Technical competencies, while critical, vary according to job role. Therefore, candidates determine which technical competencies relate to their job role and focus on developing those throughout MPE.

Candidates must choose 2 technical competencies to specialise in, prioritising one to level 3, and a secondary to level 2: 

1. Financial accounting and reporting 
2. Tax in practice
3. Tax in audit
4. Management accounting and business performance 
5. Audit and assurance 
6. Technology 
7. Data analytics and insights  
8. Risk 
9. Strategy and performance (can’t be done with Management accounting and business performance) 
10. Financial modelling  (can’t be done with Management accounting and business performance) 
11. Financial advice 
12. Insolvency
13. Superannuation

Professional competencies are considered essential for the future employability of a professional accountant irrespective of their level of work, career stage, location or job role. Candidates must demonstrate all professional competencies to level 3 by the end of MPE:

1. Self-management, learning and adaptive mindset 
2. Collaboration and relationships 
3. Communication 
4. Critical thinking and decision making 
5. Professional values, ethics and attitudes 

Candidates self-assess their competencies and provide supporting statements to verify and validate their work experiences against each required competency. These are reviewed and validated by their mentor.

Candidates must be in approved employment which meets the following guidelines:

• Candidates must complete three years full time experience, and not less than 500 days on a relevant accounting role
• A relevant accounting role provides a depth of experience in at least one technical area as outlined in the MPE competency requirements (above).
• Candidates must be employed by a CA ANZ approved employer (ATE/RTE).
• Candidates must work under the guidance of a CA ANZ approved mentor (refer download below).

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Competency in at least two technical areas: one up to level 3 and one up to level 2.
• All professional competencies up to level 3.

Candidates are also responsible for:

• Finding their own mentor.
• Managing the relationship with their mentor and arranging and preparing for meetings.
• Proactively working with their mentor to create a professional development plan every 12 months.
• Completing all self-reflection and competency reporting requirements.
• MPE must be completed within the maximum eight-year provisional membership period.
• Recognition of prior work experience: Candidates can claim up to 1 year (full-time) of prior work experience towards their MPE requirements under the following conditions:
  • They have completed mentored practical experience meeting the approved employment criteria for a period of 3 months or more; or
  • They have worked in a relevant accounting role outside of the approved employment criteria for a period of at least three years full time and not less than 500 days
• For Chartered Accountants ANZ to consider this employment towards a candidate’s mentored practical experience, the candidate submits a service letter as part of their MPE registration.

MPE must be undertaken under the guidance of a CA ANZ approved mentor. Mentors are expected to monitor and support candidate progress throughout MPE by providing career guidance, support and insights into the accounting profession; recommending workplace activities to demonstrate competencies; and providing feedback and assessing the candidate’s competence.

The only requirement to become a mentor is to be a full CA member of CA ANZ, or a full member of a GAA body or non-GAA body which CA ANZ has a full recognition agreement with (refer download below).

It is preferable that the mentor is an experienced Chartered Accountant in the candidate’s workplace, but if that isn’t an option, an experienced external mentor is acceptable.

Why become a mentor?

Mentoring is your opportunity to make a tangible impact on a candidate’s career path by providing guidance and support. Mentoring enables you to:

• Grow your professional coaching skills and contribute to the success of others
• Connect with a younger network and gain a diverse perspective on emerging trends
• Have a direct impact on the development of your organisation’s team
• Contribute to your profession by passing on the wisdom, guidance and support you’ve gained throughout your career

Mentors are responsible for:

• Registering as the candidate’s mentor by agreeing to the mentoring relationship.
• Acting as a guide, coach and role model for the candidate.
• Working with the candidate to create a professional development plan every 12 months.
• Reviewing and approving candidate’s competency progress at least every six months.
• Recording the feedback they give the candidate related to competency progress every six months.
• Completing the mentor’s interim report if the candidate changes mentor or employer within the MPE period.
• Endorsing the candidate for full membership when all MPE requirements have been met.

To undertake MPE, candidates must be employed by a CA ANZ approved employer. This ensures that the organisation meets CA ANZ’s standards for offering the type of work experience and mentoring that fulfils the MPE requirements.

There are two types of approved employer:

• An Approved Training Employer (ATE) offers work experience and training that meets the MPE requirements of CA ANZ.
• A Recognised Training Employer (RTE) offers an in-house training program that has been approved by CA ANZ.

Approved Training Employers (ATE)

All employers of candidates undertaking MPE must apply for ATE status, even if they intend to also apply for RTE status.

An ATE offers work experience and training that meets the practical experience requirements for CA ANZ.

ATEs agree to:

• Provide structured practical experience by establishing a documented and regularly monitored work experience program for all candidates undertaking MPE requirements for admission to CA ANZ.
• Conduct a reasonable mix of accounting work, so the candidate can obtain the appropriate range of practical experience.
• Provide appropriate resources and procedures to provide quality staff development, including training.
• Provide quality assurance processes including nomination of person/s responsible for the program, and for recruiting, developing and monitoring the progress of candidates.
• Provide internal procedures for regular monitoring and supervision of candidates’ practical experience, including appropriate on-the-job training, counselling and development of CA ANZ’s MPE competencies.
• Be committed to professional development and to ensuring all staff remain up to date technically and with matters affecting the wider economic community.
• Display a professional approach to accounting, with a supportive senior management attitude towards modern systems, compliance with best practice, and continuous improvement.
• Provide sufficient access to members of CA ANZ who are willing to act as mentors.
• Provide time during and outside working hours to enable candidates to successfully complete MPE.
• Provide reasonable access to the internet and the required computer resources to complete MPE.

Recognised Training Employers (RTE)

An RTE offers an in-house workplace learning program that has been approved by CA ANZ. Employers must be approved as an ATE before they can apply for RTE status. Once approved as an RTE, an employer’s existing staff performance systems are used to record the candidate’s MPE progress. MPE eligibility, assessment and competency requirements for candidate are the same for both ATEs and RTEs; however, RTEs manage these processes internally.

Candidates, therefore, are only required to complete the RTE’s internal performance appraisal documents rather than also completing CA ANZ’s MPE Logbook. If candidates are asked to submit documents to CA ANZ for quality auditing, they can submit in-house versions.

RTEs agree to offer work experience and training that meets the practical experience requirements for CA ANZ by mapping the organisation’s in-house performance competencies against CA ANZ’s competencies to achieve at least 80% alignment for both technical and professional competencies.

At a minimum this must include:

• 80% of at least one technical area up to level 3 competency
• 80% of at least one technical area up to level 2 competency, and
• 80% of all professional areas up to level 3 competency.