You focus more on the expert on the accountant

Jean-Pierre Alix, President of the Higher Council of the order of Chartered Accountants, engaged in "echos" his vision of the sector and focuses on the multidisciplinary character of a crucial trade in times of financial turmoil.

63Rd Congress of the profession, which begins today, is dedicated to the business. You focus more on the expert on the accountant...

It is worth remembering that our expertise is not only accounting. We support the business leader in many aspects of his professional activity, whether it is for example the tax or social aspects. As a result, we have a vision very open company; This is why we wanted that this Congress is also interested in new trends that will make the business of the future, whether it's the e-economy, ethics, sustainable development... We will discuss these topics with iconic personalities from the world of business, including Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. And, for the first time, we open our large annual event it will be closed by the Minister of economy, industry and employment Christine Lagarde business leaders, who will be able to participate in a debate on the springs of growth.

Is it to say that the Congress will address not technical topics

If, of course. Even if the material accounting or tax is not the theme of the Congress, the technique used to support our missions shall not absent. Many conferences and workshops will address sharp topics.

How can accountants help businesses to reconcile with the view

One cannot speak of divorce with the opinion with respect to SMEs. Our compatriots are watching rather sympathetically, as part of their daily lives. It goes without saying that this relationship of proximity is less common with major groups, which are all the more questions they are considered, wrongly or rightly, as distant and anonymous.

The regulation of the profession prevent opening

Confine ourselves to the field of accounting would be contrary to what business leaders expect, namely that we accompany them in their daily lives, which is not made exclusively of accounts and balance sheets, both should be. We are present, at the request of our market intervention fields open to competition. Our Council missions (social, management, wealth management, etc.) are varied, recognized, and they also tend to diversify further.

What are your challenges

First, the renewal of the profession. This means a greater attractiveness, especially among young people. We must be able to us open profiles diversified, from other backgrounds than accounting and financial. The ambitious reform of our curriculum that we have committed goes in this direction since master students can now more easily move the chartered accountant degree.

Second, we should strengthen our role of proposal to the Government. The Government already seeks us for our knowledge of the environment of the company and our pragmatic approach (Act Tepa, text on the investment in SMEs...). We must go further still.

Work on the rapprochement between the order of Chartered Accountants and the Auditors company is another priority, because it unit, the hearing and the collective strength of our profession. Finally, the profession must continue to communicate to increase its visibility and sit the chartered accountant brand.

What will be the impact of the financial crisis for your profession

This financial crisis will necessarily have an impact in the real economy, the first effect is a restriction of credit making it all the more difficult the financing of investments of businesses and individuals... René Ricol, in the report on the financial crisis that recently delivered to the President of the Republic under the French Presidency of the European Union, has identified its origins and proposed relevant solutions Editor's Note: the problems of remuneration in the financial sector, to issues of governance and internal control of the banks.... For our part, we will continue our work of Eve to help entrepreneurs in their strategy of resistance.

The concentration of the sector continues

This movement is less noticeable than it seems. Of course, reconciliations intervened in recent years between major stakeholders of the profession. But so far, we see that the number of firms remains substantially identical. It is the evidence that the profession, including through the existence of the technical networks, has managed to preserve its diversity.