Further Accountancy Associations and Accountancy Organisations

Accountancy is a growing field in the United Kingdom as it is in many other places in the world. After all, businesses cannot survive without accountants to guide them in the proper way to account for their earnings and in the tax filings. No matter where you live and what kind of business you have, you will need the services of an accountant.

Within the accountancy field exists various accountancy associations. Some of these associations are for the accountants themselves to prove certification in certain specialty fields of accountancy, but one organization, the Accounting Standards Board, has the task of setting the accounting standards and collaborates with accounting standard-setters in other countries in order develop international standards and to endure that its standards are developed in consideration of international developments. Working with the Accounting Standards Board are various other accountancy associations who assure that standards of proper accounting practices are developed and followed within the United Kingdom and other countries.

Another major accountancy association is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which is the largest international accountancy body with membership consisting of 260,000 student and 110,000 members in 170 countries. ACCA uses their expertise and experience to assist various organisations in developing the profession. They operate joint examination schemes in 21 countries and work with a great number of schools and tuition-based programmes as well as over 6,500 firms who hire accountants and finance professionals. ACCA has four levels of qualifications:

• Technician level for an introduction to accountancy
• Professional level that enables members to achieve the highest level in accountancy
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Accounting that centres on the needs of employers in the practical professional accounting area
• MBA that is designed to broaden business understanding as well as enhance the ability of strategic decision making

The British Accounting Association (BAA) was established in 1947 to bring together people who are interested in teaching and researching in the accounting and finance fields. There are currently about 780 members many of which are staff or faculty members at UK institutions of higher education. Some members are representatives from leading accountancy firms while others are private individuals outside of the UK. The BAA is a charitable organisation, and members cannot advertise their membership for business purposes.

There are several other accountancy associations within the United Kingdom, some of which are open to membership, others are regulatory agencies. As an accountancy professional, you will find many options are open for association memberships based upon your expertise in the field of accountancy. Some of these associations are for general accountancy professionals, and others are for those in a particular specialty.