AICPA COMPETENCY MODEL FOR THE NEW FINANCE PROFESSIONAL

The AICPA's Professional Development Subcommittee of the Business and Industry Executive Committee has issued a second proposal for the competency model for the "new finance professional" for final exposure. The model is designed to be the basis for self-assessment and career planning by finance professionals. Competencies are included in the model to position the CPA finance professional to assume the role of a strategic business partner of his or her employer and to remain current and relevant as a "forward thinking member of the workforce of today and the future." Comments received relating to an earlier exposure draft were considered in modifying the model. This second exposure, according to Karyn Waller, AICPA staff working on the project, is aimed at receiving comments concerning the implementation of the model.

The final version of the model will include a career planning and assessment tool that will facilitate the evaluation process and will include a list of development activities. Hewitt Associates, an international firm specializing in the design, financing, communication, and administration of human resources systems and processes, is currently developing the self-assessment tool and providing development programs to complete this phase of the process. It is expected that the assessment tool will be available by year-end. *