The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has introduced a new conciliatory service aimed at resolving service-related disputes with its members in the UK.
Taking effect on January 2nd, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service is designed to bolster CIMA's commitment to protecting and promoting the public interest, which was also demonstrated by the launch of its Code of Ethics last year.
The ADR service, which is being run by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), will firstly offer aggrieved parties a route of initial conciliation, if concerns cannot be satisfactorily resolved through an accountant practice's regular internal complaints procedures. If this initial route is not successful, arbitration can be pursued.
Common issues include those relating to contracts or levels of service, such as accountants failing to carry out duties on time or supplying inaccurate information.
Conciliation encourages agreement between parties and is a structured form of negotiation paid for by CIMA. The arbitration scheme allows parties to present their cases without the need for legal representation and incurs a fee of £175 plus VAT from each party. Other fees may also apply.
The ADR service is available in respect of those members of CIMA offering accountancy services to a person who is not their employer, but cannot be used in disputes involving CIMA-registered students or members in business.
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