be created among the freshly-prefixed professionals. One other confusion is whether we're duplicating what's already coming as suffix, be it in ACA or FCA.