Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) was
established as a voluntary organization on 6th July 1949 and
presently has over 8,000 members from all over the country. It caters to the
needs of its members in particular and the tax paying public in general. It
ensures that its members keep pace with the changing times. It also provides
courses for self-development for its members and CA students
Every year the Society publishes a Diary and
Referencer along with a CD, which has proved to be an invaluable guide to all
professionals and others in the industry. BCAS also publishes its monthly
journal titled ‘BCA Journal’, has a subscription of more than 12,000. It is
subscribed by not only its members but also by various corporates and the Tax
Department.
BCAS makes representations to various authorities
on different laws as well as on procedural issues, with a view to making them
just and friendly to the general public. The representations include pre and
post budget memoranda to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Ministry
of Company Affairs, etc. Senior officials of these ministries also visit BCAS
regularly for interaction on proposed changes in the laws and for an effective
implementation of the changes effected in these laws.
BCAS runs a 100 hour educational programme of
Internal Audit Studies in association with Wellingkar Institute of Management
Development and Research, a 2 month course on Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreements, a 2 month intensive study course on Accounting Standards along with
Indian Merchants Chamber, a 3 month course called Professional Accountant course
to train graduates and semi-qualified professionals to improve their job
prospects along with H.R. College of Commerce & Economics and a 3 month course
for Independent Directors in collaboration with S.P. Jain Institute of
Management Research. It has also conducted the Independent Directors Course for
the Ministry of Defence to train their senior
officers on this subject. BCAS has conducted 8 batches of the 6 month formal
Education Program of Business Consultancy Studies in collaboration with Jamnalal
Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, culminating with a certificate from the
University of Mumbai. BCAS has also conducted a 3 month course on Arbitration,
Conciliation and Mediation. Other similar long duration courses which would
sharpen the skills of members and others are also under active consideration by
BCAS.
Apart from a large number of seminars, workshops,
lecture meetings, BCAS runs clinics for solving problems of non-profit making
organizations, for guiding people on Right to Information Act and also for
solving difficulties of young Chartered Accountants arising in conduct of audit.
BCAS besides holding revision classes for CA students in association with the
Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India, also holds regular training sessions for them
to develop their skills on professional and other subjects.
The website of BCAS viz.
www.bcasonline.org, apart from giving the latest news, circulars and
notifications relevant for professionals, also contains a “Knowledge Portal”,
which serves as an excellent source of information for its members and others.