Making the most of CPD as a SAICA Chartered Accountant

Markus du Plessis is a Chartered Accountant in audit practice with a global Big 4 firm, auditing clients within the Government and Public Sector. As a CA(SA), he is registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and currently works in the United Kingdom. 

In this article, he shares his personal experience with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) compliance as a professional in a global context. Writing from the perspective of a CA (SA), he offers helpful tips for professionals across disciplines on getting value from our CPD activities, making compliance simpler and more effective, and helping us achieve long-term career growth. 

“My journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant began with my Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting (with Honours) at South Africa’s North-West University from 2014 to 2017. Once my degree was complete, I entered a three-year training contract with the Office of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), working as a trainee auditor within the Government Sector. During this period, I was signed off on all technical and professional competencies required by SAICA, and completed both board exams: 

• Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and 
  
• Assessment of Professional Competence (APC)

I became a Chartered Accountant in early 2021 and remained with the AGSA for another year as assistant audit manager, working across a variety of provincial departments, the provincial legislature, state-owned entities, and local government clients. 

To broaden my perspectives on governance and build my technical skills further, I then joined audit firm EY in the United Kingdom as a qualified audit senior within the Government and Public Sector. I’m responsible for audits of entities within the National Health Service (NHS), the National Audit Office (NAO), higher education, and local government (councils, police authorities, and fire authorities). The audit reports of public institutions review the spending of taxpayer funds, and are taken into account by foreign investors too, and I enjoy the impact my role has. I’ve gathered experience in external assurance, digital audit, assessment of internal controls, risk assessment and reporting, audit of performance information and audit of compliance with laws and regulations, and I consider my Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in this context. Read more for my thoughts on my route to becoming a Chartered Accountant and beyond, the ‘output’ focus of CPD, my personal experiences with it so far, and tips for your CPD and career journey.

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