Ethics are at the heart of good leadership
2019 CA ANZ President Stephen Walker FCA says ethical leadership will guide CAs through rapidly changing times.
In Brief
- Stephen Walker FCA will focus on ethical leadership in his term as 2019 CA ANZ president.
- Walker will be raising the profile of members who serve in the public and not-for-profit sectors.
- Growing entry pathways to the CA Program, and meaningful connections between members, are also on the 2019 agenda.
By Stephen Walker FCA
We are approaching a watershed moment for the accounting profession; one where we must continue to maintain the highest standards of integrity. New technologies are raising ethical issues unlike any we have had to consider before – and our profession is not immune.
At the beginning of each term in office, the president of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has the honour of choosing areas to focus on. As 2019 president, I want to amplify the core foundation that will navigate us through these changing times – ethical leadership.
Ethics falls under the overarching theme of being ‘professionally connected for the public interest’. CAs’ connections with fellow members are grounded not only in our shared professional skills, knowledge and experience, but also in our ethics. It is grounded in our ability to know the difference between what we have a right to do and what is right to do.
“It is grounded in our ability to know the difference between what we have a right to do and what is right to do.”
Throughout my career in public sector auditing, standard setting, and working in the accountancy profession, I have aimed to maintain high professional standards for the profession. Therefore, another key area I’ll be focusing on is raising the profile of members who serve in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Sometimes the value that is created in those areas, and the great career opportunities on offer can get overlooked.
I’m fortunate that as CA ANZ president I will get to see and hear from the entire spectrum of our community – the legacy left by many of our older members, the great work being done by our established members and the amazing energy and enthusiasm of our young CAs and provisional members to make a difference. I look forward to celebrating milestones and achievements with CA ANZ members, from service awards to Fellowships, or welcoming new members into our community.
This will be a year of continued growth for CA ANZ. We will grow the entry pathways and relevance of the CA Program. We will grow the meaningful connections our members have with one another through My CA. And we will support our members to build value for their clients, their organisations, and the communities in which they live and work.
Stephen Walker FCA is the 2019 President of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and executive director of Audit New Zealand.
