The ACCA Qualification is a leading accountancy qualification for aspiring financial professionals – providing students with the abilities, knowledge and values to aspire to successful careers and be at the helm for the organisations they work with to safely guide them into the future.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) was set up in 1904 and for over one hundred years has been the professional accounting body responsible for offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification (ACCA).
The headquarters of the ACCA are currently in London with the main administrative function operating out of Glasgow.
ACCA has an impressive global presence with a network of over 104 offices and centres in 52 countries.
The term charter certified accountant means that the individual is a member of the ACCA with all the prerequisites that that membership entails, such as allowing inspections, holding a practicing certificate and carrying liability insurance.
ACCA works according to the public interest, ensuring that its members are appropriately regulated. It promotes principles-based regulation. ACCA actively seeks to reinforce the worth of accounting in society through international research. It takes progressive stances on global issues to make sure accountancy as a profession continues to grow in reputation and influence.
Chartered Certified Accountant (CCA)
Chartered Certified Accountant is the main ACCA qualification. On completion of three years of relevant professional accounting experience, completion of an ethics and professionals skills module (which had a data analytics module added in 2019) and up to 13 professional examinations, the applicant attains the title of Chartered Certified Accountant.
The ACCA professional examinations are available globally in September, December, March and June. They are available as paper-based and computer-based exams.
On-demand computer-based exams (CBE) also are offered for the primary four exams (BT, MA, FA, LW), and Session CBEs for the remainder (PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) which are available to be taken at ACCA licensed exam centres, of which there are over 400 in more than 140 countries.
Benefits of ACCA qualification
- Within all parts of the European Union, the European economic area and Switzerland an ACCA member can practice as an accountant.
According to numbers taken in 2016 there were already 16,000 members and almost 60,000 students in Europe (excluding the UK & Ireland). - It is a knowledge rich qualification where you attain a diversity of skills which can be used in a variety of ways.
- It is a very cost effective qualification. The salary and benefits from the work attained from the qualification weigh up very favorably against the cost of studying for the qualification. With ACCA membership you will have free access to accounting jobs posted by top employers, free access to auditing and accountancy standards and access to a resource of technical materials and research to support development.
- It is based on International Standards. Therefore you do not lose the effectiveness of your qualification due to your location.
- There is continued professional development for the duration of your career. When you are an ACCA member for five years and completed your CPD for that point, you will be awarded a fellow title, for which you will receive a letter and certificate. The title of Fellow makes evident to prospective employers that you have vast experience in the field.
- Flexibility of the qualification, it can be used for a variety of career options. One can work in any business sector from the financial services and public practice to the private and corporate sectors.
- It allows for partnerships with employers.
So I have my ACCA what roles can I expect to be qualified to apply for:
As an ACCA member the opportunities as we have discussed are very varied but here are just some of the many roles that you could consider:
- Financial Controller
- Financial Director
- Financial Accountant
- Financial Consultant
- Management Accountant
- Corporate Treasurer
- Fund Accountant
- Chief Finance Officer
Of course you have a myriad of options so after gaining insight to professional work and building a career many ACCA members go on to establish their own business or corporation.
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