SAICA confirms organisational review: strategic realignment for greater impact

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) revised its strategy in 2024 and confirms that it has undertaken a review of its Target Operating Model (TOM) to ensure that the organisation is structured to adapt to the rapidly evolving business landscape and deliver on its five-year strategy. The TOM aims to evolve SAICA into a deeply Insight-Driven Organisation (IDO) that accelerates member value, enhances organisational capabilities, remains economically and socially relevant, streamlines some processes and embraces sustainability to operate as a winning organisation.

Following careful analysis, it became clear that the organisational structures that served us well in the past would not take us where we need to go next. This realisation led to the launch of Project Recalibrate, SAICA’s internal realignment initiative aimed at ensuring that our structure is both fit-for-purpose and future-ready. The project was led by SAICA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with the support of the Executive leadership team.

The review is being rolled out in phases:

• Phase 1 started with an in-depth analysis and revision of the previous operating model and organisational structure, with the assistance of an external consultancy and approval by the SAICA Board. This phase revealed the need to realign existing talent to the needs of the new operating model and structure.
• Based on the recommendations from phase 1, phase 2 followed with the mapping of existing permanent employees into roles aligned to their skills and capabilities. To ensure that employees buy into the requirements of the available roles and that they are matched to roles that best fit their skills and capabilities, all employees, with the exception of the CEO, were required to apply for roles and undergo the full recruitment process. This phase has resulted in the successful placement of most permanent employees and internal progression to ensure that institutional memory is not lost through the placement of employees with the right skills match.
• As of Friday, 31 May 2025 we entered phase 3, which offers permanent employees who were not placed in phase 2 as well as Fixed Term Contractors (FTCs) the opportunity to apply for the remaining roles, provided they meet the role requirements. This ensures a fair and transparent process focused on the optimal alignment of skills to strategy.

It’s important to highlight that this process was not designed to reduce headcount, but rather to better align SAICA’s people and skills with its strategic ambitions and ensure long-term relevance, resilience and sustainability of the organisation, so that we can focus on our mission which is to serve in the public interest and ensure that our institution has the right capabilities to support members to continuously develop the evolving skills relevant for the future . To this end, SAICA’s net capabilities aligned headcount will be higher than before Project Recalibrate and there remains an opportunity in the ongoing last phase for both permanent employees that were not placed in phase 2 and current FTCs to apply.

SAICA also acknowledges that some individuals have opted to exit the organisation during this time due to reasons relating to the skills-match and opting not to participate in the process due to no desire to return to the office under the current hybrid work arrangements. We extend our gratitude for their contributions to the organisation and wish them the best of luck in their next endeavours. SAICA revised its hybrid work policy by implementing the return to office days with the objective of enhancing teamwork and collaboration, member service and in-person engagements and peer-learning especially during this transitional period that requires an investment in upskilling and reskilling the workforce as required. The SAICA leadership has been cognisant of the impact that the change process may have had on any employee and offered wellness support to staff as well as having ensured transparent engagements throughout various stages of the process.

Despite continuous engagements through various channels, it is regrettable that during the ReCalibrate transitional process, SAICA received false allegations through its whistleblowing mechanism, pertaining to intimidation and abuse of power which is alleged to have led to the resignation of two executives.

In light of these whistleblowing allegations raised against the CEO, Board Chairperson, and the Board, SAICA established an independent Council sub-committee to oversee the review process. It was concluded that an independent investigation protecting the whistleblower's identity was required. That investigation, led by the law firm Bowmans, has now been concluded and the final report was issued 26 May 2025 and all allegations were found unfounded.

SAICA remains resolute in its mission to serve the public interest and the accounting profession with transparency and integrity. We are confident that both the organisational review and governance reforms will position us for greater impact.

We will continue to communicate openly with our members and associates, employees, and stakeholders as these processes unfold and as SAICA emerges stronger and more purpose driven.

About SAICA

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is recognised as the world’s leading accounting institute and is home to the leading CA designation in the world The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 60 000 members and associates who are chartered accountants (CAs[SA]), as well as associate general accountants (AGAs[SA]) and accounting technicians (ATs[SA]), who hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in every sphere of commerce and industry, and who play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.

SAICA is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW), a global family that connects over 1,8 million fellow Chartered Accountants and students in more than 190 countries. Together, we support, develop, and promote the role of Chartered Accountants as trusted business leaders, difference makers, and advisers.

SAICA Media Contact

Kgauhelo Dioka,
***@saica.co.za
Manager: Public and Media Relations and Acting Lead: Corporate Affairs
073 398 8633
SAICA Customer Experience Division