The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has been forced to postpone a vote of its membership on its integration with another accountancy body.
CIPFA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) are pushing ahead with merger plans but a vote of members will now not take place ‘until September at the earliest'.
A message to CIPFA members said ‘completing the due diligence and obtaining the necessary approvals' was ‘taking longer than originally anticipated'.
The message read: ‘The work underpinning the proposed integration is complex and requires the support of regulators and key government bodies. This reflects the scale and importance of the proposed changes.
‘We have extensive plans to engage with our members and there will be multiple opportunities for you to comment and ask questions ahead of a vote of the CIPFA membership. This vote will take place no earlier than September.
‘We are looking forward to discussing this proposal with members and are committed to providing you with comprehensive information on how the integration will work in practice and what this means for CIPFA and you as a member. However, it would not be right to begin these conversations until we have completed the necessary regulatory steps. We need to ensure we have clarity before seeking members' views.'
Former senior manager at CIPFA Roman Haluszczak, who is still a member, said: ‘Most concerning is the admission that meaningful member engagement will only happen after regulatory steps are completed. That is not consultation — it's a predetermined position. For a body that claims to champion public accountability, this falls well short.'
The body operates under a Royal Charter, and any changes will require approval from the Privy Council.
CIPFA has refused to publish its submission to the Privy Council but has attempted to reassure members it is ‘committed to engaging extensively with members and sharing comprehensive information explaining how integration will operate in practice once the regulatory phase has concluded'.
The message added: ‘Joining the ICAEW Group will strengthen our resilience, extend our impact and reach, and maximise the value we provide to members and the wider public sector. It will also preserve our charitable status and operational independence while retaining our charter, identity and brand.'
