In its ongoing efforts to motivate employees to obtain international professional certifications, the Audit Bureau recently hosted Ms. Arwa Due-Gundersen, Senior Business Development Manager for Europe and the Middle East at CPA Australia, for a lecture aimed at introducing and highlighting the CPA Australia certification.

The session commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Radhi Al-Hamadeen, President of the Audit Bureau, who underscored the Bureau’s enthusiasm for collaborating with CPA Australia. Dr. Al-Hamadeen emphasized the Bureau's commitment to shape strong partnerships with prestigious international institutions specializing in auditing and accounting.

Dr. Al-Hamadeen noted that this lecture is part of a broader initiative to elevate the professional competencies of the Bureau’s staff, particularly through the acquisition of professional certifications. To this end, the Bureau has established a Professional Qualifications Division within the Human Resources Department, aimed at encouraging staff to pursue professional certifications. The Bureau aspires for approximately 40% of its auditors to hold both international and local professional certifications by the end of its strategic plan in 2027.

Ms. Due-Gundersen provided an in-depth overview of the CPA Australia certification, which ranks as the fourth largest professional certification globally, with approximately 170,000 members. She highlighted that around 15% of these members occupy leadership positions within their respective organizations.

Ms. Due-Gundersen also pointed out CPA Australia’s global presence and recognition, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and numerous other countries.

During her presentation, Ms. Due-Gundersen elaborated on the certification requirements, curriculum, and necessary study materials for the exam. She also discussed the possibility of subject exemptions based on the candidate's prior experience. Despite the challenging nature of the content and exam, the pass rate stands at an impressive 65%.

The lecture, attended by Secretary-General Mr. Ahmed Al-Sawai, Bureau Directors, and employees both in-person and remotely from various Field Audit Units, concluded with an engaging Q&A session where numerous attendee inquiries about the certification were addressed.

On the sidelines of the lecture, a meeting took place at the Bureau attended by Ms. Due-Gundersen and representatives from the Jordanian Association of Certified Public Accountants, including the Association’s President and Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee, Mr. Hossam Rahal. The discussions focused on potential agreements and partnerships between the Association and CPA Australia, particularly in the field of mutual recognition of professional qualifications.