Volunteering Engagement High in Accounting Profession

A social impact study conducted by one of Australia’s major professional accounting bodies has revealed a high level of skilled professional volunteering in the industry.

More than a third of CPA Australia members dedicated time and professional expertise in volunteer roles, a new member survey has found.

Of those, the survey found one in three volunteer as a Treasurer, while a quarter serve on a board in a variety of sectors.

CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley said the results were a timely reminder of the value CPA Australia members can bring to volunteer or Not for Profit organisations, as well as the personal reward members can derive from donating their time and expertise.

“Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the community and helping out individuals or organisations in need.

“And it needn’t be onerous. Indeed our survey found that for just under half of our members, the time commitment involved is between just one and five hours per week.

“The feedback was also overwhelmingly positive with 97 per cent of survey respondents saying that the experience meets or exceeds their expectations,” he said.  

Malley said CPA Australia supported members undertaking volunteer or pro bono work by offering complimentary professional indemnity (PI) cover when performing accounting services in the community.

“We have also formed a partnership with Pro Bono Australia to help members search out roles that might suit them both in terms of the work involved and the time commitment,” he said.

Result highlights:

• Close to 40 per cent of CPA Australia members volunteer in a professional capacity

• Members volunteered across a broad range of organisations

• Volunteering tended to be in smaller organisations (turnover less than $250k per annum)

• Role is often that of Treasurer or Board Member

• Close to half spend between one and five hours per week volunteering, a third between six and 20 hours

• Almost two thirds have been in the volunteer role five years or less, over half three years or less

• Members get involved in professional volunteering through being approached by the organisation or through friends or colleagues

• Perceived as a way of giving back to the community

• Benefits go both ways – both the member and the organisation benefit

• The experience meets or exceeds member’s expectations

• Key barriers – availability of time and potential risk (liability)

CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountants) is one of two major professional accounting bodies in Australia.

The organisation is one of the world's largest accounting bodies with a membership of more than 150,000 finance, accounting and business professionals in 121 countries across the globe.

The results were released to coincide with the 23rd World Volunteering Conference, held on the Gold Coast last week.

Read about the survey methodology here.