Membership Applications

Important to ISIA’s roles and responsibilities and to the Institute’s vision is the incorporation of the Solomon Islands Government Accounting Service (SIGAS) members into ISIA’s membership as practitioners as well as executive members of ISIA’s Council.

This is important because not only is ISIA required to set accounting standards for the public sector, it is also required to ensure its members meet professional and ethical standards which need to apply to government accountants as much as private sector accountants.

Key Achievements

1. ISIA has been in dialogue with SIGAS executive to agree arrangements to incorporate SIGAS’ membership into ISIA. It has been agreed that an MOU be crafted to spell out the principles that will apply in the incorporation process. To facilitate and accelerate this process the Accountant General has been co-opted on to Council so that he can fully participate in the management of ISIA and understand its roles and objectives.
2. Steps are under way to obtain a profile of SIGAS membership in terms of educational qualifications, years of experience and current accountancy roles in the public sector in order to determine appropriate classes of membership to be awarded to its members upon incorporation into ISIA.
3. Solomon Islands Government Public Financial Management Reforms.
4. ISIA is becoming increasingly visible to SIG and has started being invited to enquiries and hearings related to accounting and public financial management such as for the Tax Administration Bill wherein tax agents will be required to be a member of ISIA as one of their necessary qualifications; and in the Value Added Tax consultations with stakeholders.
5. ISIA is also referenced as the relevant accounting regulator under the latest Electoral Act audit provisions.

ISIA will also become increasingly engaged with SIG when its yet to be formed statutory Standards Committee reviews draft financial reporting standards that will apply to government accounts at national, provincial and local government level before the standards are issued by ISIA.

The following are minimum requirements for eligibility for membership under one of our five member categories.

Practising CPA

This membership category is for Accountants who have achieved a CPA and have their own accounting practice:

• Must have a degree or Masters or higher qualification in Accounting from a recognised university;
• At least five years working in or practising Accounting in any jurisdiction;
• Provision of two professional referees (one of which must be a SICPA);
• Must not have been disqualified from another jurisdiction;
• Must have a CPA qualification;
• Must have their own accounting practice or be a partner in an accounting practice firm;
• Must not have been convicted of fraud, money laundering, or crimes against children.

Technician

This membership category is for working accountants who are not in private practice of their own but working as an accountant for a firm or organisation which is not Government in nature.

• Formal qualification in accounting;
• Is currently working as an accountant or has five years working experience in accounting;
• No previous convictions for fraud or money laundering or crimes against children;
• Provision of one professional referee to sign one Associate member.

Associate Member

This category of membership is for those wishing to be associated with ISIA but who are not technically accountants. This may include advisers, lecturers or teachers.

• Three years of working experience;
• Must have a degree in a related discipline;
• Currently working in accounting as lecturers, teachers or advisers;
• or work in economics, banking, finance, taxation or internal auditing or related field such as law or commerce;
• At least two professional referees.

Book-keeper

This category of membership is for those aspiring individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in accounting but who are currently without a formal graduate qualification. They may have a certificate or a diploma in accounting and are currently working in an accounting position.

• Must have a certificate or diploma in accounting and one year experience working as a book-keeper or in an accounting position;
• One professional referee;
• Must not be a discharged bankrupt;
• Must not have been convicted of fraud, money laundering or crimes against children.

Student

This category of membership is for students studying a program of accounting.

• Must be enrolled in an accounting course;
• Intends to work or practise in accounting;
• Two Associate Members to sign.

A key objective of the Institute is to regulate the professional and ethical conduct and other professional standards for its members and registered practising accountants.

These professional standards are captured in the Rules of the Institute and are issued by the Standards Committee pursuant to the Accountants Act.

The fundamental principles of the code and professional standards encourage integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour.

In addition to the general requirements under Rule 1(4) for all members to meet the obligations of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, registered practising accountants conducting a public accountancy practice shall ensure that sufficient internal control systems are put in place to protect the interests of his or her clients as well as the reputation of the Institute.