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Should marketing be allowed to CA firms? - Printable Version

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Should marketing be allowed to CA firms? - jbladeus - 08-09-2003

Nowadays in this world of cut-throat competition, it seems kind of ridiculous of ICAP to not allow the CA firms to market their services actively.

I've just read the article featured on this website and totally agree with the Indian writer's views who says that gone are the days when advertising to compete to get client between firms was looked upon by our "white-collared" number-crunchers as unethical and something immoral.

Nowadays, the field of marketing is a complete science which also carries in it other sciences like psychology, information technology, human physiology etc. It is nothing to be scorned or shunned by ICAP, and instead should be grasped with both hands.

The situation over here is that nearly all business is being captured by partners of firms on the basis of their personal contacts. This means that any newly qualified, or a newly created firm doesnt stand much chance to compete against the big-whigs of ICAP, since they do not have many contacts in the industries. Maybe this IS actually what the ICAP junta wants, ie a conspiracy to keep their hold on all the business out there and to discourage the independent (smaller) firms to enter this field and to compete against them.

If their intention is good, then ICAP should allow all firms to market their services publicly so that fair competition takes place. In many countries professional firms have been allowed to advertise their wares in public. Whenever i saw a cricket match taking place in South Africa, i always used to note ad hoardings of KPMG and the now defunct Andersen. And some programs of CNN also used to be sponsored actively by Andersen and Ernst & Young.

Believe me, it would give a boost to our profession, create awarenesss in the public of our profession, but most of all it would create a healthier image of us accountants and auditors than the one which prevails currently due to our secretive ways, which is of a thappa-chaap, tax-evading munshi!!

________________________
Arrrgh... it sure's gonna be mighty rough sailin' today ... mates!


- smraza - 08-11-2003

Agreed with you Guybrush,
but in our country, the firm's clientele may not improve bcaz of marketing, bcaz its totally dependent upon the personal relationship of partners with the directors or senior management of the company, and if any company has formed a new company, the audit normally goes to that firm, which is already doing Audit of the associate of that new company.

but the marketing will be helpful for the small firms whose intention is to take small assignments, as most of the small businessmen have no concept of Auditing or Accounting, so they can hire the small firms to solve their issues of Accounting, Auditing, and Income Tax, as they cannot the fees of Big firms,

but the question is still there, will ICAP allow marketing to CA firms ??????

but one thing is also there, some firms do marketing by verbal means, as they cannot do marketing using the media, i.e. electronic media, print media, etc.

S M R


- jbladeus - 08-13-2003

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>but in our country, the firm's clientele may not improve bcaz of marketing, bcaz its totally dependent upon the personal relationship of partners with the directors or senior management of the company, and if any company has formed a new company, the audit normally goes to that firm, which is already doing Audit of the associate of that new company.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=2 id=quote>

This is exaclty what i am trying to emphasise SMR that business through personal relationships and not through open competition is being increasingly seen in the west as an unethical business practice, and in my opinion, rightly so!

Yeah, i know that all firms try to market verbally or try other 'respectable' ways, like sending budget commentaries etc. But this type of marketing has virtually no impact and may even seem like under-the-table deal to the outsider.

Its time CA firms are allowed to market in the same way as any other firm/company is allowed in Pakistan.

________________________
Arrrgh... it sure's gonna be mighty rough sailin' today ... mates!


- smraza - 08-18-2003

Another question is guybrush that, will the partners of our firms will let ICAP to allow marketing, as they are afraid of Small firms <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

S M R