Latest news with #professionaldevelopment
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
HKICPA renews its Mutual Recognition Agreement with ACCA
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) is delighted to announce its renewal of Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The two accounting bodies continue to join hands together to pave ways for career development of the accounting talents in Hong Kong, with the aim to foster the development of the accounting profession. The HKICPA has held MRA with ACCA since 2000. The new MRA is for a term of three years, continuing to enhance the professional development mobility of members of both bodies, further expanding their professional development opportunities. HKICPA members completing the Qualification Programme (QP) and obtaining at least three years of practical experience may acquire ACCA membership through the agreement. On the other hand, ACCA members who have completed ACCA professional examinations in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong (Including the Advanced Audit and Assurance and Advanced Taxation (Hong Kong) examinations) and having at least three years of practical experience, may apply for HKICPA membership after having passed the Capstone of the QP. The new MRA has been enhanced to ease the path for ACCA members to gain the CPA designation offered by the HKICPA. Under the new MRA, the eligibility for seeking HKICPA membership will be extended to ACCA members who are non-degree holders possessing a qualification at a level not lower than higher diploma/ associate degree (or equivalent) under the Hong Kong Qualification Framework, and fulfilling relevant conditions. The HKICPA believes that the enhanced MRA would attract more talented individuals from various disciplines to join the professional field of Hong Kong accountants and obtain the CPA designation. HKICPA President Edward Au said, "We are delighted to renew the MRA with the ACCA. The MRA provides simplified pathways for members of both organizations to obtain professional qualifications from each other, thereby enhancing their career mobility. Furthermore, the synergies created by the co-operations between HKICPA and ACCA enable us to provide advanced support to the development of the accounting profession in Hong Kong, benefiting businesses as well as Hong Kong economy as a whole. HKICPA will continue to work hand in hand with other professional accounting organizations to attract talent from diverse academic backgrounds, build a stronger talent pool, and drive the continuous advancement of the accounting profession." ACCA Hong Kong Chairman Stanley Ho said, "We welcome the enhanced MRA, which offers greater flexibility for membership mobility between the two bodies, reflecting our shared commitment to empowering career opportunities and advancing the profession. With over 120 years of global legacy and a proud 75-year heritage rooted in Hong Kong, ACCA has consistently demonstrated leadership in redefining the accountant through times of change. In response to the evolving needs and expectations of society, ACCA will introduce a redesigned qualification in 2027. We look forward to working closely with HKICPA to drive sustainable growth for the profession and the wider community." As one of the founding members of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), HKICPA has consistently engaged in exchanges with international accounting professions, and remains committed to upholding the international recognition of its membership. Including ACCA, the HKICPA holds mutual membership recognition agreements or mutual examination papers exemption agreements with 11 accounting bodies in the Mainland and overseas. In the future, the HKICPA will continue to expand its global network, explore potential collaborations with more overseas accounting bodies to facilitate exchanges and opportunities for new mutual recognition agreements for members. Hashtag: #HKICPA The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("HKICPA") is the statutory body established by the Professional Accountants Ordinance responsible for the professional training and development of certified public accountants in Hong Kong. The Institute is also a standard setter of the local accounting industry. The Institute has over 47,000 members and about 12,000 registered students. Our Qualification Programme assures the quality of entry into the profession, and we promulgate financial reporting, auditing, ethical and sustainability disclosure standards that safeguard Hong Kong's leadership as an international financial centre. The CPA designation is a top qualification recognised globally. The Institute is a member of and actively contributes to the work of the Global Accounting Alliance and International Federation of Accountants. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
HKICPA renews its Mutual Recognition Agreement with ACCA
The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) signed a new three-year mutual recognition agreement with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which continues widening the opportunities to both HKICPA members and ACCA members. (From Left to Right) HKICPA President Edward Au, HKICPA Chief Executive and Registrar Margaret Chan, Head of ACCA Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area Lead Christina So and ACCA Hong Kong Chairman Stanley Ho. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) is delighted to announce its renewal of Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The two accounting bodies continue to join hands together to pave ways for career development of the accounting talents in Hong Kong, with the aim to foster the development of the accounting HKICPA has held MRA with ACCA since 2000. The new MRA is for a term of three years, continuing to enhance the professional development mobility of members of both bodies, further expanding their professional development opportunities. HKICPA members completing the Qualification Programme (QP) and obtaining at least three years of practical experience may acquire ACCA membership through the agreement. On the other hand, ACCA members who have completed ACCA professional examinations in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong (Including the Advanced Audit and Assurance and Advanced Taxation (Hong Kong) examinations) and having at least three years of practical experience, may apply for HKICPA membership after having passed the Capstone of the new MRA has been enhanced to ease the path for ACCA members to gain the CPA designation offered by the HKICPA. Under the new MRA, the eligibility for seeking HKICPA membership will be extended to ACCA members who are non-degree holderspossessing a qualification at a level not lower than higher diploma/ associate degree (or equivalent) under the Hong Kong Qualification Framework, and fulfilling relevant conditions. The HKICPA believes that the enhanced MRA would attract more talented individuals from various disciplines to join the professional field of Hong Kong accountants and obtain the CPA President Edward Au said, "We are delighted to renew the MRA with the ACCA. The MRA provides simplified pathways for members of both organizations to obtain professional qualifications from each other, thereby enhancing their career mobility. Furthermore, the synergies created by the co-operations between HKICPA and ACCA enable us to provide advanced support to the development of the accounting profession in Hong Kong, benefiting businesses as well as Hong Kong economy as a whole. HKICPA will continue to work hand in hand with other professional accounting organizations to attract talent from diverse academic backgrounds, build a stronger talent pool, and drive the continuous advancement of the accounting profession."ACCA Hong Kong Chairman Stanley Ho said, "We welcome the enhanced MRA, which offers greater flexibility for membership mobility between the two bodies, reflecting our shared commitment to empowering career opportunities and advancing the profession. With over 120 years of global legacy and a proud 75-year heritage rooted in Hong Kong, ACCA has consistently demonstrated leadership in redefining the accountant through times of change. In response to the evolving needs and expectations of society, ACCA will introduce a redesigned qualification in 2027. We look forward to working closely with HKICPA to drive sustainable growth for the profession and the wider community."As one of the founding members of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), HKICPA has consistently engaged in exchanges with international accounting professions, and remains committed to upholding the international recognition of its membership. Including ACCA, the HKICPA holds mutual membership recognition agreements or mutual examination papers exemption agreements with 11 accounting bodies in the Mainland and overseas. In the future, the HKICPA will continue to expand its global network, explore potential collaborations with more overseas accounting bodies to facilitate exchanges and opportunities for new mutual recognition agreements for #HKICPA The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("HKICPA") is the statutory body established by the Professional Accountants Ordinance responsible for the professional training and development of certified public accountants in Hong Kong. The Institute is also a standard setter of the local accounting industry. The Institute has over 47,000 members and about 12,000 registered students. Our Qualification Programme assures the quality of entry into the profession, and we promulgate financial reporting, auditing, ethical and sustainability disclosure standards that safeguard Hong Kong's leadership as an international financial centre. The CPA designation is a top qualification recognised globally. The Institute is a member of and actively contributes to the work of the Global Accounting Alliance and International Federation of Accountants.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
3 Key Questions To Guide Career Decision Making
Making a career decision doesn't have to be a toss up. By using structured questions, a grounded ... More answer can come into reach. Career decision points come up frequently across our lifetimes, both while we're navigating within organizations and when we're moving between them. In my career coaching practice, decision making is a common challenge clients bring into sessions. Whether it's about pursuing a promotion, changing roles to have a new function, leaving a company entirely, taking a planned sabbatical, or taking advantage of an opportunity that fell into their laps, it's never easy to make a grounded career decision that won't be regretted. Through fourteen years of my own trial and error, I've found that three questions are most impactful for moving someone from 'overwhelmed and uncertain' to 'clear and focused' when they have a big career decision on the table. How Much Certainty Do You Have About The Career Decision? One question has to be the starting point for all career decision making: on a scale of 0% to 100%, how much certainty do you have about the career decision, and in which direction (i.e., toward a 'yes' or a 'no')? Most people have a quick, gut level answer to this, and I find that the good ol' 50% is a common beginning place, which makes sense since we're holding a coaching session precisely because confusion reigns! It may seem like we need to get at or near to 100% confidence in order to move forward with a career decision, but that isn't the case at all. I encourage clients to reach about 80% certainty before coming to a conclusion, while Calm, the meditation and grounding company, encourages only having 70% certainty before moving forward. Why don't we need 100% certainty? Because, as co-author of Decisions Over Decimals: Striking the Balance Between Intuition and Information, Christopher Frank writes, 'The perfect decision doesn't exist. Certainty is a myth.' In addition, we don't want to set the bar at 100% because that can lead to analysis paralysis, a real and vexing phenomenon studied by psychologists and cognitive scientists that contributes to lack of positive development and/or genuine mental health challenges. I've consistently found that once clients reach about 80% certainty, they feel great about their decision - even if it turns out horribly in the end. No matter what results, they know they made the best, most intentional decision they could based on available data at the time. It's worth putting thought and effort into career decision making - as long as it's about factors ... More you can actually know and anticipate. What Do You Need to Know or Experience In Order to Become More Certain About the Career Decision? If we only need about 70 to 80% certainty about a career decision to feel good about our choice, how do we get there? That's where the question of 'what do you need to know or experience in order become more certain about the career decision?' comes in. Here are steps in the process of answering this key question: What Would You Advise About This Career Decision, If This Were a Colleague? This final question is the clincher that even my most decision averse clients answer without pause. When asked what they'd advise someone else, they usually don't hesitate with an answer. Interestingly, the answer is usually punchy, without any of the hesitations, hemming and hawing, and nuanced considerations they were saying before I asked for their advice for someone else. Common phrases I hear in response to the advice-providing career decision question include: 'go for it!' and 'avoid that at all costs!' and 'better do your due diligence' and 'it's a sure thing.' I always reflect back their clarity about the next steps and the career decision itself and ask, 'Why didn't you say anything this certain before I asked this question?' Typically the response is something like, 'Well, because it's not me. I'm not worried about that person taking a risk or doing something wrong. I'm just able to say what makes sense.' Well there you go: what makes sense. It is worth unpacking the 'because it's not me' notion because it's excellent fodder to uncover unspoken fears that need to be addressed through additional research; therapy, meditation, and other mental wellness supports; or a combination of the two. Regardless of the inevitable fears that come with any career decision, asking and acting upon the three key questions in this article yield confidence to make an intentional and definitive choice that you can feel good about, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Coaching Capability: Grow, Position, Succeed
Coaching managers and project sponsors through change, delivery, and operational demands | EMCC Senior Practitioner | Starting out in coaching can feel both exciting and uncertain. Whether you've made the move from a full-time role, shifted gradually from another profession or retrained after a career break, you probably feel you have something solid to offer clients: a mix of life experience, professional knowledge and formal learning. However, once you're in it, the question often changes. It's no longer just, "What can I offer?" but, "How do I help others see the value in it?" Over the years, through my own practice, leading a coaching platform and working with other coaches, I've noticed a pattern. Most of us move through three big shifts: building capability, learning how to communicate it clearly, and then thinking like a business owner. I've come to think of this as the capability, marketability and entrepreneurship journey. Each stage takes something different from us, and it rarely happens all at once. Capability: More Than A Qualification Most coaches leave their training feeling capable. The tools are fresh in your mind, your confidence is building and you're ready to support others. But what shapes your coaching most isn't always the certification; it's what happens next. Over time, capability becomes something deeper. You begin to adapt your approach based on the client in front of you. Frameworks become quieter, instincts more active. You reflect more. You listen differently. In conversations with coaches across the platform and in my own practice, I've seen how this evolution becomes a defining shift. What starts as learned technique matures into lived understanding, and often, that's when a coach really starts to feel at home in their work. The Second Transition: From Capability To Marketability As capability develops, a second transition tends to follow: turning it into marketability. For example, many assume that offering a wide range of services will attract more clients. After all, the broader the offering, the more people you can serve. But extensive research into brand positioning and market behavior suggests otherwise. While some clients appreciate breadth, most respond to clarity. Al Ries and Jack Trout captured this decades ago in their seminal 2001 book, Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind. In markets with abundant choice, professionals promoting too many services risk being overlooked. Buyers need to quickly understand what a provider specializes in and why they're the right choice. That principle still holds true today. Hinge Marketing's 2023 study (download required) of 1,200 plus firms found that high-growth businesses prioritize specialization and brand differentiation as core strategies. For coaches, this transition often involves choosing a primary specialism: a focus area that reflects your strengths, market demand and personal interest. That doesn't mean abandoning other skills; it means shaping a clear starting point clients can relate to and remember. Some coaches refer to this as "the feather in your cap." Other capabilities can complement it, but they should support rather than compete with the main message. When multiple specialisms are given equal weight, clients may struggle to see what sets you apart. This shift in positioning doesn't always come easily. For many, it involves experimentation, reflection and feedback. But in the early stages of growing a practice, clarity tends to be more valuable than completeness. A refined offer makes it easier for the right people to find you and see why you're right for them. The Third Transition: Embracing An Entrepreneurial Mindset Even with strong capability and clarity, building a practice requires one more shift: thinking like an entrepreneur. This transition can be especially challenging for coaches coming from employed roles or technical backgrounds. It's one thing to deliver value in a session, and quite another to create the structures that sustain a business. That means asking different questions: Who is your offer for? How will they find you? Why you? Why now? These answers don't come from coaching techniques alone. They require attention to market signals, pricing, visibility, leveraging platforms and relationship building. Rita McGrath and Ian MacMillan, in their 2000 book The Entrepreneurial Mindset, emphasize the need to continuously identify opportunity and stay adaptable. For coaches, this might mean entering new markets or testing new ways to reach clients. And Edward Hess, in his 2020 book Hyper-Learning, adds that personal growth and innovation are tightly linked in today's fast-moving environments. Coaching businesses are no exception. This third transition doesn't require reinvention, but it does ask coaches to shape, test and evolve their practice. That mindset, more than any fixed strategy, tends to separate those who sustain their practice from those who struggle to grow it. A Perspective That Changes The Question One idea that helped me reframe this shift came from a past reflection. Most coaches wouldn't expect to mentor a head of state or a global CEO; however, many would feel confident coaching someone in that position. After all, effective coaching isn't about knowing the client's professional domain. Technically, this is true, but from an entrepreneurial perspective, a more useful question emerges: Why would that client choose me? This shifts the lens: not just capability, but relevance; not just confidence, but positioning. It asks what truly sets one coach apart, not in terms of competence, but in how they connect with a client's needs and world. It's a valuable exercise: Imagine the person you most want to work with, and ask honestly: What would make them choose you over someone else? The answer often lies not in your qualifications, but in your proposition, your message and your visibility. That's the heart of the Capability–Marketability–Entrepreneurship journey. It's not just about being able to coach; it's about being chosen. That's a different kind of growth. These shifts don't always happen in order; some are quick, while others take more time; but those who grow lasting practices tend to face all three. They stay open, sharpen their message and build in ways that support both their clients and themselves. If you're standing at a turning point, it's worth asking: Where are you in this journey? And what might it look like to lean into the next step? Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Babson College Meets the Market with New Professional and Executive Education Course Portfolio and Plan for World-Class Conference Center
Babson On-Demand ™, the College's First Online Learning Platform, Addresses Global Talent Gaps Identified in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs Report 'Early Entrepreneur's Toolkit' Equips Aspiring Business Founders with Babson's Expertise Wellesley, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2025) - Babson College announced the launch of an expansive Professional and Executive Education portfolio building on its proven approach to delivering entrepreneurship curriculum to corporations and individuals around the world. Babson's new portfolio is now available to a broader audience-from corporate clients seeking to upskill and reskill their workforce to individual learners seeking personalized professional development. These custom, flexible, stackable offerings can be delivered online, in person, or a blend of both. Babson has a successful track record of working with organizations across an array of industries to help them solve substantial business problems, supporting their growth and evolution as dictated by shifting market demands. Flexibility through Babson On-Demand™ Included in the new rollout is Babson On-Demand™, a collection of entirely online, flexible courses with an emphasis on cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, innovation, and practical, in-demand business skills. This growing suite of online and in-person courses, which can be purchased in bundles that stack up to badges and certificates, addresses the ever-evolving needs of organizations and individuals seeking to upskill, reskill, or successfully launch a business. According to the World Economic Forum 2025 Future of Jobs report, competencies including analytical thinking, resilience, and agility are considered the most essential for workers in 2025, yet, to develop these skills, more than half of today's workforce will require training over the next five years. Babson's Professional and Executive Education (formerly branded Babson Executive Education) offerings equip learners with the most essential workplace skills as outlined in the report, preparing current and aspiring business leaders for successful futures. 'Babson's enhanced approach to professional and executive education represents a significant advancement of our strategic plan and its core focus on supporting entrepreneurship education across a lifetime,' said President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA'92, PhD. 'Our history of success providing executive education offerings to an array of organizations and professionals in 80 countries around the world positions us well to reach new markets with Babson On-Demand™. These offerings will provide audiences of all sizes-from individuals seeking to advance in their career or develop new leadership skills to largescale organizations supporting the evolution of their workforce-with the tools and thought leadership to create substantial economic and social value around the world.' The Early Entrepreneur's Toolkit One of Babson's newest signature offerings is the Early Entrepreneur's Toolkit, a curated collection of online courses that helps aspiring business founders keep their dream on track. This advanced certificate gives individuals the opportunity to learn from world-leading business faculty at the #1 institution for entrepreneurship. With courses on topics including prototyping, financing and pitching your start-up, business models, market evaluation, and social impact, the toolkit guides and supports budding entrepreneurs as they look to bring their ideas into reality. Meeting the Market with Flexible Courses and Historic Capital Investments 'At Babson, we believe entrepreneurial leadership is a lifelong journey,' said Executive Vice President Kelly Lynch. 'We are excited to launch our first online learning platform-built to empower business leaders at every stage of their careers and lives. Babson On-Demand™ makes Babson's top ranked entrepreneurship and business courses accessible anytime, anywhere. Through these self-paced courses taught by top Babson faculty, learners gain the tools, skills, and insights to immediately transform their careers and drive impact within their organizations.' Investing in a New Executive Lodging and Conference Center In support of the launch of its new portfolio, Babson has initiated a historic capital plan to build a flagship Executive Lodging and Conference Center, a facility that will provide a state-of-the-art environment for professionals, executives, academics, and the broader community for their event and lodging needs. The boutique-style executive lodging space will allow Babson's campus to better support these increased executive education offerings both in person and virtually and is slated to open in mid-2027. About Babson College Babson College is a global leader in entrepreneurship education. Through its proven Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® methodology, the College prepares entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow, and steward sustainable economic and social value around the world. Founded in 1919 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Babson has empowered more than 45,000 entrepreneurial leaders to impact communities and industries of all kinds. Babson is recognized as the No. 2 best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal and has maintained its place as No. 1 atop U.S. News & World Report's entrepreneurship rankings for decades. The College offers an array of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs and partners with organizations around the world to support global entrepreneurship initiatives. Through the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Babson's centers and institutes, the College empowers accomplished and aspiring entrepreneurs to advance the study and practice of entrepreneurial thought leadership around the world. Media Contact: Kate Chaney, Manager of External Communications, Babson College Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
