Self-disclosure obligations for members and regulated non-members

As a member or a regulated non-member who is subject to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) or New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountant’s (NZICA’s) disciplinary jurisdiction, you must report to the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) any conduct which is an Offence under the By-Laws or NZICA Rules or breaches professional or ethical standards. This includes both Disclosure Events and Notification Events, which you must report within seven (7) days of becoming aware of them.

Your obligation to self-disclose applies even if the matter is already public - such as through media coverage or court reporting - or arises outside the annual return period.

What are Disclosure and Notification Events?

Disclosure and Notification Events are categories of conduct that may involve you or your Practice Entity. These events are defined in the By-Laws and NZICA Rules. They typically indicate a failure to meet expected standards of professional practice or personal conduct, and may reflect adversely on your professional standing, fitness to practice or suitability for membership.

If you are a Principal (e.g. partner, director, trustee or officer) of a Practice Entity, you must also report Firm Events to the PCC. These are events that affect the Practice Entity rather than individual members.

Reportable Disclosure Events

You must report a Disclosure Event to the PCC within seven (7) days if you or your Practice Entity:

• are convicted of a Serious Criminal Offence
• are convicted of an offence under the Tax Administration Act 1953 (Australia), the Tax Administration Act 1994 (New Zealand), or similar legislation in another jurisdiction
• experience an Insolvency Event.

Reportable Notification Events

Notification Events are typically Offences under the By-Laws or NZICA Rules. Among other things they include:

• being charged with a Serious Criminal Offence
• Firm Events
• being the subject of an adverse or unfavorable finding by a court, regulator or other body
• being given or entering into undertakings or orders by consent issued by statutory, regulatory or professional bodies or similar
• any other conduct which would constitute a breach of the disciplinary Offences provisions of the By-Laws or the NZICA Rules.

What are Firm Events

Examples of Firm Events include:

• the Practice Entity is guilty of a criminal or other offence which may bring discredit
• the Practice Entity experiences an Insolvency Event
• a condition or restriction has been imposed on a registration or professional membership held by the Practice Entity
• an adverse binding determination is made against the Practice Entity.

Notifying Principals

Only one Principal needs to report a Firm Event on behalf of all Principals, provided they are authorised to do so. If a disciplinary investigation occurs as a result of the report, the Notifying Principal can act on behalf of the other principals of the Practice Entity. If no Notifying Principal is appointed, the disclosure obligation rests on all principals of the practice.

Examples of reportable conduct

You must report:

• insolvency
• criminal convictions
• adverse findings, enforceable undertakings or consent orders issued by a regulator
• the imposition of conditions or restrictions on a registration or professional membership
• serious misconduct such as defalcation, fraud, or dishonesty.

The full list of reportable matters is in the By-Laws and NZICA Rules. Read more on members’ obligations to report.

Regulated non-members covered by the rule

Non-members who are covered by these obligations include non-member Principals as defined in the NZICA Rules. Qualified Statutory Accountants recognised by NZICA under the Financial Reporting Act 2013 and non-member Licensed Insolvency Practitioners accredited by NZICA under the Insolvency Practitioner Regulation Act 2019.

Why self-disclosure matters

Responsible self-disclosure is a positive factor if someone later files a complaint or if the PCC investigates the matter. It demonstrates integrity and a commitment to professional standards.

Other obligations to report

Tax practitioner breach reporting (Australia)

If you are a registered tax practitioner in Australia, you must comply with the breach reporting obligations under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA). This requires you to notify the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) if you have reasonable grounds to believe that another registered tax practitioner has committed a “significant breach” of the Code of Professional Conduct in the TASA. If the practitioner is a member of a TPB accredited professional association, including Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ), you must also inform that association in writing.

Further information about this obligation is available on our complaints page. You should provide this report by making a complaint to the Professional Conduct Committee of CA ANZ by using the complaint portal. If a breach is reported to CA ANZ and the same matter is being investigated by the TPB, our investigation may be adjourned until the TPB’s investigation has concluded. Due to the confidentiality of CA ANZ’s complaints process, we may not be able to share details of any investigation with you.

Continuous Disclosure Obligations (New Zealand Auditors)

In New Zealand Licensed Auditors and Registered Audit Firms have additional continuous disclosure requirements in accordance with the conditions of their licence (Continuous Disclosure Obligations). There is likely to be some overlap with the reporting requirements in relation to Firm Events and Continuous Disclosure Obligations where the issues relate to matters that go to fit and proper status or adverse findings against the firm or a principal. Details about these additional requirements can be found on the Audit Regulation NZ page. If in doubt, please contact NZICA’s Regulation or Professional Conduct teams to discuss how the report should be made.

Ethical duty to disclose unethical behaviour of others (New Zealand)

Members in New Zealand also have a professional duty under the NZICA Code of Ethics to report unethical behaviour of other members to NZICA. If you encounter or become aware of a matter which provides reasonable grounds for suspecting defalcation, fraud, dishonesty or other unethical behaviour by any other member you must make a written report immediately to NZICA. Reports can be sent via the New Zealand Conduct team at the address below. This provision also applies to regulated non-members.

Need help?

You can contact the Conduct and Discipline Teams to discuss your reporting obligations:

Australia
Phone: 1300 137 322 or +61 2 9290 5660
Email: [email protected]

New Zealand 
Phone: 0800 469 422 or +64 4 474 7840 
Email: [email protected]

You may also contact the CA Advisory Group (CAAG) or the Professional Standards/Support teams for confidential guidance:

Australia 
Phone: 1300 137 322 or +61 2 9290 5660

New Zealand 
Phone: 0800 469 422 or +64 4 474 7840

How to report

Australia and the rest of the world
Submit your disclosure using the Disclosure and Notification Form and email the form to [email protected]

New Zealand
Submit your disclosure by emailing [email protected]

If you are a Principal authorised to represent your firm, you may report Firm Events on behalf of all Principals.