Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
Coat of arms of the Institute
Motto	Nec Timens Nec Favens (Without fear, Without favour)
Formation	19 June 1928 (1928-06-19)
Legal status	Chartered body
Membership	50,000
Students	12,000
Governing body	Board of Directors
IFAC member since	1 October 1977
Website	www.charteredaccountants.com.au
Former name	Australian Institute of Public Accountants

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (the Institute) is the professional accounting body representing Chartered Accountants in Australia. It has over 50,000 members and has some 12,000 students. It is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA).

History

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia was constituted by Royal Charter in 1928. The Institute now operates under a Supplemental Royal Charter (amended from time to time) granted by the Governor-General on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 August 2005. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia was called Australian Institute of Public Accountants before 1928.

Admission to membership

Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia - Logo

To become a member of the Institute, Chartered Accountants complete the Chartered Accountants Program which includes study of the Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA) and three years of practical experience. Entry to the Program is available for graduates who hold an accounting degree, however those holding non-accounting degrees may also be permitted entry after some additional requirements are met.

Accounting degree

To take this path you will have either a bachelor or master's degree in commerce, business or accounting from an Institute accredited Australian university. The commerce and business degrees will require a major in accounting, in order to qualify.

Non Accounting degree

There are three routes for non-accounting graduates can take to qualify for the Chartered Accountants Program:

1. Institute accredited Graduate Conversion course: Available from most Australian universities
2. Entrance exam: Available for non-accounting graduates with significant on-the-job accounting experience and employer support
3. A Graduate Certificate of Chartered Accounting Foundations from Deakin University.

Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting

The GradDipCA component of the Chartered Accountants Program consists of the following five modules which each take approximately 14 weeks of part-time study to complete:

• Auditing and Assurance
• Taxation
• Management Accounting and Analysis
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Ethics and Business Application

The Institute is the only Australian professional accounting body that is a government accredited Higher Education provider. Unlike other Australian accounting designations, the Chartered Accountants Program leads to the awarding of a Graduate Diploma. The Australian Chartered Accountant qualification is recognised as an “approved qualification” - a significant requirement for auditor registration purposes in the UK. Chartered Accountants audit 100 per cent of the Top ASX-listed companies in Australia. Australian Chartered Accountants are recognised by the international accounting bodies of the leading financial centres of the world. Members of the Institute are part of the international accounting coalition of the world’s premier accounting bodies, the GAA.

Practical experience

To meet the practical experience requirements to become a Chartered Accountant in Australia, you must:

1. Be employed with an organisation recognised by the Institute for at least 17.5hpw whilst completing the GradDipCA
2. Recording your work experience with a Chartered Accountant mentor
3. Apply for full membership after completing the GradDipCA and accumulating at least three years of practical work experience.

Membership

There are a number for different membership categories:

• Members: Have the designation CA after their name.
• Fellows: Have the designation FCA (Fellow Chartered Accountant) after their name. These members have been nominated for advancement Fellowship and have been a continuous member for 10 years and have been in a senior position for seven years. To be advanced to Fellow the member must have demonstrated 'leadership'
• Affiliate membership: Have an accounting degree and at least five years membership, but have not completed the Chartered Accountants Program.
• Teacher of Accountancy: For teachers to obtain membership, they are required to have completed a Doctorate or Masters by research with a major in an accounting related field, held a senior academic position for not less than five years, have appropriate Australian Taxation and Corporation Law knowledge and have references from two Chartered Accountants and their Head of School, and another significant academic
• Certificate of Public Practice: Firms or members who offer their services to the public as 'Chartered Accountants'.

Continuing education

Chartered Accountants continue their education to ensure they are able to provide the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. A Chartered Accountant must complete a total of 120 hours of Continuing Professional Education every three years.^{[citation needed]} The institute collaborates with CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants in supporting the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB), founded in 2006. APESB publishes ethics-related standards that must be followed by accountants in Australia based on the international standards published by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).

Reciprocial agreements

As a member of the Global Accounting Alliance, the Institute has reciprocity agreements with the following overseas accounting bodies:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
• Institute of Public Auditors in Germany, Incorporated Association(IDW)
• Japan Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA)
• New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA)
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
• The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)

University affiliation

The Institute works closely Australian universities and is a sponsor of the following student accounting organisations:

• University of Queensland Business Association (University of Queensland)
• The Business Students Association (Bond University)
• Financial Management Association (University of Melbourne)
• The Accountancy Students Association (Queensland University of Technology)
• Student Accounting Association (Griffith University)

See also

• Tax Institute (Australia)
• List of Australian organisations with royal patronage
• GAA
• IFACnet
• International Qualification Examination
• University of Queensland Business Association

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External links

• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
• The Institute's Chartered Accountant Program
• The Institute's Training & Development
• Charter
• Business Leader.tv
• Student Challenge
• Chartered Accountants on Facebook
• Follow Chartered Accountants on Twitter
• Chartered Accountants blog
• Chartered Accountants on YouTube
• Chartered Accountants on LinkedIn