ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP
There are many direct and indirect benefits. These include:
Members enjoy the guardianship of the Institute as an umbrella body for the profession of municipal finance officers.
Members receive a certificate indicating their level of membership.
A structured continuous professional development scheme. Members receive invitations to attend workshops, seminars, and conferences.
Access to local and national network of contacts and information via members;
Inclusion in regional activities of the Institute, with the opportunity to participate in local meetings, seminars, workshops and research;
Representation through the Institute on key professional policy bodies;
Opportunities to formulate and develop the policies of the Institute;
Free copy of IMFO’s journal and newsletters;
Membership offers stimulation, professional (and personal) enrichment and the opportunity to meet members of the profession on a provincial, national and international level.
Members receive the agenda and related reports of the Institute’s Annual General Meetings as well as the agenda and related reports of the annual general meetings of their local provincial branches.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

Step 1: Contact the Institute's office at (011) 394-0879 or seban@imfo.co.za to request that the Membership Portfolio be posted or e-mailed to you. Your can also download the membership portfolio from this site. The following documents are included in the membership portfolio:

1. An application form for Junior Membership.

All prospective members are obliged to start at Junior Membership level before advancing to a higher level of membership.

2. Regulations for Education, Training and Membership

These regulations contain definitions, procedures and the requirements for membership.

3. The Institute's Practical Training Programme

The practical training programme (Logbook) contains all the practical skills that you need to advance to Licentiate or Associate membership.   The Logbook will be posted to all members to complete in order to keep record of experience acquired over the years.

4. The Institute's Code of Conduct

Step 1: Every applicant for membership must declare on the application form that he/she binds him/herself to the Institute's Code of Conduct.
Step 2: Study the Induction Course and request your Chief Financial Officer to test you or request another superior to test you on it.
Step 3: Request a member (Licentiate, Associate or Fellow) of the Institute to recommend you as a member of the Institute and sign part E of your application form. This person certifies that he/she considers you suitable for admission as a member of the Institute.
Step 4: Request an Associate Member of the Institute in your local authority to act as your principal. Your principal will be your mentor during the practical training period. He/She will test your competency in the different functions of the practical training programme and record it in the logbook. If there is no Associate Member in your local authority, you can request an Associate Member at another local authority to act as your principal. The Institute's office can provide you with a list of Associate Members in your province.
Step 5: Complete the application form for Junior Membership (included in the membership portfolio) and attach all the required documents, i.e. a copy of your senior certificate or tertiary qualification including the subjects passed and proof of the number of years you have worked in local government finance. Make sure that you have completed all the required sections of your application form. Read the instructions carefully. Post the application form and the required documents (keep a copy of all the documents) together with your payment to the Institute's office.

5.  Fees payable

Membership fees payable are determined by the Institute's Standing Committee on Administration and Finance and are revised annually.
You will initially pay an admission fee, annual membership fee and a fee for the logbook. Thereafter you will receive an account from the Institute for your annual membership fee only. The Institute's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Annual membership fees are payable in advance.

6.  The procedure further

Your application will be scrutinised first by the Membership Officer and then by the Senior Education and Training Officer, where after the Chief Executive Officer will approve it.
Should you comply with the requirements you will be admitted as a Junior Member.
Your application will be submitted to the Standing Committee on Membership and to the Institute Council for ratification.
You will receive:
a confirmation letter that you have been admitted as a Junior Member;
a Junior Membership certificate signed by the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute and
a logbook for the recording of your practical training.
As soon as your logbook is completed and you comply with the academic requirements for Licentiate or Associate Membership you may request an application form from the Institute's office and apply for a higher level of membership. You do not need to obtain Licentiate Membership before you can apply for Associate Membership.

7.  Practical training

You must be tested on all the functions of the Practical Training Programme by an Associate member of the Institute and it must be signed off in a logbook. There is no time restriction for the practical training. You can at any time request your principal to test you on a function or functions if you feel that you have gained enough experience. If you have prior experience in finance you may request your principal to test you on the applicable functions. Once your logbook is completed you can apply for either Licentiate or Associate membership.

8.  Recognition of prior learning

Should a prospective member be in the possession of a qualification that entails practical training relevant to local government finance, it could be recognised by the Institute. The person must register as a Junior member first. Then he/she can submit the applicable qualification to his/her principal. The principal may decide to sign the relevant functions included in the qualification off in the logbook or to test the student on those functions. A prospective member who already has a number of years experience in local government finance can request his/her principal to test him/her in specific functions. It is the prerogative of the principal to decide to test the Junior Member irrespective of which prior qualifications or experience the student might have in order to ensure that the student is competent in the functions of the Institute's practical training programme. Every prospective member, including those who have prior qualifications or experience is obliged to register as a Junior Member before applying for a higher level of membership.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

New Membership Rerquirements

The Institute with the leadership of the Standing Committee on Education and Training engaged all members last year 2009 in finding solutions to improving the membership requirements in order to accommodate all Local Government Finance Officials. At the previouse Institute Council meeting held in November 2009, new membership requirements were presented and approved.

IMFO Logbook will be sent to all members to be completed and you are kindly requested to send it back to the office in order to assist us in keeping an accurate record of our members.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Preliminary

Ancillary objects of the Institute, in terms of Section 3(2) of the Institute’s Memorandum of Association, are the following:

(1)(a)(i)to represent the views of the profession;

(ii)      to preserve and maintain the integrity and status of the profession;

(iii)     to take any steps which may be considered necessary to suppress
dishonourable conduct and practices by members of the profession, and for this purpose to hold enquiries into the conduct of members;

(iv)    to consider and deal with all matters affecting the professional interity of the members of the Institute".

(2)      The Institute Council considers that a statement of general principles, which should be observed by members, will be of assistance to members in maintaining the highest standards of integrity and independence fundamental to the profession of Municipal Finance Officer.

Professional Standards

(1)      Members should at all times conduct themselves in accordance with the standard expected of members of the Institute.  This can only be accomplished through complete honesty, integrity and objectivity.

(2)      Members are expected to:

(a)      aspire to achieve the  highest standard of professional knowledge throughout their careers and  encourage members in the furtherance of their professional;

(b)      contribute to the affairs of the Institute by serving on working parties, attending meetings of the Institute, Branches and Students' Interest Groups and submitting articles for publication in the Institute's journal;

(c)      adhere strictly to accounting standards and requirements for local government published by the Institute from time to time.

(d)      adhere to all relevant provisions of Local Government pertaining to Code of Conduct

Personal Interests

(1)      Members serving in local or related authorities and similar public bodies must observe the laws relating to those bodies, in particular any provisions concerning disclosure of interest.

(2)      The principle to be followed is that at all times the interests of the employer body are paramount and under no circumstances may a member seek to benefit from any profit or commission arising directly or indirectly from a transaction in which the authority has an interest, whether or not the authority may be adversely affected thereby.

Hospitality and Gifts

(1)      The acceptance of gifts, other than gifts of such minor nature as to be mere tokens, is not considered by the Institute as proper for a public official,  whether or not such gifts influence or are intended to influence him/her in his/her work or service in the Institute.

Relationships

Members should guard against any relationships, be it persona or business, whereby the conduct of the member’s professional duties maybe compromised.

Advice to Local or Related Authority

(1)      The duty of the member is to promote the financial well being of the organisation they serve and, when necessary, to advise openly and clearly upon the financial consequences of any proposed course of action.

(2)      Members must comply with all legal requirements and ensure that the law is applied in all activities with which they are directly concerned or of which they may have knowledge.

Confidential Information

(1)      An employee of a local or related authority frequently has access to and acquires confidential information which should be divulged only to those persons entitled to receive it.

(2)      The use of confidential information for the private advantage of the employee or another person or body is a breach of trust.

General

Members are advised to seek the advice of the Institute Council should there be any doubt about the propriety of a particular situation or course of action.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

The Institute is an Association not for gain. Therefore, the membership fees are utilised only to cover administrative costs. Each member receives the IMFO Journal free of charge.
Membership fees payable are determined by the Institute's Standing Committee on Administration and Finance and are revised every year.
Junior members initially pay an admission fee, annual membership fee and a fee for the logbook. Thereafter members only pay an annual membership fee once a year. Every time a member is admitted to a new level of membership, an admission fee is payable. The Institute's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Annual membership fees are payable in advance.

The membership fees payable are as follows:

IMFO Banking Details:

ABSA Bank, Cheque Account
Account Number: 0170-167-376
Branch: Kempton Park, Central Ave
Branch Code: 632005

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMS

To download the forms to your hard drive: click on the chosen topic.

Application for IMFO Membership (This form can be used for all levels)

Application for Student Membership