The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) will next month jointly present a workshop on business and financial reporting, which is geared at providing training individuals in research and reporting skills aimed at scrutinising public and private companies.

The workshop will run for two days starting March 9.

Paula Marcelle-Irish, ACCA Northern Caribbean Manager, says the workshop is twofold, according to a release issued by the PAJ over the weekend.

“It aims to equip participants with the research and analytical techniques involved in investigating the financial operation of businesses as well as to critically examine financial statements of companies, putting them under the microscope,” said the release.

“The course is designed for journalists who cover the areas of business, finance, utilities or parliament. The training will also benefit research and communication personnel in business/financial regulatory agencies including the Bank of Jamaica, the Financial Services Commission, the Office of Utilities Regulation as well as the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Workshop participants should have a minimum of one year’s experience in their specialised areas.”

Chartered Accountant, Dawkins Brown is the main workshop facilitator. He is managing partner of the firm Dawgen Chartered Accountants, a member of Jeffreys Henry International (JHI) and a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant. Brown is also a member of a number of institutes in Jamaica and has over twelve years experience in the field of Audit, Accounting and Taxation. He is a leading lecturer at the tertiary level in Financial Strategy, Audit, International Financial Reporting Standards and Taxation.

PAJ President Byron Buckley says the workshop is “critical in developing the role of media practitioners as effective watchdogs of accountability and transparency.” He underscores the need for communications practitioners in watchdog institutions to partner with their counterparts in media to better serve the public.

The PAJ has also scheduled workshops for the March 30 and April for training in advanced news-writing techniques and media relations skills, respectively.