Forty accountants from both the public and private sectors graduated with their Professional Diploma in Accounting (PDA) – a professional program delivered by the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants (ISIA) in partnership with the Institute of Public Accountants and Monarch Institute on the 22nd of January 2026.
ISIA delivers the program in collaboration with the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), Monarch Institute, and Pearson Vue.
ISIA CEO Pamela Naesol said the program was the first professional program that the Institute had offered to upskill local book-keepers and accountants in the country.
“As the national Professional Accounting Organisation in Solomon Islands, we have a responsibility to raise the standards of accounting and auditing practices in the country.
Therefore, capacity building and upskilling of our local accountants and auditors through such professional trainings is necessary.
“We are highly appreciative of the ongoing support and partnerships that we have with the Australian Government, the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), and Monarch Institute that enabled us to provide access to such quality programs locally to book-keepers and accountants,” said Ms Naesol.
“Going forward, we are looking at strengthening our partnership with the IPA to enable us to bring in higher level professional programs that can allow local accountants to be certified as CPAs with international recognition.
“Ms Naesol thanked both the Solomon Islands and Australian governments for supporting ISIA in its endeavors to raise the standards of the accounting profession in the country.
“Accounting affects the lives of everyone, and this country needs a highly competent pool of accountants in both private and public sectors to ensure accountability, transparency and trust in financial reporting processes and systems.
“So, we highly appreciate both the Solomon Islands and Australian Governments for recognising the importance of upskilling of local accountants,” said Ms. Naesol.
The program has four modules which cover key accounting competencies that are expected of professional accounting personnel at the minimum.
The program is targeted at technician accountants and registered book-keepers, and includes a Tax & Law module contextualised to the Solomon Islands tax system and company law.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Jeff Roach, said “When people are supported to advance their careers, the benefits extend well beyond the individual to families, workplaces and communities. That’s why Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands places jobs and skills at its heart.”
Institute of Public Accountants Chief Executive Officer, Professor Andrew Conway, said, “The IPA Group is committed to supporting ISIA’s vision for creating a fully functional professional accountancy organisation.
The PDA provides just one of many a pathway for ISIA members to obtain a global membership with the IPA Group.
We will continue to work together with ISIA to also offer further opportunities to broaden the focus of educational standards within the Solomon Islands, such as the recently introduced IPA Group Graduate Certificate of Public Accounting”.
Reflecting on the success of the program, ISIA CEO Ms Naesol said “Once again it’s been about effective partnerships and collaborations geared to achieve the desired outcomes that are to the benefit of the whole Solomon Islands and those who contribute to its economic growth.”
ISIA intends to provide more professional development opportunities to enhance accountants’ knowledge and skills in the country, and a professional membership pathway for its members to allow them to progress toward higher professional accreditation.
Employers in both public and private sectors, business houses and everyone that relies on the services of accountants should support the work of the Institute as Solomon Islands stands to gain many economic benefits with a strong local accounting profession.
– ISIA
