ICAEW’s Professional Services Department (PSD) has taken over responsibility for CIPFA’s disciplinary complaints. 

ICAEW now oversees the assessment, investigation and prosecution of all CIPFA disciplinary cases. This follows the signing of a joint declaration between the two professional bodies last year, agreeing closer strategic alignment and also introducing fast-track dual membership for qualified CPFA and ACA accountants. 

The PSD will now report investigation findings to the CIPFA Investigations Committee, and present cases to CIPFA’s Disciplinary Tribunals and Appeal Panels. Its committees and tribunals team will also provide support to CIPFA’s disciplinary committees.

CIPFA retains oversight of its disciplinary process; the avenues for raising a complaint remain unchanged. All decisions on whether complaints will be upheld, and sanctions levied, will continue to be made by CIPFA’s own Investigations Committee and Disciplinary Tribunals and Appeal Panels, based on the investigations and arguments conducted and presented by ICAEW.

CIPFA will also continue to review key themes or trends in disciplinary cases to inform its guidance and training support offering. Reporting of disciplinary figures and outcomes to student and members’ boards will also continue as usual.

Duncan Wiggetts, PSD Chief Officer, says: “I am really excited by the decision taken by CIPFA to outsource an important part of its work to ICAEW. It is a testament to how highly the quality of the PSD’s staff are regarded by other institutes and we welcome the opportunity to support all organisations that are looking for alternative ways to deliver this specialist service.”