The International Association of Bookkeepers (''IAB'') was founded in the
United Kingdom in 1973 and, as a
non-profit organisation, in its early years focussed purely on being an international professional and examining body for
bookkeepers
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business and other organizations. It involves preparing source documents for all transactions, operations, and other events of a business. Tr ...
. Building on it today, the IAB offers financial and business skills for those starting or developing a small business. It also continues to develop and deliver courses in
accounting
Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...
and
bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business and other organizations. It involves preparing source documents for all transactions, operations, and other events of a business. Tr ...
at various levels and subjects, claiming many thousands of members and students worldwide. The IAB is present in most parts of the world where UK accounting standards or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GAAP are used. In 2012, the IAB claimed to have 4,000 students in India currently registered and/or preparing to take an IAB exam. In addition to students studying with colleges throughout the UK, it has students studying with the University of the West Indies, and in Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Russian Federation and other European Countries, Baltic States, Belarus, India and Sri Lanka. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers in South Africa (ICB SA) graduates are recognised by the IAB.
Many colleges and universities, including the
Open University, offer IAB qualification around the world. All links to international associates and the colleges or centres are shown at their website. It also offers the members in practice free entry in their directory.
In the UK, it also continues to work with
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in areas, including being its approved supervisory body for the Anti-Money Laundering & Financing of Terrorism Regulations 2017. The IAB has three main grades of membership: Associate (AIAB), Member (MIAB) and Fellow (FIAB) depending on the qualifications.
IAB involves itself regularly with the
UK government and standard setting agencies, such as HMRC Employment Consultative Committee, the
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) was a quasi-judicial body accountable for the financial regulation, regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2013. It was founded as the Securities and Investmen ...
,
Ofqual, The Financial Services Skill Council and the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI).
The IAB offers more than 20 qualifications from Level 1 to 4 of UK National Qualifications Framework. All these qualifications are regulated by Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation in England. IAB centres with contracts with the Skills Funding Agency
Skills Funding Agency and other UK government bodies, may find that they can obtain funding towards the provision of courses leading to IAB QCF qualifications.
Professional Institute of the Year
The IAB has won the prestigious Professional Institute of the Year award from the BKN BookkeepingAwards.co.uk 3 years running
Bookkeeping Hall of Fame
BKN BookkeepingAwards.co.uk, (Retrieved 26 May 2016) The awards are voted for by bookkeepers, accountants, business owners and members of The Book-keepers Network & Forum (BKN) (http://www.book-keepers.org.uk/) and it is awarded to the most popular Professional Institute.
See also
* Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business and other organizations. It involves preparing source documents for all transactions, operations, and other events of a business. Tr ...
* Bookkeeping association Bookkeeping associations are founded to provide support and standards for the bookkeeping industry. This is achieved by creating common standards for the industry that bookkeepers can work towards and that allow the users of bookkeepers to know what ...
References
External links
* {{official, http://www.iab.org.uk
Bookkeepers
Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom