5. Strategic Plan Implementation Reports from Committees

Finance and Administrative Report Continued

Key Financial Highlights

Total income (including subvention) increased to P27 843 038 (2018: P26 739 921) mainly due to the following:

• Membership fees increased by 18% as a result of membership subscription fee increment of 5% and additional members. The Institute experienced a 1.6% growth in the membership numbers, from 4 634 to 4 708. Furthermore, the introduction of the 50% penalty for late renewals after the 31st December contributed to the increase as members renewed their membership. • SeminarsandCPDworkshopsincomeincreased by 15% due to additional seminar sessions, a total of 43 paid up CPD events were carried out in comparison to 35 in the prior year • Number of the BICA qualification students increased to 454 (2018: 404).

Expenses during the period under review increased by P2 626 161 from 2018 mainly as a result of the following;

• Development of learning programmes for the BQA accreditation process in relation to CPD and BICA qualification, and the related increase in seminars. • 19% increase in staff costs as a result of the recruitment of seven additional staff members.

5.6.3 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

a) My BICA Portal The Institute’s MYBICA Portal registration continued to grow during the year and closed the year at 3 575 members (2018: 2 796). The increase was due to ongoing initiatives to increase awareness around the existence of the Portal.

b) Information Technology Strategy The IT Strategy that includes Implementation of Integrated Information Systems and increase in Online Services was approved by the Council during the year.

The implementation of Integrated Information Systems Project is expected to commence during the second quarter of 2020. This initiative will improve operational efficiency, customer service delivery and support to members.

5.6.4 Human Resources

During the year, seven vacancies were filled as listed below.

> Mr Oarabile Sedigeng Manager-Information Technology > Mr Oduetse Boditse Human Resource Services Officer > Mr Oaitse Dube Manager-Training, Examination, Exemption & Accreditation > Ms Tshepo Boitumelo Technical Officer > Ms Kelebogile Kagiso Membership Services Officer > Ms Nonhlanhla Ledimo Assistant Public Relations and Marketing Officer > Mr Khudu Khumo Information Technology Officer

At the close of the year, BICA recognised and awarded long term service awards to Mr. Boemo Gaolathe for attaining 15 years, Ms. Veronica Mogapi 10 years and Ms. Verily Molatedi, Tumelo Tsheole, Merapelo Ramarula attained five years of continuous service with the Institute. Staff turnover remained low in 2019 with only two employees leaving the Institute.

Training and Development areas to capacitate the Institute

In addition to on-job-training, the Institute continues to provide its staff members with training conducive to both professional and personal development. Staff members participated in various trainings to enhance their skills in line with the Institute’s mandate; the trainings included Investment in Excellence, Executive Assistant Seminar, Report Writing Skills, Speech Writing Skills and other CPD related programmes.

5.6.5 Public Relations And Marketing

In 2019, we continued to invest in Public Relations and Marketing function to engage our stakeholders to ensure we are well positioned to meet their needs. The Institute reinforced its efforts to create awareness about BICA’s mandate and positioning the BICA qualification’s international portability in the local market. The Public Relations and Marketing function implemented the following marketing and communications activities informed by the Institute’s strategy for the period 2017-2021:

a) bica Bulletin As an Institute sharing organisational events with our members is our utmost priority hence the production of the biannual publication dubbed the bica bulletin. The first edition was released in July and the second in December 2019. The articles were consolidated with the assistance of members and stakeholders. The electronic version of the newsletter was shared with members through emails and was published on the website.

b) BICA Ethics Hotline As part of living its core values, the Institute embarked on a campaign to promote the BICA Ethics hotline whose purpose includes reporting individualsandfirmsofferingaccountingservices without registering with BICA as per Section 30 of the Accountants Act of 2010. This hotline can also be used to report BICA members, employees and other stakeholders doing business with the Institute suspected of theft, bribery, fraud, dishonesty, harassment, intimidation and blackmail. The campaign commenced in February 2019 using integrated communication tools including email signatures, print and social media as well as the use of the Technical bulletin, bica Bulletin, the annual report and events.

c) Customer Relatipnship Management (CRM) The Institute has increased efficiency of responding to stakeholder feedback through the implementation of the CRM system. The CRM system measures the frequency of enquiries received and the response turnaround time. The CRM report is produced and analysed on a monthly basis and remedial action taken, as appropriate.

d) Digital Engagement For most of our members, digital media is becoming the norm. To connect with digitally savvy clients, we continued to use digital media during the year. The platforms include BICA website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The members mainly engaged with us about our services. Regular updates were made in all the platforms to ensure the members are abreast of the emerging developments in the Institute and the industry. To make the digital platform more effective, the PR and IT departments continue to workcloselyinensuringthatourdigitalplatforms are appealing to our members and user friendly.

Finance and Administrative Report Continued

Digital media continues to play an important role in communicating the BICA mandate as well as providing updates on the Institute’s activities. This includes advertising BICA events such as sporting and social activities, vacancies and CPD events. The key activities executed on the digital platforms are as follows:

• Promotion of the BICA Qualification • Awareness on adherence to the Accountants Act of 2010 • Advertisement of Information Security course • Advertisement of Implementing IFRS 16: leases course • Awareness of BICA Code of Ethics • Awareness of the BICA website • Awareness of MyBICA portal

To increase our reach and further connect with our members and the general public, we will continue to focus on digital media opportunities in 2020.

e) Advertising

The Institute increased frequency of advertising in the newspapers, billboards, street poles and digital platforms. Our CPD events were strategically placed in the newspapers to lure members to enroll in the workshops and seminars. The Institute placed static billboards, digital billboards and street poleadvertspromotingtheBICAmandate,BICA Qualification and Membership subscriptions, in high traffic areas. The billboards adverts were placed in the following areas:

• Francistown • Gaborone • Ghanzi • Jwaneng • Lobatse • Mahalapye • Maun • Molepolole

The street poles were placed in Gaborone and Francistown

As part of the Institute’s concerted efforts to reach out to the general public, we partnered with 30 public libraries around the country to distribute the BICA publications (brochures, bica Bulletin).

f) Outreach Projects

The Institute’s outreach projects are our opportune platforms to leverage on existing mass events organised by other players in the industry. These events allow us to reach our key stakeholders and the general public. In 2019 we participated at the following annual events:

• Human Resource Development Council Fair (Gaborone) • Human Resources Development Council Fair (Francistown) • Sphalabanyana Mega Expo (Palapye) • Dreams Alive Career Fair (Gaborone) • BIUST Youth Construction Pitso (Palapye) g) Media Relations

The Institute continues to engage with stakeholders through the media. Appropriate media has been identified for covering and advertising BICA events.

h) Sporting And Social Events

Sporting and social events form an integral part of engaging with key stakeholders, individual professionals as well as their employers. Through this initiative the professional colleagues mingle and catch up on the new developments in their respective companies and the industry in an informal setting.

The events also enabled the Institute to reinforce its relationships with stakeholders through sponsoring and coordinating the events. Moreover, the sporting events afford the participating entities in particular the sponsor and the Institute a platform to increase their branding mileage through the branded sporting equipment and outdoor branding merchandise. The following events were held successfully in 2019:

Event

Pool

Golf Sponsor

Botswana Accountancy College

Deloitte & Touche

Soccer PricewaterhouseCoopers Up Kgale Challenge KPMG Cricket Grant Thornton

5.6.6 CONCLUSION

I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Finance and Administrative Committee and the Secretariat for their continued support and dedication to the Committee’s mandate.

Maemo Mesotlo Chairperson