By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
THE National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) has been awarded with a Gold medal by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) for its efforts in advancing qualifications for its finance professionals.
Head of ACCA Zambia, Mukaba Mukaba, said the award was a clear demonstration of NAPSA’s commitment by management in its quest to yield high returns on investment through a people driven agenda.
He said there were few organisations that had fully fledged talent management programmes.
“A key finding of our research on talent management undertaken in 2010 revealed a disheartening finding that out of the total number of organisations surveyed, only 20 per cent of had talent strategy,” Mr Mukaba said.
He said most talent management practices were found to be informal, sometimes running in isolation and often functionally based without part of an integrated and wider plan.
The Gold award reflects high global best practice and the platinum level represents the highest global best practice in the training development of finance professionals including students currently pursuing the ACCA professional qualification and the Certified Accounting Technician qualification.
And Napsa director general, Charles Mpundu said while acknowledging the recognition by global accountancy body, ACCA had emphasised the values of responsibility, professionalism and integrity in the operations of the scheme.
Speaking during the award presentation ceremony of the Gold approved employer status to NAPSA by ACCA at Levy Park, Mr Mpundu said there was need for Napsa to continue adding value to its member’s funds and in its operations as it serves the members and other stakeholders.
He said Napsa would endeavour to adopt and work with best international practices in discharging its duties and responsibilities while upholding the highest levels of integrity and professionalism.
He said the authority was taking necessary steps to integrate its systems to improve its operations and that the tender process was underway to select a company which would help NAPSA integrate do that.
Mr Mpundu thanked ACCA for acknowledging the high standards of training and development the authority was providing to finance professionals employed by the scheme.
