Statement from the Board 9 February 2018

1. Meeting with Divisional and Branch Council Presidents

One of the recommendations from the Independent Review was to establish a Council of Presidents to improve members’ ability to engage meaningfully with the Board on CPA Australia’s strategy and other relevant member issues.

The Board is very supportive of this recommendation and initiated it through the invitation of the Presidents of all Divisional and Branch Councils to a meeting in Melbourne head office on 29 January 2018.

It was a very open and productive day. The Board sought feedback from the Presidents on the Issues Paper that sets out the recommendations from the Independent Review and the options for implementation. The feedback has been incorporated into the Issues Paper which is being made available today for all members to consider and comment upon, as appropriate. This Issues Paper is discussed further below.

In addition to discussion on the Issues Paper, each President provided an overview of the key matters of importance to their Division or Branch, early results from the member survey were shared, and strategic workshop sessions were conducted to capture the views of the Presidents in relation to the development of the new corporate strategy.

2. Implementing Independent Review Recommendations – release of Issues Paper

On 15 December, the Board provided its response to the Independent Review recommendations. Included in that response was a commitment to provide members with an issues paper providing more detail on the implications of implementing the recommendations.

The purpose of the Independent Review was to enable CPA Australia to adopt a more contemporary and balanced set of governance arrangements in response to member concerns.

Many of the Independent Review Panel’s recommendations require a reduction of the Board’s powers and those directly exercised by the chief executive, in favour of powers exercised by Divisional Councils directly elected by members.

The intent of these recommendations is supported by the new Board of CPA Australia.

Many of the recommendations will require changes to CPA Australia’s Constitution, By-Laws and Charters.

The Board’s primary objective in taking changes forward to the AGM is to achieve outcomes that are in the overall best interests of all CPA Australia members.

The Board is calling for member input on how best to implement the proposed changes. This is a genuine opportunity to reset our governance structures.

The Issues Paper (PDF) is now available for member review and comment.

Members can share their views by:

• Contacting Divisional and Branch Council
• Attending a Member Consultation Forum
• Online feedback form

Divisional and Branch Councils

Members are encouraged to contact their representatives on Divisional and Branch Council to share their views on the issues paper. Details of the members of Divisional and Branch Councils are listed on CPA Australia’s website.

Representatives from CPA Australia’s Board will attend Council meetings over the next few months to hear directly from Councillors on member feedback received.

Member Consultation Forums

Member Consultation Forums have been scheduled throughout March and all members are invited to attend. Representatives from CPA Australia’s Board, along with representatives from Divisional or Branch Council will be in attendance.

Dates and locations for the Member Consultation Forums are available on the CPA Australia website.  

The Forums are an opportunity for all members to ask questions and put forward their views on the issues paper in a face-to-face setting.

CPA Australia website

Members are also able to use the CPA Australia website to provide comment on the issues paper.

Pathway to the AGM

Feedback will be used to shape the final motions for Constitutional change. Finalised motions will be included in the Notice of Meeting that will be sent to all members towards the end of April.

Members will then make a determination on the motions at the AGM on Tuesday 22 May in Melbourne.

Key dates and more information about the AGM are available on the CPA Australia website. 

3. Potential for Legal Action

The new Board is acutely aware of the deep disappointment, hurt and anger felt by so many members in relation to the circumstances leading to the termination payment of the previous CEO.

In our communication to you on 15 December 2017, we advised we had made our own inquiries in relation to the termination payment to the previous CEO.

Similarly, the new Board has undertaken our own inquiries about the duties of the former directors.

The Board, through myself as President and Deputy President Merran Kelsall, have met with partners in a leading law firm and with Queen’s Counsel.

The Board is of the view that there is no basis to take action against CPA Australia’s past directors.

Having reviewed the circumstances of these events during 2017, the new Board understands the strong concern that many members feel having been put through this experience. The new Board would like to express its sincere regret to all members about these matters, and also assures all members it will vigorously pursue the necessary governance and constitutional changes to avoid any risk of these matters recurring in future.

Further we commit that we will continue to work in the overall best interests of all CPA Australia members.

4. Director and Executive Remuneration

When the nine new Directors were appointed in October, we approved independent benchmarking for director and executive remuneration.

External benchmarking experts, the Godfrey Remuneration Group (“Godfrey”), were appointed.

The Board notes the Independent Review recommendation that appropriate member-based organisations should be included in the benchmarking comparator group, however the Board has determined it would like to go further and only have member-based organisations included in the benchmarking comparator group.

Godfrey invited 27 member-based organisations to share their information on a confidential basis to allow a comparator group – the “Mutual Survey Group” - to be established. Of these, 12 organisations agreed to participate by the end of 2017.

Godfrey also referenced a group of 20 ASX listed Companies, however the Board advised Godfrey it wished to benchmark its remuneration solely on the Mutual Survey Group.

External advice

A letter from Godfrey (PDF) detailing their advice can be viewed on the CPA Australia website.

The Board also sought a second opinion on the external benchmarking work to ensure the outcome was reasonable.

A letter from PwC (PDF) detailing its advice can be viewed on the website.

Both organisations see the Director remuneration levels determined as fair and reasonable, against this relevant market standard for CPA Australia.

Action taken

Director remuneration has been set at $75,000, a 24 per cent reduction on the previous remuneration level. This is comparable to the mid-range of the Mutual Survey Group, sitting just above the mid-point.

The Deputy President roles have been set at a 1.5 multiple on the basic Director fee and the President and Chair role has been set at a 3 multiple on the basic Director fee. Both multiples reflect benchmarks in the Mutual Survey Group.

More detail can be viewed in the Godfrey letter (PDF).

These figures are inclusive of superannuation and will be back dated to 1 October 2017 when the nine new Directors were appointed to the Board.

Directors have not received any remuneration from CPA Australia since 1 October 2017 while this independent benchmarking process was underway.

The Board has also determined that no committee fees will be paid to any directors. Where a non-director is a member of a Board committee they will be entitled to a per diem amount. For the Independent Review Implementation Committee, Divisional Presidents seconded to this committee are entitled to receive a per diem amount of $2,300 per diem, capped at 20 days in total and to apply throughout 2018.

The Board has also determined that as from January 2018, no directors of CPA Australia are to sit on the Boards of any CPA Australia subsidiaries.

Remuneration levels for the CPA Australia Advice Board have also been set at a lower level and the higher duties allowance associated with CPA Australia Advice where it existed for selected senior executives at CPA Australia (e.g. the two COO roles at $185k) has been removed.

Directors remuneration as stated above inclusive of salary and superannuation components.

The Board has also set the market median as the remuneration benchmark mid-point for executive roles going forward. In previous years, higher benchmark reference points were used to set executive pay levels.

5. CEO Recruitment

The process is well underway. By mid January, the Board received a final long-list from the external executive search firm containing a number of very high quality candidates. The Board is trimming this down to a short-list.

The Nominations committee (a sub committee of the Board) will start interviews at the end of the month and these are expected to extend into March.

It is expected that the full Board will meet with the top 2-3 candidates in April before making a final decision.

he timing of the appointment will be dependent on the outcome of that process.

When the new CEO is appointed, and following negotiations in the best interests of the organisation and all members, the remuneration package for that role will be disclosed.

6. Corporate Strategy Review

As noted earlier, the Board and Divisional and Branch Presidents participated in a strategy workshop on 29 January 2018.

There is clear agreement that the success of our members must be at the centre of our future strategy. We do not believe the former vision of seeking to be the best professional services association in the world reflects what our members want us to be.

The Board is meeting with Divisional Councils over the next few months and a series of focus groups with members will be held throughout February, to further develop our new corporate strategy centred on our members.

More information can be found on the CPA Australia website.

7. CPA Australia Professional Standards Scheme

In late December, the Professional Standards Council (PSC) advised it had approved CPA Australia’s application for a new Professional Standards Scheme for recommendation to the relevant Ministers in each State and Territory for gazettal.

This new Scheme has now been gazetted in each state and territory and has commenced in every state and territory except Tasmania (21 February commencement date) and Victoria (19 March commencement date).

Members in public practice are encouraged to visit CPA Australia’s website to access support material and resources in relation to the new Scheme.

8. Policy changes

The Board’s Audit & Risk Committee has resolved to review the organisation’s whistleblower policy and, as a priority, establish an external concern reporting mechanism.

This work will be undertaken with regard to recent events within our organisation and forthcoming legislative reforms and best practice.

As part of our review of governance the Board is looking at initiatives to address inclusion and diversity. We will have more to announce in these areas in the next two months including changes to existing, or creation of new, policies.

The Board hopes the above provides useful information for our members.

We encourage you to review the issues paper (PDF) and provide your feedback either through your Council, by attending a Member Consultation Forum or through the CPA Australia website.

It is important that all members have their say in shaping the future governance structures of CPA Australia.

Peter Wilson AM FCPA
For the CPA Australia Board of Directors