ACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
We support our 131,500 members and 362,000 students throughout their careers, providing services through a network of 82 offices and active centres. Our global infrastructure means that exams and support are delivered - and reputation and influence developed - at a local level, directly benefiting stakeholders wherever they are based, or plan to move to, in pursuit of new career opportunities. Our focus is on professional values, ethics, and governance, and we deliver value-added services through 57 global accountancy partnerships, working closely with multinational and small entities to promote global standards and support.
We use our expertise and experience to work with governments, donor agencies and professional bodies such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) to develop the global accountancy profession and to advance the public interest.
Our reputation is grounded in over 100 years of providing world-class accounting and finance qualifications. We champion opportunity, innovation, diversity, integrity and accountability. By promoting our global standards, and supporting our members wherever they work, we aim to meet the current and future needs of international business.
ACCA understands the real issues facing small businesses as 63,000 of our members work in SMEs or small partnerships worldwide. ACCA's theme for 2009-2010 is Accountants for Business. This theme emphasises the important roles accountants play in both the private and public sectors, promoting their role as advocates of sound business practices, champions of sustainable business development and identifiers of value drivers which lead to high-performing organisations.
ACCA is the largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body in the world, with over 493,500 members and students in 170 countries. ACCA has an extensive network of almost 80 staffed offices and other centres around the world.
In 1904 eight people formed the London Association of Accountants, in order to provide more open access to the accountancy profession than the two existing accountancy organisations. ACCA went through a number of mergers and amalgamations over the years. In 1984 it became the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants to reflect the fact that, a decade earlier, it had been granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation. In 1996 ACCA became the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Our Members, who are known as Chartered Certified Accountants, are employed in industry, financial services, the public sector, or in public practice. With statutory recognition in the UK and Ireland we have the authority to license our members to work as registered auditors. In the UK, we also authorise our members to undertake insolvency work. Outside the UK, we are recognised under the EU's Mutual Recognition Directive and in many countries around the world.
Our History and Standard
ACCA is the largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body in the world, with over 493,500 members and students in 170 countries. ACCA has an extensive network of almost 80 staffed offices and other centres around the world.
In 1904 eight people formed the London Association of Accountants, in order to provide more open access to the accountancy profession than the two existing accountancy organisations. ACCA went through a number of mergers and amalgamations over the years. In 1984 it became the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants to reflect the fact that, a decade earlier, it had been granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation. In 1996 ACCA became the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Our Members, who are known as Chartered Certified Accountants, are employed in industry, financial services, the public sector, or in public practice. With statutory recognition in the UK and Ireland we have the authority to license our members to work as registered auditors. In the UK, we also authorise our members to undertake insolvency work. Outside the UK, we are recognised under the EU's Mutual Recognition Directive and in many countries around the world.
Our Mission and Values
ACCA's goal is to be the leading global professional accountancy body by reputation, influence and size.
ACCA's mission is to:
* to provide opportunity and access to people of ability around the world and to support our members throughout their careers in accounting, business and finance
* to achieve and promote the highest professional, ethical and governance standards
* to advance the public interest
* to be a global leader in the profession
ACCA's core values are:
* opportunity: we provide opportunity, free from artificial barriers, to people around the world - whether students, members or employees and we support them in their careers.
* diversity: we respect and value difference, embracing diversity in our people and in our output.
* innovation: we create new and unexpected possibilities, providing innovative solutions for the future.
* accountability: we accept individual and corporate responsibility for our actions, working together to deliver a quality service and to promote the best interests of our stakeholders.
* integrity: we act ethically and work in the public interest, treating people fairly and honestly, we encourage the same from others.
Our Qualifications
ACCA offers a range of core qualifications:
Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification to prepare you for a career as an accounting technician
Whether you wish to start a career in finance, gain recognition for the wealth of skills and experience you have already achieved, or want accelerated progression to the ACCA Qualification and a more senior position in accountancy, ACCA's Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification will help you pursue your career of choice.
To achieve the CAT qualification, you will need to complete a combination of nine exams and one-year's practical experience, gained before, during or after the exams. The qualification is extremely flexible which will allow you to take control of how and where you study. The CAT qualification is highly regarded by employers worldwide and can lead to a challenging and rewarding career. For the ambitious who wish to pursue their career further, completion of the CAT qualification will give exemption from the first three papers of the ACCA Qualification and help you pursue your career towards becoming a professionally-qualified accountant.
ACCA Qualification which will help you reach the highest levels in accounting and finance
The ACCA Qualification will help your career progress in any organisation. It's an established route to professional status - allowing you to use the 'ACCA' letters after your name on successful completion. Globally, employers will understand and respect your qualification. You will be in demand for your finance and accounting knowledge and skills worldwide, regardless of employment sector. ACCA can offer you various entry points onto its qualification, depending on your age and previous academic qualifications.
Within the ACCA Qualification there is a strong focus on professional values, ethics and governance - skills which are essential as the accountancy profession moves towards strengthened codes of conduct, regulation and legislation with an increasing focus on professionalism and ethics in accounting. As part of your ethical development towards ACCA membership, you will be required to complete a Professional Ethics module in addition to passing 14 exams (nine of which are eligible for exemption) and three-years' relevant practical experience.
BSc in Applied Accounting awarded by Oxford Brookes University
ACCA will provide you with additional opportunities on the way to becoming a qualified accountant. Through our unique partnership with Oxford Brookes University, you can gain a BSc Honours degree in Applied Accounting either while you complete your ACCA studies or after gaining your ACCA Qualification. The combination of a degree and a professional qualification will put you in demand with employers and increase your career opportunities.
MBA awarded by Oxford Brookes University
ACCA and Oxford Brookes University have combined their strengths as leaders in international education to produce and MBA programme. There is an accelerated-entry route specifically designed for ACCA members which recognises and gives credit for aspects of your professional studies, making it possible for ACCA members to complete the programme in 21 months.
An MBA is the qualification of choice for senior management. Internationally recognised, it will enable you to meet the challenges of senior management with confidence, make an effective and broader contribution to your organisation, and build upon the skills you have already developed as an accountant.
The MBA is accredited by the Association of MBAs - a prestigious award in recognition of the programme's high quality and relevance.
