Accounts trainees must register with ICPAK under new law

A new law now requires accounts trainees to enrol with the profession’s regulating institution.

Students intending to pursue accountancy examinations by the Kenya Accountants and Secretary National Examinations Board (Kasneb) will be required to register with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) before exams. This follows the amendment of Section 17 of the Accountants Act through the Finance Bill 2018.

“The examination board shall, prior to registering a person to undertake an examination in accounting, require that the person be registered as a member of the institute,” the new clause states.

ICPAK on Monday said on registration they will be referred to as trainee accountants.

“The amended Act defines a trainee accountant as a person registered by the examinations board and who has commenced professional accountancy education or training or is practising accountancy as part of initial professional development required for qualification as an accountant,” said Julius Mwatu, ICPAK chairman.

The trainee accountants will also be subjected to practical training by the institute before completing their examinations.

This will ensure that the trainee accountant is monitored by ICPAK in terms of adherence to code of ethics of professional accountants as well as ensure acquisition of relevant professional and work experiences through the Trainee Accountants Practical Experience Framework (TAPEF) supervised by ICPAK and Kasneb.

The new requirement is in tandem with the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB) standards issued in 2017.

The standards prescribe the pre-qualification and post-qualification requirements for aspiring and qualified accountants.