CHAPTER 2: EQUIPPING THE PROFESSION

ISCA empowers our members to adapt to the ever-changing business landscape by helping them stay current with industry trends and changes. Be they large-scale in-person conferences or virtual breakfast talks, our events enable members to stay on top of the latest developments in the profession.

Amid economic transformation, we work with government and industry stakeholders to identify new job roles and skills and provide career support. By offering avenues for upskilling and reskilling, we support our members in their development as highly-sought after, skilled professionals.

JOBS TRANSFORMATION MAPS
ISCA was the strategic partner for the launch of the Jobs Transformation Maps (JTMs) for In-house Finance and Accounting (F&A) functions and Accounting Practices in January 2022. Initiated by SAC and the EDB, and supported by WSG and SSG, the JTMs identified key technologies and their impact on job roles in finance and accounting functions and accounting practices. The JTMs also provided pathways for employers to transform jobs and for workers to acquire new skills as job roles evolve.
JTM
ACCOUNTANCY JOB REDESIGN TOOLKIT
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ISCA is the co-developer and programme manager of the Accountancy Job Redesign toolkit which was launched by WSG, SAC and the SNEF under the Accountancy Job Redesign Initiative in January 2022 to enhance the roles of Finance and Accountancy professionals.

The pilot programme delivered positive outcomes for the nine participating accounting entities, in terms of increased productivity and enabling staff to focus on value-added work.

At a webinar titled Embarking on Job Redesign with the Accountancy Job Redesign Toolkit held in June 2022, participants learnt how to redesign and automate job processes using the Accountancy Job Redesign toolkit. Participants were also guided through the Job Redesign toolkit website.

ACCOUNTANCY CAREERS HUB

ISCA, e2i and SAC launched Accountancy Careers Hub (ACH) in March 2022 to provide employment and employability support for the accountancy sector.

The hub offers career guidance, jobs, training courses, and industry-specific events and resources to job seekers who wish to enter the accountancy profession. The ACH also supports finance and accountancy professionals in exploring new career tracks and advancing their careers within the accountancy sector.

Accountancy Careers Hub
CAREER GROWTH CENTRE
Accountancy Careers Hub

The ISCA Career Growth Centre (CGC) was established to empower members to achieve their career aspirations by providing career support resources and supporting organisations in their hiring needs.

The centre caters to a variety of members, including fresh graduates, accountants looking for opportunities, mid-career switchers, employers and experienced members.

The centre’s key features include career matching, career talks as well as board appointment and volunteering opportunities for experienced professionals.

In addition to the CGC microsite that was launched in 2022, ISCA has enhanced our support to members by dedicating a physical space in ISCA House in 2023.

ISCA is collaborating with e2i to conduct personalised oneto- one career coaching at the physical centre. Members can make an appointment at the physical centre to find out more about the different assistance schemes, career opportunities and upskilling/reskilling resources.

CAREER PATHWAY TALK
ISCA held the Career Pathway Talk “Through the Generations: How a Finance Professional’s Career Evolves” in December 2022. The topic resonated with participants as the panelists touched on digitalisation, sustainability and social impact. There was also a lively exchange on how the accountancy profession has changed over the generations.
Career Pathway Talk
Singapore Accountancy And Audit Convention Series
BUDGET AND TAX CONFERENCE

 

Budget and Tax Conference
The ISCA Budget and Tax Conference attracted more than 800 attendees. Experts discussed the impact of Budget 2022, the economic outlook arising from inflation, geopolitics and crude oil price increases, and tax developments.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE

In August 2022, more than 930 participants attended the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) hybrid Conference, themed “From Why to Why not: Sustainability for Growth and Innovation”.

In her keynote address, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development Ms Indranee Rajah spoke on how the accountancy profession could contribute to the national Forward SG movement. She also mentioned Singapore’s sustainability goals, adoption of sustainability practices and holding companies accountable for their sustainability targets.

The conference’s speakers discussed topics such as green jobs, ESG reporting, cyber risk management, supply chain and IFRS sustainability disclosure standards.

PAIB Conference
PRACTITIONERS CONFERENCE
Practitioners Conference

Close to 400 audit professionals attended the ISCA Practitioners Conference, themed “Connecting the Trends of Tomorrow”, in October 2022.

In her address, Ms Lai Wei Lin, Second Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Finance), shared her insights on the megatrends – digitalisation and sustainability – that were impacting the accountancy profession. She also shared that the government was exploring how to better forge synergies across adjacent fields, to support the increasingly multi-disciplinary nature of new growth areas.

In addition, the conference’s speakers reiterated the need for transformation to embrace change. They also highlighted the importance for greater transparency of sustainability efforts, a higher bar for quality, the increasing prevalence of digital assets and major shifts in talent dynamics.

Virtual Conferences, Webinars, Courses And Events
MINI CONFERENCE SERIES
More than 1,200 participants attended the inaugural ISCA Mini Conference Series from April to December 2022. Championed by various ISCA Committees and ISCA Academy, the series showcased insights from thought leaders and industry experts on business issues and solutions as well as megatrends shaping the global market today.
Mini Conference
SUSTAINABILITY E-TRAINING FOR DIRECTORS
E-Training
In July 2022, ISCA and SAC Capital launched the Sustainability E-Training for Directors programme, a prescribed course for listed company directors, senior management and CFOs to meet the enhanced SGX sustainability reporting rules. The programme has attracted more than 750 participants to date.
WEBINARS

As Singapore eased its Covid-19 safe management measures, ISCA continued to organise complimentary webinars for members who preferred online engagement. In total, there were more than 4,300 sign-ups in 2022 for the complimentary webinars.

The topics covered by the webinars include ESG reporting, risk & compliance, intelligence automation, taxation, career planning & development, estate planning and financial forensics.

BREAKFAST TALKS

ISCA’s popular monthly virtual breakfast talks featuring industry experts had a total attendance of nearly 5,000 in 2022.

The topics covered included intelligence automation in finance functions, environmental and social risks and impacts, new reporting standards, investing in employee skills development, jobs and finance transformations, tax implications, technology, sustainability and achieving growth targets.

In-person Breakfast Talks at ISCA House have returned from January 2023 where our speakers and attendees can now learn and pick up useful professional development and business-related tips and information while enjoying breakfast!

WEB-BITEZ LEARNING SERIES

ISCA launched the Web-Bitez Learning Series in March 2022 to offer flexible and affordable continuing professional development.

Attended by more than 700 participants, the live webinar series comprised 10 sessions of two-hour bite sized topics each, with a playback option.

Learners could choose from three packages to fulfil their CPE requirements. Topics are tailored for each of the target segments - audit practitioners, finance leaders and public sector finance.

The topics included sustainability reporting requirements, accounting and auditing implications from the Russia- Ukraine conflict, managing ethical dilemmas involving financial irregularities, digital transformation and finance agility, among many others.

Web-Bitez
ISCACCOUNTIFY

ISCAccountify was unveiled in December 2022 to fulfil our members’ expectations for accessibility and affordability in learning.

This new mode of learning offers unlimited bite-sized learning at a single fee for subscribers to learn on the go and at one’s own pace. With smart filters for topics, CPE categories and audience segments, subscribers can easily find the courses in ISCAccountify to learn and comply with their CPE requirements.

The learning clips cover topics such as Financial Reporting Standards, Audit, Ethics, Taxation, Sustainability (ESG), Data, Technology and Cybersecurity, and other business contents. New and refreshed contents will be added throughout the year.

Currently, we have more than 150 learning clips in our library and more than 4,000 subscribers have subscribed to this new e-learning platform.

 

ISCAccountify
Qualification And Certification Programmes
REFRESHED ISCA FFA QUALIFICATION

ISCA refreshed the ISCA Financial Forensic Accounting (FFA) Qualification in 2022 to ensure that the content remains relevant. In addition, one module was presented in a blended learning format, enabling candidates to learn on the go and at their own pace. The FFA Qualification has been awarded to about 130 ISCA members to date.

As part of ISCA’s partnership with the CPIB, 39 CPIB officers have been conferred the Financial Forensic Professional credential. CPIB officers who have completed equivalent courses are given exemptions when they pursue the ISCA FFA Qualification.

ISCA INFORMATION RISK MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE

To date, 71 participants have enrolled for the modules of the ISCA Information Systems Risk Management Certificate. By providing an understanding of the concepts of IT risks and mitigation, and cybersecurity, and how these concepts could be applied in real world settings, 90% of the participants found the content relevant to their work.

AUDIT COMMITTEE PROGRAMME

ISCA has awarded certifications for the ISCA Audit Committee (AC) Programme to more than 30 professionals since the programme’s launch in 2021. These professionals are Board members, senior management of organisations and Audit Practitioners. The Programme reinforces participants’ knowledge of financial reporting requirements, financial reporting disclosures as well as best practices in corporate governance and risk management.