Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

What they say: ‘ACCA is the largest and fastest growing global professional accountancy body and has over 296,000 students and 115,000 members in 170 countries. ACCA opens the door to a future that is diverse, challenging and constantly surprising. There is a wide variety of exciting career options throughout the corporate, public and practice sectors. One of the greatest strengths of the ACCA qualification is the breadth and depth of the subjects covered within the syllabus. Your qualification will be recognised all over the world, so there are no limits to where it can take you.’

Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)

What they say: ‘The ATT is the leading professional body for those providing tax compliance services and related activities in the UK.’

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)

What they say: ‘The Institute was established in 1930 and was granted its Royal Charter in 1994. Members and fellows of the Institute are qualified as Chartered Tax Advisers, with the designatory letters CTA and CTA (Fellow). Members may have a background in accountancy or law, or they may have entered the tax profession directly, for example by qualifying with the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). Membership includes tax specialists running their own practices, tax barristers and those who work for law and accountancy firms, including most of the UK’s leading tax experts, and HM Revenue & Customs and other government staff.’

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

What they say: ‘Management accountants combine a high level of financial expertise with excellent business acumen, which makes them essential to every business, regardless of sector. Many CIMA students and members work in small, medium and multinational companies as well as organisations throughout the public and not-for-profit sector. Industries where CIMA members are well represented include manufacturing, most, if not all, of the well-known blue chip companies, as well as health, retail, tourism and hospitality, travel, transport and consultancy. CIMA members have the skills to work in positions within and outside finance.’

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

What they say: ‘Established in 1885, CIPFA is one of the leading professional accountancy bodies in the UK and the only one that specialises in the public services (accounting for 40 per cent of the global economy). Gaining the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification (PAQ) will give you the opportunity to reach the very top in management. Graduates of the CIPFA qualification include finance directors of the large public services organisations as well as senior bankers, partners in the biggest accountancy firms and chief executives in public, private and not-for-profit organisations.’

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA)

What they say: ‘The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA) is one of the main Irish accountancy bodies with 5,000 members and students. The CPA designation is the most commonly used designation worldwide for professional accountants. The CPA qualification opens up a wide variety of high quality career opportunities to its students and members both in Ireland and internationally, with current membership operating in public practice, industry, financial services and the public sector.’

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

What they say: ‘The ACA qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is one of the leading professional accountancy qualifications that gives students from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity for an exciting career in any business sector. Our 128,000 members work in wide-ranging careers in thousands of organisations in every sector, large and small. A large percentage of our members live and work in more than 140 different countries across the globe, demonstrating that the ACA qualification is internationally recognised and valued. The ACA represents achievement across a breadth and depth of financial and business skills, it gives you the ability to work in public practice, commercial businesses, public sector and not-for-profit organisations around the world, even at the head of your own venture. So, if you want the challenge and exceptional rewards of working at the highest levels of business, the ACA can take you there.’

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI)

What they say: ‘ICAI is Ireland’s largest and longest established accountancy body with over 16,000 members and 4,000 students. Chartered accountants are Ireland’s leading business professionals, providing essential strategic guidance, expertise and consulting across a vast array of business activities and sectors.
65 per cent of members are currently employed in business in roles such as financial controller, business analyst, corporate treasurer, tax adviser or internal auditor. The remaining 35 per cent of members are employed in practice, providing financial services to businesses. Training to become a chartered accountant is unique, and the training provides the most dynamic and comprehensive programme of theoretical and practical training available.’

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

What they say: ‘In the age of the global market, top business professionals are turning to the CA qualification to give them access to the best jobs in the location of their choice, both in the UK and abroad. As ICAS is the only UK professional accountancy body that both trains and sets the exams for all its students, employers around the world know that the CA qualification stands for consistency and high standards. It is also the fastest growing accountancy body in the UK in terms of worldwide student numbers with latest figures showing a student growth rate of nearly 60 per cent from 2000 to 2005. ICAS enjoys a widely recognized reputation for providing the “gold standard” in accountancy education.’

More advice on graduate training and professional development in accountancy and financial management 

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