Branch Network
The Institute has four regions, divided into 18 branches and sub-branches, or service centres, throughout New Zealand and the world. Branches offer a wide range of opportunities to their local members, including professional development, special interest groups and networking.
Elections to the governing body of the Institute, the Council, along with Fellowship selection and recommendations, are made through branches, with Council positions allocated to branches on the basis of membership numbers.
This divisional report outlines:
Progress on last year's goals
- Better reach, engage and satisfy the professional and social development needs of an ever-growing diverse membership.
The branches throughout New Zealand and the world have provided a number of social, sporting and ceremonial events, and local and special interest group professional development presentations. There was also a review of the national professional development offerings and channels of delivery.
- Find ways to encourage our youth to look at the profession as a rewarding career option.
A partnership with Enterprise New Zealand Trust and their High School Young Enterprise Scheme mentor support programme and the Inzone high school careers bus programme. - Address the desire for a more one stop shop approach of services for Auckland’s 10,000 members.
Progress includes appointment of the following Auckland based roles: tertiary liaison co-ordinator, senior tax manager and professional support assistant director. - Grow the number of special interest groups to address growing specialist disciplines amongst our members.
The most recent initiative is the National Treasury and Financial Markets SIG that, all going well, is destined to become the first group to utilise modern technologies to webcast and podcast to its subscription based members across the world.
Other highlights
In overseas jurisdictions, our members have continued to enjoy the benefits provided through our Global Accounting Alliance network and in London we have been working jointly with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and a production company to provide UK-centric PD via the Internet.
Coming year
Outside of the business as usual activities of the branches we also wish to:
- implement a programme to help support the Inzone school bus visits, school expos and school visits and encourage scholars to take a degree in business
- introduce more channels using technology to deliver information to geographically spread Special Interest Group members
- raise the profile of the GAA’s products and services offered to our members domiciled overseas and ensure members of the GAA domiciled in New Zealand are aware of the Institute’s products and services
- review existing branch accommodation against future needs
- complete internal business systems projects to enhance access of branches to the Institutes electronic infrastructure.
