The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) is excited to announce the launch of the Governance Guide, a forth publication under the Maturity Model™ Guidance Series. The Maturity Model™ Guidance Series is a series of publications that support the Maturity Model for the Development of Professional Accountancy Organisations™ publication, which provides a roadmap for organisational growth based on the measurement and improvement of practices and processes. It comprises sixteen key success areas (KSAs) across four broad characteristics of sustainability, relevance, professionalism and member value. “Governance” has been identified as one of the KSAs included under sustainability.

Good governance is a necessary feature for any professional accountancy organisation’s (PAO) growth and sustainability. A PAO’s ability to serve its constituencies over the long term depends largely on the quality of its governance. The adoption of good governance principles will enable PAOs to gain two key attributes: credibility in the eyes of internal and external stakeholders and the consequent trust of those stakeholders which are vital to working in the public policy arena. This then provides a platform for the PAOs to influence and advocate as they can then serve as a reliable partner who will act in the public’s interest.

The aim of this guide is to provide the “why”, “what” and “how” of governance for PAOs. It explains why a strong commitment to good governance is important; what are the key components of a robust governance system, basing it on recognised international good-practice frameworks; and how to use the relevant tools, templates and examples in the guide to assist with implementation.

Leaders of the profession are encouraged to study the publication and consider any possible next steps. This ranges from aspiring PAOs looking to implement a system of governance, to established PAOs looking to consistently address on-going challenges and complexities. For an overview of the Maturity Model™ and the Governance guide, read this flyer.

To access an electronic copy of the Governance guide, go to: PAO Development > Maturity Model Guidance Series > Governance