IMA advocacy efforts spotlight and advance your profession

Strategic Finance, May, 2008 by Mark C. Boyland

As for advocacy partners, we've established a strategic relationship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) on a variety of studies related to accounting and finance.We've become an active member of the COC Capital Markets SOX working group, have cosponsored a national survey regarding SOX compliance burdens, and were asked to provide input to the Senate Capital Markets Task Force--all of which further our branding efforts nationally. As a reflection of these renewed efforts, a dominant portion of IMA's increased national news coverage in 2007 was related to its advocacy efforts.

Making IMA's Voice Heard

One of the primary goals of the advocacy program is to help produce right and robust accounting in the first place, which will ideally prevent the need for cumbersome regulations being imposed. As an IMA member and finance-function professional, you, along with the other 4.6 million people working in this field, have the potential to deliver an authoritative voice on issues that affect the way you do business. You share a deep-rooted loyalty to this amazing profession, and now is the time to help spread the word about IMA and the importance of what we all believe. Join your local IMA chapter (or help start a new chapter in your area), engage with your elected representatives, and share your opinions with IMA staff on issues that affect the profession. We welcome your thoughts and any specific requests or expressions of interest. Please send your comments to me at mboyland@imanet.org.

Mark C. Boyland is general counsel and vice president, Business Affairs at IMA.

To learn more about some of the positions IMA took, visit the Press Room section of IMA's website at www.imanet.org/about_press.asp.> Regular updates on our work with regulatory and standards setters can be found in the Director's Corner in the Professional Advocacy section at www.imanet.org/relations_advocacy.asp.>

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