NATIONAL PRACTITIONERS GROWTH FORUM 2025 (MANDATORY TRAINING) virtual option

THE INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF KENYA
(Established under the Accountants Act, Laws of Kenya)

NATIONAL PRACTITIONERS’ GROWTH FORUM 2025
Theme: Empowering Practitioners to Align to Global Requirements
Date: 29th- 31stJuly 2025
Venue: Nairobi & hybrid -Safari Park Hotel (physical option) and Virtual option
(This is a mandatory training for practicing certificate consideration)

OVERVIEW

In an era of unpredictable global economic environment fuelled by growing regulatory changes, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability, practitioners today are required to be agile and resilient to survive and thrive. As a result of these instabilities, we are now witnessing a significant rise in post-year end reporting events. IAS 10: Events After the Reporting Period, therefore, becomes a vital standard in this context for practising auditors to maintain the integrity and relevance of financial statements and engender the highly needed public confidence and trust.

However, it is important to note that reports of audit failures and scandals at local and international levels have been on the rise over the recent past. This has exposed critical gaps in risk identification, fraud detection, and documentation quality. This is despite significant investment in tools and training. These persistent deficiencies, often flagged in regulatory inspections, point to a deeper issue: the need for a transformative shift in audit practice. As emerging technologies, complex fraud schemes, and tightening regulatory demands reshape the audit landscape, traditional procedural audits are no longer sufficient. Instead, auditors must adopt a more strategic, investigative, and risk-responsive approach to remain relevant and effective.

In Kenya, for example, we have recently witnessed growing pressure on the audit profession to meet the heightened expectations of regulators, boards, and the investing public following reported major frauds affecting the public. The profession is therefore decisively shifting towards risk-based auditing and value-driven assurance, demanding rigorous application of the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Central to this evolution are the revised ISA 315, which focuses on robust identification and assessment of risks of material misstatement, and ISA 220 (Revised), which emphasizes quality management at the engagement level. These standards are not only compliance tools – but they are also frameworks for delivering insightful, high-quality audits in a dynamic business environment.

The increased reported cases of fraud and financial misconduct in Kenya have led to heightened demands for the elevation of status of auditors in organization hierarchy to guarantee professional independence. Auditors are therefore today expected to strengthen their forensic capabilities, leveraging data analytics and applying enhanced professional skepticism to detect anomalies and respond to fraud risks early. At the same time, tightening Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws have expanded the auditor’s remit to include scrutiny of financial flows for indicators of money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities. This signals a broader shift: auditors are increasingly becoming agents of financial integrity and regulatory accountability.

At the foundation of effective audit delivery is audit quality control, as set out in ISQM 1 and ISA 220 (Revised). These standards emphasize a proactive, risk-based system of quality management that supports consistent, high-quality engagement performance. However, without robust documentation, as prescribed by ISA 230, even the most well-intentioned audit procedures may fall short. The complexity of accounting estimates, evolving judgments, and accelerating technological integration demand that auditors continuously enhance their ability to evaluate audit evidence, apply judgment, and maintain thorough documentation.

Last but not the least, practitioners are also faced with challenges revolving around compliance with regulations such as SASRA, RBA and AML to name but a few. Moreover, practitioners also grapple with the issue of succession planning mainly for single partner firms, complexities around licensing and the staying up to date with new standards requirements. In addition, practitioners handle a lot of data and information about their clients and are therefore at risk of facing legal suits emanating from data collection and handling.

Recognizing these multifaceted demands, the forum concludes with a renewed focus on ethical resilience, professional growth, and the development of adaptive capabilities. As auditors face expanding roles and increased public scrutiny, soft skills—such as communication, leadership, ethical decision-making, and client management—are no longer optional; they are critical enablers of success. This forum is therefore designed not only to advance technical mastery but also to empower audit professionals to lead with confidence, integrity, and agility in today’s complex assurance landscape.

Based on the foregoing developments, The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), in line with its mandate to support and empower its members, is proud to host the National Practitioners Growth Forum 2025 – a three-day learning and networking platform tailored for practitioners.

Key Focus Areas

This Training is divided into the following modules covering various aspects that are key to practitioners.

Continuous Professional Development Units (CPD Units):

Members of ICPAK and reciprocating professional bodies will be awarded 20 CPD Units upon successfully attending each of the conference sessions.

Target Audience:

Private and Public Audit Practitioners, Public Sector Accountants, Chief Finance Officers, Finance Directors and Managers, Tax Experts, Transaction Advisors, Engagement Partners and Key Audit staff, Banking, Extractive and SMEs sector accountants, Internal Auditors, Tax Practitioners, Professionals working in County Governments and private sectors, Academia, employees of the NPO Sector.

Cost:

Charges for the training will be Kes40,000/= for Physical and Kes15,000/= virtual which will cover workshop fees, materials, and e-certificates of attendance.

Online Booking:

We call on Conference participants to note that booking 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)