Chartered Certified Accountant
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Founded in 1904, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global
professional accounting body A professional accounting body is an organization or association of accountants in a particular jurisdiction. Usually a person needs to be a member of such professional body to hold out to the public of the jurisdiction as an accountant. The desi ...
offering the
Chartered Certified Accountant Founded in 1904, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification (ACCA). It has 240,952 members and 541,930 future members worldwi ...
qualification (ACCA). It has 240,952 members and 541,930 future members worldwide. ACCA's headquarters are in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
with principal administrative office in
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
. ACCA works through a network of over 110 offices and centres in 51 countries - with 346 Approved Learning Partners (ALP) and more than 7,600 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide employee development. The term 'Chartered' in ACCA qualification refers to the
Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...
granted in 1974. 'Chartered Certified Accountant' is a legally protected term. Individuals who describe themselves as Chartered Certified Accountants must be members of ACCA and if they carry out public practice engagements, must comply with additional regulations such as holding a practising certificate, carrying liability insurance and submitting to inspections. The Association of Authorised Public Accountants (AAPA), one of the British professional bodies for public accountants, has been a subsidiary of ACCA since 1996. ACCA works in the public interest, ensuring that its members are appropriately regulated. It promotes principles-based regulation. ACCA actively seeks to enhance the value of accounting in society through international research. It takes progressive stances on global issues to ensure accountancy as a profession continues to grow in reputation and influence.


History

ACCA traces its origin to 1904, when eight people formed the London Association of Accountants to allow more open access to the profession than was available through the accounting bodies at the time, notably the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports chartered accountants and students around the world. As of July 2022, it has over 198,000 members ...
(ICAEW) and the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is the world's first professional body of Chartered Accountants (CAs). It is a regulator, educator, influencer and thought leader. ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professiona ...
(ICAS). As of 2020, the vision of ACCA is to develop the accountancy profession the world needs. Key dates in ACCA history include: * 1909: Ethel Ayres Purdie is elected as the first female associate member of an accounting professional body. * 1917: London Association of Accountants is the first UK professional body to examine tax. * 1930: London Association of Accountants successfully campaigned for the right to audit companies. * 1933: London Association of Accountants renamed to ''London Association of Certified Accountants''. * 1939: Corporation of Accountants (Scottish body, founded 1891) merged with London Association of Certified Accountants to become the ''Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants''. * 1941: Institution of Certified Public Accountants (founded 1903, and incorporating the Central Association of Accountants from 1933) merged with Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants. * 1971: Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants renamed ''Association of Certified Accountants''. * 1974: Royal Charter granted by Queen
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
. * 1974: ACCA became one of six founding members of the
Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies The Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) is an umbrella group of chartered professional bodies of British qualified chartered accountants. Members Since 2012, CCAB has five member bodies: * Association of Chartered Certified Account ...
(CCAB). * 1977: ACCA became a founding member of the
International Federation of Accountants The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is the global advocacy organization for the accountancy profession; mainly for the financial accounting and auditing professions. Founded in 1977, IFAC has more than 175 members and associates in ...
(IFAC). * 1984: Association of Certified Accountants renamed to ''Chartered Association of Certified Accountants''. * 1995: ACCA members voted at an extraordinary general meeting to rename itself ''Association of Chartered Public Accountants'' and to introduce the designation ''Chartered Public Accountant''. The Privy Council subsequently rejected this proposal over concerns about the term 'public'. It did however agree that any accountancy body bearing a royal charter could use 'chartered' as part of its designation. * 1996: Chartered Association of Certified Accountants renamed to ''Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.'' Members are entitled to use the title ''Chartered Certified Accountant'' (Designatory letters ''ACCA'' or ''FCCA''). The Association of Authorised Public Accountants (AAPA) became a subsidiary of ACCA. The organisation earned its first
Queen's Award Queen's Award can refer to: * Queen's Awards for Enterprise, formerly The Queens Awards to Industry * Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, an annual award given to groups in the voluntary sector of the United Kingdom * Queen's Award for Forestry T ...
, for Export Achievement. * 1998: ACCA's syllabus formed the basis of the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
' global accountancy curriculum titled ''Guideline on National Requirements for the Qualification of Professional Accountants'', published in 1999. ACCA was a participant in the consultative group that devised this global Benchmark. * 2001: ACCA received a Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade, recognising ACCA's growth and its role in 160 countries worldwide. * 2002: ACCA received its second Queen's Award for Enterprise in the space of 12 months, in the Sustainable Development category. The award recognized ACCA's continuing work on social and environmental issues. * 2009: ACCA members allowed to provide probate services as of 1 August under Probate Services (Approved Bodies) Order 2009 Number 1588. * 2011 onward: ACCA is the first accountancy body to publish an integrated annual report. * 2014: ACCA members and student numbers reached 600,000 worldwide. * 2015: ACCA launched MSc in Professional Accountancy with the
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
. *2016: ACCA formed a strategic alliance with
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) represents 131,673 members in Australia, New Zealand and overseas. CA ANZ focuses on the education and lifelong learning of members, and engage in advocacy and thought leadership in areas o ...
(CA ANZ). *2017: ACCA reached over 700,000 members and students worldwide, with 208,000 fully qualified members and 503,000 students in 178 countries. *2018: ACCA introduced Strategic Professional – a new level of the ACCA Qualification. *2020: ACCA announces its commitments to the
UN Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...


Qualifications

The term ''Chartered Certified Accountant'' was introduced in 1996. Prior to that date, ACCA members were known as ''Certified Accountant.'' It is still permissible for an ACCA member to use this term. Members of ACCA with post-qualification experience of more than five years and have completed the required continued professional development are designated Fellows, and use the designatory letters FCCA in place of ACCA. The term ''Chartered'' refers to the
Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...
granted by
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during h ...
of the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. Chartered Certified Accountants work in all fields of business and finance. Some are engaged in public practice work, others work in the private sector and some are employed by government bodies. Since ''Chartered Certified Accountant'' is a legally protected term, individuals who describe themselves as such must be members of ACCA. If they carry out public practice engagements, they must comply with additional regulations such as holding a practising certificate, being
insured Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to hedge ...
against any possible liability claims and submitting to inspections. ACCA offers the following certifications:


Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)

Chartered Certified Accountant is the professional body's main qualification. Following completion of up to 13 professional examinations, three years of supervised, relevant accounting experience and an ethics module, it enables an individual to become a Chartered Certified Accountant. The ACCA professional examinations are offered worldwide four times yearly in March, June, September and December as paper-based and computer-based exams. On-demand computer-based exams (CBE) are also offered for the first four exams (BT, MA, FA, LW), and Session CBEs for the rest (PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) which are available to be taken at ACCA licensed exam centres. A Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Applied Accounting (after completing the Fundamentals level of the exams, the Ethics and Professional Skills module and submitting a Research and Analysis project), is offered in association with
Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University (formerly known as Oxford Polytechnic (United Kingdom), Polytechnic) is a public university, public university in Oxford, England. It is a new university, having received university status through the Further and High ...
. From September 2018 onward, the syllabus comprises 13 examinations and an Ethics and Professional Skills module (EPSM), although some exemptions are available. In April 2019, a Data Analytics unit was added in EPSM . The qualification is structured in three modules, plus an Ethics and Professional Skills module and a Professional Experience Requirement (PER). The Applied Knowledge level consists of 3 examinations: * BT - Business and Technology * MA - Management Accounting * FA - Financial Accounting The Applied Skills level consists of 6 examinations: * LW - Corporate and Business Law * PM - Performance Management * TX - Taxation * FR - Financial Reporting * AA - Audit and Assurance * FM - Financial Management The Strategic Professional level involves 4 examinations: 2 from Essential and any 2 from Options. Essential (or Compulsory): * SBL - Strategic Business Leader * SBR - Strategic Business Reporting Options: * AFM - Advanced Financial Management * APM - Advanced Performance Management * ATX - Advanced Taxation * AAA - Advanced Audit and Assurance The ACCA full Professional qualification is regarded as the equivalent of a UK master's degree by the UK
NARIC All EU and EEA states and all the associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus have a designated National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC), which provides a way to compare academic qualifications as part of the Bol ...
and
Department for Education The Department for Education (DfE) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further and higher education), apprenticeships and wider skills in England. A Department ...
. Subjects include:
Financial accounting Financial accounting is the field of accounting concerned with the summary, analysis and reporting of financial transactions related to a business. This involves the preparation of financial statements available for public use. Stockholders, s ...
,
Management accounting In management accounting or managerial accounting, managers use accounting information in decision-making and to assist in the management and performance of their control functions. Definition One simple definition of management accounting is th ...
,
Financial reporting Financial statements (or financial reports) are formal records of the financial activities and position of a business, person, or other entity. Relevant financial information is presented in a structured manner and in a form which is easy to un ...
,
Tax A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures (regional, local, or n ...
ation, Company law, Audit and assurance and
Financial management Financial management is the business function concerned with profitability, expenses, cash and credit, so that the "organization may have the means to carry out its objective as satisfactorily as possible;" the latter often defined as maximizin ...
.


Foundation-level qualifications - Foundations in Accountancy (FIA)

ACCA offers a range of foundation-level certificates and diplomas - collectively referred to as Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) - which provide an entry point for anyone new to accounting and finance and who doesn't meet the minimum entry requirements for the ACCA Qualification (which is three GCSEs and 2 A Levels or equivalent, in five separate subjects). Students can start at any level within the Foundation level, but it is recommended that students without any formal academic qualifications start with the Introductory Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting and complete exams Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) and Management Information (MA1); then progress to the Intermediate Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting and complete exams Maintaining Financial Records (FA2) and Managing Costs and Finance (MA2); before progressing to the Diploma in Accounting and Business and completing Accountant in Business (FAB), Management Accounting (FMA) and Financial Accounting (FFA). Students can use the Foundation-level awards as an entry route onto the ACCA Qualification. Students who complete the Diploma in Accounting and Business will be given exemption from the first three exams of the ACCA Qualification (AB, MA and FA) and can start their studies on the ACCA Qualification with Corporate and Business Law (LW). In order to achieve a certificate for the exams completed students must also complete a foundation ethics module called Foundations in Professionalism, but this only has to be completed once, even if a student wishes to achieve both certificates and the diploma. The Foundation-level exams are available as paper-based exams held in March, June, September and December or as on-demand computer-based exams throughout the year at ACCA licensed exam centres.


Other qualifications

The ACCA also offers certain other qualifications: *
BSc (Hons) A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
in Applied Accounting, offered in association with Oxford Brookes University. * MSc in Professional Accountancy, offered in association with the University of London. * Global
MBA A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...
(for full ACCA members), offered in association with Oxford Brookes University. * Certificate in International Financial Reporting (Cert IFR), offered both in English and Spanish. * Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR), offered both in English and Russian. * Certificate in International Auditing (Cert IA), offered both in English and Spanish. * Certificate in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (Cert IPSAS), offered both in English and Arabic. * Certificate in Business Valuations in partnership with the French Chartered Accountants Institute ( CSOEC), offered both in English and French. * Diploma in Financial Management (DipFM). This certification was previously known as the ''Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance (CDipAF)'', a financial qualification designed for managers outside of finance. This qualification was replaced with Foundations in Accountancy awards at the end of 2011.


Disciplinary proceedings

ACCA students, affiliates and members are bound by ACCA rules and regulations. ACCA is able to take disciplinary action (such as revoking ACCA qualification or exacting a fine) against them if they breach ACCA rules. ACCA rules and regulations are governed by English and Welsh law and ACCA disciplinary decisions can only be challenged in England and Wales.


ACCA-X online courses

Launched in early 2015, ACCA-X are online courses for students starting their studies in accountancy and business. These courses are available for the first seven Foundations level exams and hosted on edX, with content developed by Epigeum. In April 2016, ACCA-X won the Best eLearning and Online Education Award at the International and European Association Awards held in
Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.


Free courses

The following courses are free and available to anyone in the world: * Introduction to Financial and Management Accounting (preparation for FA1 and MA1) * Intermediate Financial and Management Accounting (preparation for FA2 and MA2)


Paid courses

These courses are available in all but three countries: * Business and Technology (preparation for BT/FBT) * Management Accounting (preparation for MA/FMA) * Financial Management (preparation for FA/FFA) Exams passed in these three modules and the completion of 'Foundations in Professionalism' module will lead to the Diploma in Accounting and Business.


Memberships


Affiliate

Candidates register as student members to undertake the professional qualification. Upon successful completion of the examinations, student members transfer to Affiliate status. "For ACCA affiliates to gain admission to full membership, they must demonstrate, on the application form, that they have obtained a minimum of three years of acceptable, supervised, practical experience in an accountancy role (or roles) and have reached the required standard of competence."


Fellowship

From 2008, Fellowship, or senior membership of ACCA, is awarded automatically based on 5 years' continuous membership, subject to compliance with
Continuing Professional Development Professional development is learning to earn or maintain professional credentials such as academic degrees to formal coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. It has been described as intensive ...
requirements. This practice is different to many other accounting bodies whose members may attain senior memberships only after demonstrating outstanding achievement or contribution made to the accounting profession or at large. Fellow members of ACCA use the designatory letters ''FCCA'' in place of ''ACCA.


Continuing Professional Development

Before 2005, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) was mandatory only for holders of 'Practicing Certificate' and 'Insolvency Licence'. From 2005 to 2007, ACCA phased in mandatory CPD requirements for all members.


Legal and mutual recognition


Europe


United Kingdom and Ireland

The ACCA or Chartered Certified Accountant qualification is fully recognised in both the United Kingdom and
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. * Under its
Charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
, ACCA works in the public interest. * It is a Designated Professional Body under the Financial Services and Markets Act, business activities. * It is a ''Recognised Professional Body'' under the
Insolvency Act In accounting, insolvency is the state of being unable to pay the debts, by a person or company ( debtor), at maturity; those in a state of insolvency are said to be ''insolvent''. There are two forms: cash-flow insolvency and balance-sheet i ...
to issue permits to individual ''Chartered Certified Accountants'' to conduct insolvency appointments. * It is also a ''Recognised Qualifying Body'' and ''Recognised Supervisory Body'' in relation to company auditing under the
Companies Act Companies Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in Botswana, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom in relation to company law. The Bill for an Act with this short title ...
of 1989. * ACCA is a member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB). Members of these bodies are deemed to hold equivalent-level qualifications and advertisements for jobs often state that an organisation is looking for a CCAB-qualified individual. * Full members of CCAB organisations including ACCA could apply for ICAEW membership subject to certain criteria. * Only ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS,
Association of International Accountants The Association of International Accountants (AIA) is a professional accountancy body. It was founded in the UK in 1928 and since that date has promoted the concept of ‘international accounting’ to create a global network of accountants in ov ...
(AIA) and
Chartered Accountants Ireland Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter on 14 May 1888, and is Ireland's largest accountancy body. According to its website, it represents over 30,000 members globally. Chartered Accountants Ireland is part of the Con ...
(CA Ireland) are able to authorise members to conduct audit, insolvency and investment business work in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. * Outside these countries, legal recognition by government authorities and mutual recognition by equivalent overseas institutes, varies. Where full legal or mutual recognition is not available, ACCA members can sometimes obtain ''
advanced standing Transfer credit, credit transfer, or advanced standing are the terms used by colleges and universities for the procedure of granting credit to a student for educational experiences or courses undertaken at another institution. This is a subset of ...
'' in terms of sitting local accountancy examinations. ACCA's strong global reputation may make it unnecessary to acquire a local designation. * Similarly, many universities and educational providers recognise ACCA as equivalent to at least a
Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in accountancy, for the purpose of obtaining credit towards a local master's degree or an advanced study program. The
Quality and Qualifications Ireland Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI; ga, Dearbhú Cáilíochta agus Cáilíochtaí Éireann) is the national agency responsible for qualifications in Ireland. It was established by the Oireachtas in 2012 following the amalgamation of the N ...
(QQI) assigned ACCA Qualification to 'Level 8' of the Irish
National Framework of Qualifications The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system used to describe levels of educational qualifications in Ireland. Responsibility for maintaining and developing the framework lies with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Launched ...
(NFQ) in 2018. Level 8 holds Irish postgraduate qualifications, such as postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees. In 2011, the
Financial Reporting Council The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is an independent regulator in the UK and Ireland based in London Wall in the City of London, responsible for regulating auditors, accountants and actuaries, and setting the UK's Corporate Governance and ...
(FRC; then Professional Oversight Board) published information for the first time about its concerns over self-regulation by particular institutes. Press reports highlighted comments about ACCA, which had implemented recommendations to improve its examination syllabus, but needed to pay greater attention to monitoring long-time members. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 the ACCA professional body had the highest percentage of A&B (best) outcomes from FRC's Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB) visits to a sample of 'Registered UK Audit Firms'. ACCA firms tend to audit smaller and less complex clients. At the end of 2016 there were over 88,000 members and 90,000 students in the UK & Ireland.


European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) & Switzerland

The ACCA qualification is legally recognized by all member countries of the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
under the Mutual Recognition Directive. This recognition extends to the
European Economic Area The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the ''Agreement on the European Economic Area'', an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade Ass ...
nations and
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. For example, a holder of the ACCA could practice as an accountant in all member countries of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland, describing himself/herself as ''ACCA'' or ''Chartered Certified Accountant''. Access to local professional qualifications requires a separate test. At the end of 2016 there were over 16,000 members and almost 60,000 students in Europe (excluding the UK & Ireland).


Turkey

ACCA and the Union of Chambers of Certified Public Accountants of Turkey (TÜRMOB) signed a partnership agreement in 2004 which enables TÜRMOB members resident in
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
to follow the ACCA Strategic Professional level and achieve ACCA membership.


North America


United States

* In June 2012, ACCA and
Institute of Management Accountants The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), formerly known as the National Association of Cost Accountants (NACA), is a professional organization of accountants. History IMA was founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York as the National Associ ...
(IMA) announced a strategic partnership. The two bodies joined forces to empower accountants and financial professionals to drive business performance. In January 2013, the ICMA Board of Regents, representing the certification division of IMA, voted to waive its usual bachelor's degree requirement for ACCA members wishing to earn IMA's
Certified Management Accountant Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a professional certification credential in the management accounting and financial management fields. The certification signifies that the person possesses knowledge in the areas of financial planning, ana ...
(CMA) credential. The bachelor's degree waiver will allow all ACCA members around the world, regardless of background, access to IMA's CMA credential. This is a benefit to ACCA members who wish to have a US-based credential. * There is no mutual recognition between ACCA and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)/
National Association of State Boards of Accountancy The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) is an association dedicated to serving the 56 state boards of accountancy. These are the boards that regulate the accountancy profession in the United States of America. There is one ...
(NASBA). At the end of 2016 there were 2,015 members in the US.


Canada

ACCA announced a Mutual Recognition Agreement with
Certified General Accountant Certified General Accountant (CGA) is a professional designation granted to Canadian accountants. A person who meets the education, experience and examination requirements of the Certified General Accountants of Canada (CGA-Canada) is entitled to u ...
(CGA Canada) effective from 1 January 2007; renewed in 2011 for a further 5 years period until December 2017. ,
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) was incorporated by an Act of the Parliament of Canada in 1902, which later became known as the ''Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Act''. The CICA developed and supported accounti ...
(CICA),
World Education Services World Education Services (WES) is a nonprofit organization that provides credential evaluations for international students and immigrants planning to study or work in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1974, it is based in New York, U.S. It also h ...
and the
Odette School of Business The Odette School of Business (OSB) is the business school of the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. The school offers various programs with focus in Accounting, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain and Business Analytics, Marketing, an ...
at the
University of Windsor , mottoeng = Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge , established = , academic_affiliations = CARL, COU, Universities Canada , former_names = Assumption College (1857-1956)Assumption University of Windsor (1956-1963) , type = Public universit ...
indicated that the evaluation recognized ACCA as having the Canadian equivalence of a bachelor's degree (four years) in Accounting. The Canadian branch of ACCA is pursuing recognition for statutory audit purposes in the province of
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
under the province's ''Public Accounting Act of 2004.'' Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and
Certified Management Accountants of Canada The Society of Management Accountants of Canada (french: La Société des comptables en management du Canada), also known as Certified Management Accountants of Canada (french: Comptables en management accrédités du Canada) and CMA Canada, award ...
(CMA Canada) announced a joint qualification '
Chartered Professional Accountant Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA; french: comptable professionnel agréé) is the professional certification, professional designation which united the three Canadian accounting designations that previously existed: :* Canadian Institute ...
or CPA Designation', but whether this designation will impinge on ACCA's application for recognition in Ontario is uncertain. On November 29, 2012, the ACCA opened up legal proceedings against the CICA to operate in Canada, complicated by the merger of the accounting profession in Canada, incorporating CICA, CMA Canada and CGA to use 'Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)'. A 10-year transitional period requires all CPA members to use CPA, 'legacy designation' rather than the newer designation. The merger completed in 2015. At the end of 2016 there were 3,011 members in Canada.


Oceania


Australia

ACCA has an office in Sydney and holds exams in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. ACCA members are not eligible to be registered company auditors as of right.
CPA Australia CPA Australia ("Certified Practising Accountant") is a professional accounting body in Australia founded in 1886. As of 31 December 2020, it has 168,736 members working in 150 countries and regions around the world. CPA Australia currently has 1 ...
and
Institute of Public Accountants The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) is one of the three legally recognised professional bodies for accountants in Australia. The IPA represents more than 40,000 members and students working in industry, commerce, government, academia and p ...
recognise ACCA qualification as sufficient to obtain a skill assessment as an Accountant for the purposes of
immigration Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, and ...
. The Tax Practitioners Board accredited ACCA as a recognised tax agent association and as a recognised
BAS Bas may refer to: People * Bas (name), a given name and a surname * Bas (rapper) (born 1987) Chemistry * Boron arsenide (BAs), a chemical compound * Barium sulfide (BAs), a chemical compound Other uses * ''bas'' (French for "low"), as in bas ...
agent association on 12 May 201

Subject to passing exams in Australian tax and law, ACCA members may obtain the equivalent level of membership from the Institute of Public Accountants.


= CA ANZ Strategic Alliance

= In June 2016, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), announced a strategic alliance. ACCA members do not qualify to become a full member of CA ANZ, additional requirements relating to residency and membership length must be satisfied before CA ANZ membership may be granted. At the end of 2016 there were 3,414 members and 1,721 students in Australia.


New Zealand

ACCA member, affiliate and student activities in New Zealand are managed by its office in Australia, supported by Network Panel members based in Auckland and Wellington as well as member advocates based in Christchurch. With the merger of
Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (the institute) was the professional accounting body representing Chartered Accountants in Australia before it merged with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants to become Charter ...
(ICAA) and the
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) was the operating name for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand. The Institute represented over 33,000 members in New Zealand and overseas. Most accountants in New Zealan ...
in December 2014, the newly created 'Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)' became the sole national accountancy body in New Zealand, which is in a strategic alliance with the ACCA. At the end of 2016 there were 502 members in New Zealand.


Caribbean, Central and South America

The ACCA is an affiliate of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean The Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) is an association of accounting organizations in the Caribbean region that promotes professionalism and standards of best practice in the region. Purpose The ICAC was incorporated as ...
. The ACCA qualification is legally recognized in the
French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...
(Part of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and hence subject to European Union regulations). At the end of 2016 there were 4,857 members and 16,000 students in the Caribbean.


Africa


Kenya

ACCA is recognised in Kenya and has an office in the country. Some universities offer ACCA.


Namibia

ACCA was awarded full and unconditional accreditation status as a professional body in
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
by the statutory Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board (PAAB) on 24 November 2016. The PAAB is a statutory body established to oversee the profession and maintain a register of persons entitled to work or practise as public accountants or public auditors in Namibia.


South Africa

Although ACCA holds recognition for statutory tax purposes, it has no agreement with any accountancy body in
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, while ICAEW, ICAS and CA Ireland have agreements with
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The institute provides a wide range of support services to m ...
.


Zimbabwe

ACCA Zimbabwe is one of the constituent bodies of the Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB). The PAAB is a statutory body established in 1996 to oversee the profession and maintain a register of persons entitled to work or practise as public accountants or public auditors in
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
. Only ACCA members in good standing and
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) is a professional accountancy body in Zimbabwe. It is the sole organization in Zimbabwe with the right to award the Chartered Accountant designation. ICAZ is a member of the Internationa ...
can register as auditors.


Asia


China

ACCA entered
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
in late 1980s, and has developed its China base rapidly in recent years. It has entered into agreements with 41 Chinese Universities, many of which are leading in the disciplines of finance and accounting as well as having excellent academic reputations in a wider range of subjects. The most well known institutions include
Tsinghua University Tsinghua University (; abbreviation, abbr. THU) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Minis ...
,
Xiamen University Xiamen University (; Southern Min: ''Ē-mn̂g-toā-o̍h''), colloquially known as Xia Da (; Southern Min: ''Hā-tāi''), is a national public research university in Xiamen, Fujian, China. Founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, a Chinese patriotic exp ...
,
Central University of Finance and Economics Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE; ), is a national public research university located in Beijing, China. Central University of Finance and Economics is the first economics and management university which was founded by the China ...
,
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics The Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE; ), founded in 1917, is a finance- and economics-oriented research university located in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. The university is under the direct administration of the ...
,
Southwestern University of Finance and Economics The Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE; ) is a public research university in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. The university is affiliated to the Ministry of Education, and co-funded by the ministry and the Sichuan Provincial Peopl ...
,
Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU, ) is a public research university in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. As a member of Double First Class University Plan, C9 League, Project 985, and Project 211, it is a leading national university with special strengths i ...
and
Sun Yat-Sen University Sun Yat-sen University (, abbreviated SYSU and colloquially known in Chinese as Zhongda), also known as Zhongshan University, is a national key public research university located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It was founded in 1924 by and nam ...
. As of early 2019, ACCA had 25,000 members and 108,000 students in China, with 11 offices in Beijing, Changsha, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Qingdao, Wuhan, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR.


Hong Kong

An Agreement of Recognition Arrangement (ARA) between ACCA and
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA, ) is the professional accounting body of Hong Kong. Its main responsibilities are: *Registering accountants and issuing practising certificates. *Regulating the professional cond ...
(HKICPA; local statutory accountancy body) was put in place on 22 August 2006, backdated to 1 July 2005. This was less flexible than the previous rule. The old agreement was terminated on 30 June 2005 forcing ACCA members to accept the so-called "8 unfair terms" e.g., hold a degree recognised by HKICPA, work under HKICPA authorised employers, attend workshops and pass HKICPA's Final Professional Examination (FPE), etc. This notwithstanding, HKICPA members could join in ACCA without any further requirement. The ACCA qualification is highly accepted by the
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
employment market. Most HKICPA members qualified through a joint scheme with Hong Kong Society of Accountants (HKSA) which operated for more than 20 years. HKSA later became HKICPA. At the end of 2016 there were 18,238 members and over 8,000 students in Hong Kong.


India

UK qualified students are eligible for exemptions in the following papers of the CMA qualification (2012 syllabus) offered by The Institute of Cost Accountants of India: Foundation: Complete exemption. Intermediate: Paper 5- Financial Accounting Paper 6 - Laws, Ethics & Governance Paper 8-Cost Accounting and Financial Management Paper 10- Cost and Management Accountancy Paper 12- Company Accounts and Audit Final: Paper 14- Advanced Financial Management Paper 15- Business Strategy and Strategic Cost Management Paper 17- Strategic Performance Management Paper 18- Corporate Financial Reporting Paper 20- Financial Analysis and Business Valuation In 2021, ACCA India organized a nationwide 'Financial Literacy Drive' for children. The programme was delivered with the help of ACCA members in India


Macau

ACCA currently is legally recognised with the joint scheme relationships by Macau Society of Certified Practising Accountants (local statutory accountancy body) in
Macau Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...
.


Malaysia

On 13 August 2007, ACCA and the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) signed an MRA that provided a route for members to join the other body. The ACCA or Chartered Certified Accountant qualification, along with 10 other professional accounting qualifications, is recognised by the
Malaysian Institute of Accountants Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) is the umbrella body for the accountancy profession in Malaysia. It was established under the Accountants Act, 1967 to regulate and develop the accountancy profession in this country. MIA operates under t ...
(MIA). MIA also recognises 21 Malaysian university qualifications as a prerequisite for registration as a chartered accountant in Malaysia. Only MIA members qualify as accountants in
Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
under the Accountants Act, 1967. ACCA is statutorily recognised in Part II of the First Schedule of the Accountants Act, 1967. At the end of 2016 there were 12,521 members and 42,000 students in Malaysia.


Nepal

From 2014,
Tribhuwan University Tribhuvan University (TU; ne, त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालय) is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest university in Nepal. In terms of enrollment, it is t ...
has recognized ACCA (after full membership) as equivalent to bachelor's degree if pursued after intermediate level.


Pakistan

The ACCA qualification confers the Qualified Company Secretary designation in
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. ACCA and the local statutory accounting body
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan ( ur, , ICAP) is a professional accountancy body in Pakistan. As of 2022, it has over 8,000 members working in and outside Pakistan. The institute was established on July 1, 1961 to regulate th ...
(ICAP) offer partial recognition of each other. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan recognises ACCA members qualifications as equal to master's degree in Commerce (MCom). ICAP also awards some exemptions to ACCA affiliates. On 4 December 2014, ACCA and ICMAP (
Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan The ''Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan'' (ICMAP) is a professional accounting body offering qualification and training in management accountancy. The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan was established ...
) signed an MOU to enhance the existing academic recognition arrangements between the two accounting bodies. This MoU shall facilitate students and members of ACCA and ICMA Pakistan to earn dual qualification and membership on a fast track basis. At the end of 2016, there were 3,843 members and over 37,000 students in Pakistan.


Singapore

In
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, holders of ACCA had until 31 December 2016 and existing students have until 31 December 2018 to complete the ICPAS PAC and qualify for the
Chartered Accountant of Singapore Chartered Accountant of Singapore is a professional accountancy, accounting qualification in Singapore. Candidates who successfully complete the ''Singapore Qualification Programme'' in Accounting are eligible to register as Chartered Accountants ...
professional designation through the previous transitional arrangements.MOF Announces Details of New Professional Accountancy Designation (2 April 2013)
''AsiaOne''

''The Business Times''


Taiwan

According to rules 6(iii) & 9 of accountancy examination published by
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
government, ACCA members are entitled to obtain advanced standing in the examinations to become a
Certified Public Accountant Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the title of qualified accountants in numerous countries in the English-speaking world. It is generally equivalent to the title of chartered accountant in other English-speaking countries. In the United Sta ...
in Taiwan.


United Arab Emirates

In March 2014, ACCA signed a strategic partnership agreement with UAE's national accountancy body Accountants and Auditors Association (AAA) to help the latter develop a new Chartered Accountant qualification nationwide. The exams will be held jointly, and successful graduates will gain both ACCA and UAE's new Chartered Accountants' qualifications - the UAECA (United Arab Emirates Chartered Accountant). Skyline University College is the first ACCA Gold Approved Learning institute in the UAE.


Global qualification partnerships

Through partnerships with professional institutions, ACCA offers students and members access to other related qualifications.


Academic qualifications

*
BSc (Hons) A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
in Applied Accounting, with
Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University (formerly known as Oxford Polytechnic (United Kingdom), Polytechnic) is a public university, public university in Oxford, England. It is a new university, having received university status through the Further and High ...
* MSc in Professional Accountancy, with the
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
* Global
MBA A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...
, with
Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University (formerly known as Oxford Polytechnic (United Kingdom), Polytechnic) is a public university, public university in Oxford, England. It is a new university, having received university status through the Further and High ...
(accelerated for ACCA) * Public Policy and Management offering from
SOAS SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury are ...
, the University of London


Professional qualifications and other accreditations

* Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) with the
Chartered Institute of Taxation The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) is a registered charity (number 1037771) and the leading professional body in the United Kingdom concerned solely with taxation. The CIOT deals with all aspects of direct and indirect taxation. Activit ...
(CIOT) * CMA (Certified Management Accountant) program with Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) * Certificate in Treasury (CertT) qualification with
Association of Corporate Treasurers The Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) is the international professional body specialising in the profession of corporate treasury. It was founded in 1979 and was awarded a Royal Charter on 1 January 2013. It is both an examining body, provid ...
(ACT) * Membership of the
Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is a global professional body for those in the financial and investment profession. It offers a range of qualifications and resources for professional development, as well as setting s ...
(CISI) * Chartered Manager Award with
Chartered Management Institute The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is a professional institution for management based in the United Kingdom. The major membership classes are ''Member'', ''Fellow'' - for those with significant expertise - and ''Companion'' - the most sen ...
(CMI) * Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification with the
Institute of Internal Auditors The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an organization which advocates, provides educational conferences, and develops standards, guidance, and certifications for the internal audit profession. History Established in 1941, the IIA today ...
(IIA) * Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification with the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) (UK only) * Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) Management (Pakistan only) * Certified Fraud Examiner with Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) in USA * The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICoAI)


Representation worldwide

ACCA is represented on many committees and bodies around the world, including the following: * Accountancy Europe (formerly FEE) * Africa Capacity Building Foundation * ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA) *
Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) is a regional organization representing 33 national professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) operating in Asia and the Pacific. These PAOs, referred to as CAPA’s members, represent ...
(CAPA) * Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) * Eastern, Central and Southern African Federation of Accountants (ECSAFA) *
European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises or SMEunited (formerly UEAPME) is an umbrella group for associations of SMEs based in Brussels, Belgium. SMEunited represents the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs a ...
(UEAPME) *
European Financial Reporting Advisory Group The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group is a private association established in 2001 with the encouragement of the European Commission to serve the public interest. Its Member Organisations are European stakeholders and National Organisati ...
* Fédération des Experts Comptables Méditerranéens (FCM) *
Global Reporting Initiative The Global Reporting Initiative (known as GRI) is an international independent standards organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human righ ...
(GRI) * IFAC Board * IFAC
International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is an independent standards body that issues standards, like the International Standards on Auditing, quality control guidelines, and other services, to support the international audi ...
(IAASB) * IFAC International Public Sector Accounting Board * IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Committee * IFAC Small and Medium-Sized Practices Committee * Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) * Inter-American Accounting Association (IAA) * International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) * International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC) *
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; french: Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, ''OCDE'') is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries ...
(OECD) *
Pan African Federation of Accountants The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is the regional body that is aimed to represent African professional accountants with one and louder voice, particularly in relating with International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). It was inaug ...
(PAFA) * Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee (PAODC) * South Eastern European Partnership on Accountancy Development (SEEPAD) * The Conference Board Europe


See also

* Association of Authorised Public Accountants (AAPA - Subsidiary of ACCA) * Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) *
Chartered Certified Accountant Founded in 1904, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification (ACCA). It has 240,952 members and 541,930 future members worldwi ...
(ACCA/FCCA)


References


External links

*
Key Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession
annual publication by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) {{DEFAULTSORT:Association Of Chartered Certified Accountants Accounting in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the City of Westminster Organisations based in Glasgow Chartered Certified Accountants 1904 establishments in the United Kingdom Member bodies of the International Federation of Accountants