CE's Office
The Chief Executive’s Office comprises five business units:
Human Resources is responsible for managing all matters relating to human capital from recruitment and staff retention to health and safety.
Business Services provides a range of business operations to support the Institute including councillor elections and Rule change voting, property maintenance, publications dispatch, bulk photocopying and mailouts, and reception and catering services.
Government Relations (including the Project Office, which co-ordinates cross-divisional strategic projects), and Tax work with government and other stakeholders to ensure that the Institute’s voice is represented in policy-making, regulation and government practice. The tax team also provides ongoing support to Practice Review.
Media/Communications provides an interface with the media and deals with reputation management, as well as producing the Institute’s publications.
This divisional report outlines:
Progress on last year's goals
- A leadership and culture programme for Institute staff to be rolled out.
Life Styles Inventory programme has been rolled out. - Over two years, to introduce a values programme similar to ICAA’s PRIDE programme.
The CHOICES programme, an ongoing programme for staff, written in 2007 and delivered for the first time in January 2008. - Support the Regulatory Responsibility Bill and submissions on occupational regulation.
The Select Committee and Minister have accepted plans for the establishment of a taskforce to advance the Regulatory Responsibility Bill and related quality of regulation initiatives. - Seek to engage, through the GAA, with the international body that sets standards to mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing.
The GAA has approved two significant projects put forward by the Institute – the regulatory costing project and the international regulatory governance project. - Further international tax discussion papers
Submissions have included various Inland Revenue and Government proposals: the Limited Partnerships Bill, taxation of emissions units, International tax review, taxation of allowances, payroll giving and related charitable issues, SME compliance issues, issues for consideration in Australian DTA negotiations, non-disclosure lights and related charitable issues. - Have input into Inland Revenue’s project on operationalising the research and development tax credit.
This is available online but is still a work in progress. - A review and implementation of a more modern, timely and cost-effective delivery of the Members’ Handbook.
Following the review of the online Members' handbook and the technical publications update process, tenders were sought to find a company to create and host a new online handbook which will better suit members' needs, and to convert all of our technical publications content to XML. Pending a decision on the tender, it is hoped this will be up and running in the first half of 2009. - Promotion of Institute’s centenary, including branding.
The centenary brand was used from January 2008. The centenary website went live in January. The Media/Communications team attended and promoted (via community print media and other channels) various branch centenary events. - Further improve internal communications including through implementation of an intranet.
The intranet was delayed due to lack of technical resources; implementation is due to start in October 2008 - Further development of media relationships to enhance media coverage.
Two meet-the-media events were held with Wellington and Auckland print, radio and television journalists. A high-profile disciplinary tribunal hearing, coverage of the primary sector and centennial conferences, and the National Maori Accountants Network hui also allowed opportunity to build relationships with media.
Other highlights
- The enactment of an exception to Inland Revenue's secrecy laws that allows Inland Revenue to pass information to the Institute when that information will inform the Institute of an act or omission of its members that adversely affects the integrity of the tax system.
- Input into the Inland Revenue project on operationalising the research and development tax credit.
- The enactment of legislation limiting the impact of shortfall penalties, which had been causing taxpayers and members considerable angst.
- The Financial Action Task Force tax simplification for small to medium-sized enterprises
- A series of historical articles in the Journal to celebrate the centennial.
Coming year
- The GAA projects approved in 2007/08 (refer above).
- Continuing to engage with government on the regulation of auditors.
- The “Fit for the Future” review of the Institute’s structures.
- The review of the Institute’s rules.
- Developing and implementing a framework for the collection and management of business intelligence.
- Work on the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance and Remedial Matters) Bill, and branch visits with representatives from IRD and ACC
- Continuing to work with Inland Revenue to encourage and support tax liaison groups around the country and its education through its branch visits.
- Branch visits to work through issues around the production process and maintaining good communication and ongoing training in the area of electronic delivery.
- Implementing the Plain English Culture programe.
- Implementing the Intranet and further work on the Institute’s website to allow ease of use and easier access to information relevant to the individual.
