Competence-based approaches to the assessment of professional accountancy training work experience requirements: the ICAS experience.

Gammie, Elizabeth; Joyce, Yvonne

Abstract

Most professional accountancy bodies' qualification processes encompass three components: a prescribed programme of professional education, some form of work experience, and a formal final examination to determine professional competence. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) suggests that purely theoretical and knowledge-based education does not meet the needs of all employers. Thus professional bodies are encouraged to find ways to deliver and assess relevant competences in the most appropriate manner. Despite educationalists suggesting that performance measurements based on direct observation within the work place are more effective at measuring competences than traditional paper-based examinations, assessment strategies within the accountancy domain remain conservative. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) was one of the first professional bodies to introduce a competency-based approach to work based assessment in 1999 and subsequently undertook a review of the process in 2004. The data collected for the review was undertaken by way of a questionnaire to authorized training offices, indepth interviews with employers, and discussions which emanated from a Working Party which included internal ICAS employees, an academic and a representative from a large accountancy firm. This paper presents the findings of the review, discusses the pertinent issues in relation to work based assessment and outlines the changes that were made to the competency-based approach adopted by ICAS. It concludes with recommendations for future practice.

Citation

GAMMIE, E. and JOYCE, Y. 2009. Competence-based approaches to the assessment of professional accountancy training work experience requirements: the ICAS experience. Accounting education [online], 18(4-5), pages 443-466. Available from : https://doi.org/10.1080/09639280902719465

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 31, 2009
• Online Publication Date: Aug 31, 2009
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2009
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 30, 2011
• Journal: Accounting education
• Print ISSN: 0963-9284
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-4489
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 4-5
• Pages: 443-466
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09639280902719465
• Keywords: Competence; Work based assessment; Professional accounting qualification
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/579