The-Accountant-Jul-Aug-2016

PERSONALITY PROFILE
What has been the most
challenging part of your job?
Appreciation by my countrymen regarding
what we do. We make a lot of effort to
reach out to the general public and ensure
money is properly used; but rarely do
we feel appreciated. I would like to ask
citizens to guard public money and hold
our leaders responsible, especially those we
have given the responsibility of caring for
our resources. They belong to all of us.
Is the accounting profession
in Kenya headed in the right
direction?
Yes, and I will tell you why:
• Accountant’s voices are being sought
after in public discussions and discourses.
For example, gone are the days when
national budgets would be appropriated
and finalized without accountants’
opinions.
• Kenyan accountancy is in the
international realm; any accounting
information generated in Kenya can be
used anywhere in the world. We should be
proud of this as a nation.
• In discussing the role of accountants
in corruption; we are aware that most of
the corruption laced incidences occur
with our knowledge. However, what will
happen to me if I blow the whistle? Will
professional colleagues stand with us?
Mostly corruption happens in our watch,
but others look the other way because, they
have children to feed and families to fend
for. This matter should be looked at and
dealt with.
What changes if any would
you like to see at ICPAK?
• The room that is never full is the
room for improvement. ICPAK needs to
streamline the qualifications of accountants
in the public sector. It is only in the
accounting profession that you can refer to
someone who is not fully qualified as an
accountant. So ICPAK needs to come up
and give guidelines on who can be referred
to as an accountant.
• If ICPAK can state the standards
acceptable in the public sector, it will
help with benchmarking and maintaining
accounting standards because professionals
can be held ethically accountable.
• ICPAK needs to be more dynamic; do
not forget; there are new industries coming
up, so we need to respond to emerging
sectors like the extractive industries where
specialized technical expertise is required.
ICPAK should endeavor to build capacity
in such areas. This will guarantee that our
nation is getting value for our resources
from emerging markets largely dominated
by foreign companies.
60 JULY - AUGUST 2016