Nicholas Richards, Business Writer

Leighton McKnight,(left) President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and Lyle Handfield,(right) Director of CGA International shake hands on the agreement to introduce the Certified General Accountancy programme in Jamaica, at the CGA-Canada launch at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) has signed an agreement recognising the Certified General Accountants (CGA), a programme offered in Canada, as qualification for practicing accountants here.

The introduction of the CGA was formalised via a Memorandum of Understanding signed Monday by ICAJ president Leighton McKnight and director of CGA International, Lyle Hansfield.

McKnight said the acceptance of the CGA was part of a broader objective of the ICAJ to remain competitive under the Caribbean Single Market (CSM).

"The ICAJ has been working with other regional institutes, through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC), to prepare for the implementation of the CSM," said the ICAJ president.

"This includes the harmonisation of entry qualifications to the profession within the region."

Harmonisation of entry qualifications

McKnight said the harmonisation of entry qualifications would facilitate the mobility of accountants, whether as employees or as practitioners, within the region.

The CGA is recognised by other countries in the region, and as such accountants with the qualification are likely, he added, to be processed more speedily for licence to practice in those jurisdictions.

Under the MoU, the ICAJ will provide administrative support to new and current CGA students in Jamaica.

These students, upon completion of the CGA programme, and provided that they meet the necessary requirements, will be able to qualify as members of the local accountancy profession.

The CGA programme targets university and college students at the first-degree level or anyone wishing to pursue a career in accounting and finance.

The official launch Monday paves the way for students to enrol in the programme and to prepare for examinations scheduled for March 2007.

business@gleanerjm.com

Taken from The Daily Gleaner, Wednesday October 4, 2006