To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF KENYA
(Established under the Accountants Act, Laws of Kenya)
Financial Services Sector Conference
Date: 24th – 25th September 2025
Time: 9.00am-3.30pm
Delivery Mode: Virtual
Overview
What does the future hold for the financial services sector amid rapid technological advancements, evolving regulatory landscapes, and shifting consumer expectations?
Globally, the financial services industry is experiencing a transformative shift. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are redefining traditional banking models, offering enhanced efficiency and customer-centric solutions. Simultaneously, regulatory bodies worldwide are introducing new standards to ensure transparency, sustainability, and resilience in financial operations. These global trends underscore the imperative for financial institutions to adapt and innovate to remain competitive and relevant.
In Kenya, the financial sector mirrors these global dynamics. The rise of fintech innovations has expanded financial inclusion, yet challenges persist, including a significant increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), which reached 16.4% by December 2024, the highest in a decade. This underscores the need for robust credit risk management and adherence to regulatory guidelines.
Digital innovation continues to reshape financial services, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. However, this digital shift introduces cybersecurity risks, necessitating comprehensive risk management strategies. Moreover, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into financial decision-making is becoming increasingly critical, aligning with global sustainability goals.
The Financial Services Sector Conference 2025 aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on these dynamics, fostering innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth within the sector. Discussions will encompass strategies for effective risk management, regulatory compliance, technological advancements, and sustainable finance practices.
Key Topics
| DAY | MODULE | TOPICS |
| DAY 1 | A.  ESG & Sustainable Finance Integration | ·        The Need for Sustainability Reporting
·        Objective of IFRS S1 & S2 ·        Aligning with IFRS S1/S2: governance, strategy, risk management, metrics ·        Sustainable investment, green bonds, and ESG-linked lending frameworks ·        Measuring and reporting climate risk and impact metrics ·        Social impact measurement: financing MSMEs, rural banking, and community development
|
| B.  Enhancing Governance and Accountability
 |
·        Systemic lessons from the KUSCCO fraud: broad governance failures and recovery approaches
·        Best practices in board and committee oversight for financial institutions and cooperatives ·        Strengthening professional ethics, whistleblowing mechanisms, and stakeholder transparency ·        Role of audit and compliance functions in safeguarding integrity
|
|
| C.  Materiality Assessment for Sustainability reporting | ·        Definition and Concept of Materiality
·        Materiality Judgment Process ·        Sources of Information ·        Boundary of reporting ·        Integration with Risk and Opportunity Assessment ·        Documentation and Audit Trail |
|
| DAY 2 | D.  Integrating Sustainability into the Corporate Strategy | ·        Developing a Sustainability Strategy
·        Setting sustainability goals & action plans ·        Aligning sustainability initiatives with business strategy ·        Ethical considerations in sustainability disclosures ·        Setting and evaluating sustainability KPIs ·        Common reporting pitfalls & how to avoid them |
| E.  Holistic Enterprise Risk Management
 |
·        Integrating credit, liquidity, operational, and climate risks under one ERM framework
·        Scenario planning and stress-testing in diverse financial entities ·        Building a risk-aware culture across banks, SACCOs, insurers, and fintechs ·        Oversight roles: board, risk committees, and internal audit considerations
|
|
| F.  Data Governance & Analytics for Decision-making
 |
·        Kenya Data Protection Act (2019) Implementation
·        Alignment with GDPR Principles ·        Enterprise Data Governance Frameworks ·        Ethical AI/ML and Analytics Compliance
|
 Target Audience
This workshop will be useful to all professional Accountants and those aspiring to join the profession
Continuous Professional Development Units (CPD Units):
Members of ICPAK and reciprocating professional bodies will be awarded 10 CPD Units upon successfully attending the session.
Cost:
Charges for the training will be Kes 10,000/= which will cover workshop fees, materials, and e-certificates of attendance.
Online Booking:
We call on Seminar participants to note that booking for is available only online at www.icpak.com/events and will close two hours before the training session. Delegates are reminded to note that online booking for training sessions is mandatory.  This is available either online at www.icpak.com/events  or on the ICPAK Live – A smart phone-based application that is available from google store.
National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Reimbursement:
The Institute is registered as a trainer with National Industrial Training Authority. The Institute’s registration number is DIT/TRN/47. Participants who are registered levy contributors should apply to NITA for reimbursement of their fees. Please note that this is applicable for Kenyan citizens only and subject to NITA regulations. Remember that to qualify you should apply to NITA for approval prior to the date of the conference. Further details can be obtained from their website (www.nita.go.ke).
Further requests can be channeled to us via telephone calls on +254 719 074 100, or via email to marketing@icpak.com.
We encourage members to regularly visit our website https://www.icpak.com for updates.
To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
