The responsibilities of the standing committees are by the approval and authority of the Senate and all matters of a new or fundamentally different nature are therefore referred to Senate for consideration. The fundamental duties and responsibilities of the Finance and General Purposes Committee are:

1. Overseeing the general administration and finances of the CMSA and its constituent Colleges.
2. Observing and complying with the conditions of the Companies Act, NonProfit Organisations Act, the Memorandum of Incorporation and Rules of the CMSA and the South African Revenue Service.
3. Doing costings, budgets, financial statements and reports for Senate, subject to annual auditing.
4. Preparing the annual report of Senate.
5. Handling all issues pertaining to the salaried staff, viz appointments, resignations and retirements, payment of salaries and bonuses, annual leave, medical aid and pension fund, negotiations with the Unions, disciplinary actions and general revision of the staff manual.
6. Supervising the publication of Transactions under the direction of the Editor.
7. Maintaining the membership and accounts database, including the entry of new members, their address and category changes, their change of status, dominant Colleges for election purposes and observing whether they have a record of good standing with HPCSA.