Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants

Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants
AbbreviationCISPA
Formation1970
HeadquartersCayman Islands
Region
Cayman Islands
Official language
English
President
Baron Jacob
Websitewww.cispa.ky

The Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants (CISPA) is a professional association of accountants in the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. CISPA is responsible for licensing accounting practitioners, supports education of accountants and participates in decisions about the financial industry in the offshore financial centre.[1]

Authority

CISPA was founded as a professional association in 1970.[2] By 2007 the society had grown to 1000 members. The passage of the Public Accountants Law and its associated regulations in 2007 gave increased regulatory responsibilities to CISPA. Under the new law, CISPA became responsible for regulating the profession in the Caymans, including members and other accountants.[3] CISPA has been an associate of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) since 2008.[4] As of 2008 the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) was continuing membership discussions with CISPA from the previous year.[5]

Education

CISPA works with the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) in defining the college's accounting program, and as of September 2007 to offer Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified General Accountant (CGA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) review classes.[3] Reviewing the first year of UCCI's Certified Accounting Technician program, CISPA considered that it had been successful, although some changes could be made to better prepare students for their first work experience.[6]

Financial industry participation

Accounting is an essential activity in the Cayman Islands: in 2006 it was estimated the banking sector contributes about 25 percent of the Cayman Islands GDP.[7] CISPA is a member of the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association (CIFSA), formed in November 2003.[8] In 2005 the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) requested that a working group be formed to review the recommendations of CIMA's Policy and Research Division, which had been examining regulation of the mutual funds industry. CISPA was invited to participate, as were the Cayman Islands Fund Administrators Association, the Cayman Islands Law Society and the Cayman Islands Bar Association.[9]

References

  1. ^ "New body signs licence certificates for practicing public accountants". Cayman Finance. 2 January 2007. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. ^ "About CISPA". CISPA. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Accountants usher in new era". Caymanian Compass. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Member Bodies and Associates". IFAC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Report 2008" (PDF). ICAC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  6. ^ Basia Pioro (12 July 2007). "UCCI accounting building bridges". Caymanian Compass. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Impact study on the banking industry in the Cayman Islands". Cayman Finance. 24 July 2006. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Cayman gets high praise". Caymanian Compass. 22 August 2006. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  9. ^ "The Evolution of the Cayman Islands Fund Industry". Mondaq Business Briefing. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 2 July 2011.