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The professional body’s refusal to disclose the names of KPMG staff caught exam cheating provokes a furious response.
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Angry members slam ‘shameful’ CA ANZ discipline secrecy
20 July 2022
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10 minute read
A chorus of angry criticism has greeted CA ANZ’s position on the KPMG exam cheating case with comments ranging from “pathetic” to “shameful” in the wake of the Accountants Daily report on Tuesday (19 July).
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Some accused CA ANZ of turning a blind eye to misbehaviour at the big accounting firms while many were “anonymous” in an echo of a core complaint about disciplinary action against eight members, which kept their identities concealed.
One, who went by the tag, “Anonymous for good reason”, said: “Typical of CA ANZ. The big firms flaunt the ethical requirements constantly, and CA ANZ does nothing about it. ‘Protecting the public perception and reputation of the CA designation’ requires openness and transparency, not ‘hide this under the carpet’.”
It was a common theme in comments, with another who requested their name be withheld, expressing “utter disgust” at the secrecy.
The writer said: “I have raised my deep concerns with CA ANZ about why those member perpetrators were not named and shamed so that the public are confident that a robust system does in fact exist within CA ANZ to address such issues.
“In my view, there should be public pressure brought to bear on CA ANZ to name and shame those perpetrators asap and I feel they have got away much too lightly.”
Others suggested that the cheating charges, with hundreds at KPMG allegedly involved over five years, were widely known but ignored until an investigation in the US by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board last year.
“I’m surprised CA ANZ did anything – I assume the US investigation forced their hand,” said another anonymous correspondent. “I did my CA 12 years ago, and it was well known then that multiple Big 4 candidates cheated in each subject. Nothing was ever done.”
Former member Barry McEloney, who is a director at Joondalup Business Services in Western Australia, referenced CA ANZ predecessor body the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, and compared his own disciplinary experience: “What a disgrace the ICAA is! You took me to the tribunal for doing the right thing and telling a client I would report their fraudulent conduct and then tried to fine me and made my life hell for months in my small practice.
“So glad I left your arrogant self-centred organisation – best move I have made and you lost a good honest member.
“How dare you allow these individuals involved in their conduct (much worse than mine) to be allowed to remain confidential?”
DigustingCA also had a personal slant: “All I did was tell an impatient ex-client to go elsewhere – and it cost me my membership after 20 years. By-laws are pathetic and out of date.”
In the wake of the KPMG decision, CA ANZ announced a professional conduct review that “provides an opportunity to consider the balance between the right to due process and confidentiality alongside protecting the public perception and reputation of the CA designation”.
The review will take in an examination of CA ANZ by-laws as well as how ethical breaches are communicated to members.
One comment by “Rob” supported rewriting the laws: “Change the rules, change them retrospectively so the rest of us are not left painted with the same brush as these offenders.”
Although “G Hollands” was not alone in suggesting it was time to vote with your feet: “There is only one way to deal with both of the so-called ‘professional organisations’ – resign so they do not get the benefit of your fees to pee up against the wall. Are you really sure you need them?”
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