Global Competency Framework

The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has developed a Global Competency Framework (GCF) that outlines the essential skills, knowledge, behaviours, and attributes that individuals at various levels or stages in their career should possess to progress into a professional financial role.

The framework provides a structure to assess and develop the performance of individuals in three sets of competencies: Technical, Transdisciplinary and Professional. These have been developed in collaboration with international industry experts, academics and employers, ensuring that the content is aligned with current and emerging trends, and practical workplace requirements.

The GCF works to align today’s necessary skills in a rapidly changing job market with individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge and advance their careers. The GCF will be based to develop flexible options and focused micro credentialing programs that are relevant, practical, and applicable to the latest job roles.

 

ET GCF Diagram03

 

How was the Global Competency Framework developed

The GCF was developed following rigorous research involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A summary of the research undertaken to define the GCF is provided below:  

  • Detailed qualitative interviews with over 50 IPA members utilising a grounded approach to identify existing, new and emerging competency requirements. 
  • Establishment of an Education Advisory Panel, including leading accounting academics from across the globe to advise and critique the framework development. 
  • Collation of over 19,000 competencies from across the different competency areas identified in the member interviews. This raw dataset was then reviewed to produce a list of just over 3000 competencies for detailed review.  
  • A Delphi survey involving approximately 1500 members was then conducted to identify the relevance of the transdisciplinary competencies.  This produced a list of approximately 1200 competencies for detailed review and drafting. 
  • A revised version of the Bloom’s Taxonomy was then developed with extensions to account for the adult learning focus of the competency framework. All competencies were then coded for their knowledge characteristics and cognitive process. 
  • Extensive redrafting of the remaining competencies was then undertaken to ensure they reflected demonstrable competencies that could be assessed. 
  • The redrafting process resulted in a first version of the framework with 781 competencies. 
  • A subset of these competencies was then analysed and selected to form the basis of the Global Certified Public Accountant.  
  • The Global Competency Framework will be regularly updated to reflect changes in the industrial and regulatory environment of accounting.