Professional Practice Management Workshops

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED & TARGET LEARNERS
Learners should understand some basics of Commercial Law. These workshops are targeted at:
a) SAIPA Learners who have a minimum of one year’s experience in an accounting practice, and
b) anyone wanting to start their own accounting practice.

DELIVERY & CONTENT
Professional Practice Management consists of three, separate one-day workshops.

Workshop 1 (1 day) - Planning a New Accounting Practice
  • Debriefing & feedback on the pre-course reading and assignment.
  • Workshop Content: Planning required for opening a new practice.
  • Groups prepare a business plan for a new accounting practice which they’ll present and discuss in the afternoon. 
After completing Workshop 1 and the post-course assignment project you will have completed these six, core (compulsory) and one, elective (optional) logbook areas related to preparing a business plan for a new accounting practice:
  1. Practice vision & mission statements.
  2. Statutory registrations required.
  3. Selection of a suitable location.
  4. Marketing strategy & target market.
  5. Client mix & sustainability (optional elective).
  6. Cash flow projections for the first year with a breakeven analysis.
  7. Professional indemnity insurance.

Workshop 2 (1 day) - Running an Effective Practice
  • Debriefing & feedback on the pre-course reading and assignment.
  • Workshop Content: Running an accounting practice.
  • Groups work through case studies, simulations and role plays covering selected logbook areas.
After completing Workshop 2 and the post-course assignment project you will have completed these nine, core (compulsory) and one, elective (optional) logbook areas related to running an effective accounting practice:
  1. Pre-engagement activities.
  2. Procedures of appointment.
  3. Resignation procedures.
  4. Implement & manage the practice’s information systems strategy.
  5. Preservation, safekeeping, maintenance & confidentiality of records.
  6. Calculation of fees.
  7. Monitoring of fees & time records.
  8. Debt policy & management.
  9. Risk & liability.
  10. Client liaison, communication & conflict resolution (optional elective).

Workshop 3 (1 day) - Human Resources (HR) Issues in an Accounting Practice
  • Debriefing & feedback on the pre-course reading and assignment.
  • Workshop Content: HR policies, procedures and practices in an accounting practice as well as SAIPA ethical behaviour and professional requirements.
  • Groups work through case studies, simulations and role plays covering selected logbook areas.
After completing Workshop 3 and the post-course assignment project you will have completed these five, core (compulsory) and three, elective (optional) logbook areas related to HR policies and procedures for an accounting practice:
  1. Employment contracts aligned to the BCOE Act.
  2. Payroll systems & maintenance of staff records.
  3. SAIPA code of ethics and professional behaviour.
  4. Staff training and development.
  5. SAIPA CPD requirements.
  6. Knowledge of FASSET & skills development (optional elective).
  7. Staff appraisals & reviews (optional elective).
  8. Recruitment, selection, induction, discipline & termination (optional elective).

IMPORTANT: All learners will be expected to read and complete all the assigned pre-course material before attending any workshop as these will also form part of a learner’s Portfolio of Evidence.

REMINDER: Delegates may apply their new learning to an optional post-course application project and submit this for assessment. This project must include the:
  • Six core (compulsory) logbook components from Workshop 1,
  • Nine core (compulsory) logbook components from Workshop 2,
  • Five core (compulsory) logbook components from Workshop 3, and
  • Four elective logbook components of your choosing from any of the three workshops.