Manning School of Business News and Highlights

Professor’s Understanding of Accounting Licensing Process Benefits All

Manning School of Business professor Dr. Ian Hutchinson spent part of Fall of 2016 in Poland. He was there as part of the Financial Reporting Technical Assistance Program (FRTAP) organized by the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR). The events were organized with the importance of change in an international environment of economic growth and competition in mind. Dr. Hutchinson, along with Brian Friedrich and Laura Friedrich were the lead project consultants. The goals of the workshops included redeveloping and updating the final licensing exam for Poland’s statutory auditors, similar to the CPA program in Canada. Representatives from Poland’s National Chamber of Statutory Auditors, academia, the Ministry of Finance, the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, and the Examination Commission all attended the events in Warsaw, Poland.

Dr. Ian Hutchinson (far left) spent part of Fall of 2016 in Poland as part of the Financial Reporting Technical Assistance Program (FRTAP) organized by the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR).

The first main workshop included discussions on designing, developing, and overseeing the Polish final licensing exam for statutory auditors. Conversations included the key elements of exam administration, and working towards delineation of roles and responsibilities, standard setting with a psychometrician, communication and monitoring results, and administering exam critiques and appeals. These workshops provided insight into developing final licensing examinations, and ensuring all exams written are of equal difficulty, and cover an equivalent breadth of topics—including technical and professional skills, values, ethics, and attitudes required of a professional working in an accounting environment. While the workshop on developing and adjusting the examination process was a necessary and important discussion, conversations in the second workshop extended into topics relating to overcoming constraints and moving forward to implementation. Having well-developed processes and ideas is only the first step; ensuring the processes can be implemented, and maintained is the next—and often more difficult—obstacle to overcome.

Dr. Ian Hutchinson was central to the organization and implementation of these workshops, along with his coworkers and team. The FRTAP program was a huge first step for Poland in working towards improving their licensing program and examination for statutory auditors. Having a professor with such a deep understanding of the requirements in testing certification is an asset for Acadia Business students. F.C. Manning Accounting majors are readily prepared upon completion of their BBA to work towards their CPA (or equivalent) certification. Acadia graduates can ensure they have covered the necessary topics throughout their degree in great depth, and they are prepared for the CPA process, thanks to the extent to which all Acadia Accounting Professors grasp the CPA examination process, and Dr. Hutchinson’s work in Poland is only one exemplary demonstration of this.

About the Manning School

Founded in 1957, the Manning School at Acadia University is home to over 600 students from over 20 countries. With 23 faculty members from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, the Manning School offers small classes that encourage concentrated interaction between students and faculty. Our students have opportunities to learn outside the classroom through co-op placements, projects with local enterprises, and international exchanges. Firmly rooted in a rich institutional legacy that personifies the very essence of a liberal education, the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at Acadia is challenging and flexible, allowing students to explore a broad range of interests and producing well-rounded graduates who are well-positioned to pursue varied professional opportunities. Our graduates work in leadership roles across Canada and around the globe, with many having made their Acadia BBA degree a pathway to prestigious graduate programs.