Tshegofatso Modise said last week that the country needs more than 3,000 accountants but BICA professional membership is less than 1,000 and this leaves a huge gap in the economy. “There is a big shortage of accountants in the country. Currently, there are 254 students enrolled for BICA qualification,” she said at the launch of the new BICA strategic plan. She said the plan contains the full spectrum of BICA priorities. Some of the priorities include protecting the public interest by promoting the accountancy profession and facilitating quality accountancy services through the monitoring and regulation of professional accountants and developing professional accountancy.
“The strategy aims to identify what may hinder the organisation from achieving its goals and how these barriers will be removed and to provide an understanding of the industry’s competitive environment,” said Modise.She explained that the current BICA pass rates are low primarily because of the compulsory requirements to study and work simultaneously, the calibre of the current student pool and other challenges in the delivery of the qualification.
