Research & Guidance

Knowledge Development 

The CICA's Knowledge Development Group comprises Research Studies, the Risk Management and Governance Board (RMGB), the Canadian Performance Reporting Board (CPRB) and Information Services. These combined resources provide analysis of critical professional issues and in-depth treatment of selected projects and themes deemed to be strategic to the positioning of Canada’s Chartered Accountants.

The research activities of the Knowledge Development Group focus on identifying and sponsoring research and development in areas viewed as crucial to the CA profession’s role in the North American capital markets and as fundamental to new markets and new stakeholder needs for services derived from CICA’s and CA members’ core competencies.

The primary strategic objectives addressed by the Knowledge Development Group include:

• Intellectual capital – providing insightful research and guidance into areas designated as strategic imperatives for the CA profession.
• Public interest – ensuring that the framework for measurement and reporting facilitates the global flow of capital and serves the public interest and corporate governance requirements for relevant, high quality and credible information used to allocate resources and measure and improve performance.
• Member relations – developing best practice guidance materials that reflect the brand and image of the CA profession.

Research Studies

The Research Studies Department carries out technical research on matters of importance to CAs, the accounting profession, the business community and the government/public sector. It issues publications for both guidance and discussion and debate.

The main objectives are to:

1. Undertake research and provide guidance on current and identifiable future issues of significance to:
   • preparers and users of financial and non-financial information, and to those providing assurance on such information;
   • business, management, public sector entities and Boards of Directors.
2. Provide a process to stimulate discussion and debate on matters of professional interest.
3. Undertake research commissioned by other CICA departments.
4. Leverage existing research and undertake new projects that provide support for future standards, implementation guidance and best practices.
5. Keep abreast of emerging information technology issues that affect assurance services or financial and business reporting, and undertake the required research or provide guidance on such issues.
6. Arrange for the publication of the research product in a manner that will efficiently and effectively communicate with the target groups to whom the research is directed and other interested parties in the accounting profession, the business community and government/public sector.
7. Monitor and provide guidance for the CA profession on privacy legislation and anti-money laundering legislation.

There are two Standing Committees administered by the Research Studies Department:

• Academic Research Advisory Committee (ARAC).
• Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC).

The activities in progress and recent publications are designed to assist in meeting major challenges facing the accounting profession. These involve user information needs, expectations gap, regulatory pressures, internationalization of business, competition in practice and between professional accounting organizations, the role of auditing and increased incidence of lawsuits, auditor independence and advances in information technology.