Professional accounting bodies around the world play a crucial role in overseeing the accounting profession.
They establish standards, offer certification, and help maintain the competence, integrity, and ethical conduct of accountants.
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
IFAC is the global voice for the accounting profession. It represents over 185 professional accounting organisations in more than 140 jurisdictions.
IFAC supports the development, adoption, and implementation of high-quality international standards. They also work to prepare a future-ready accounting profession.
Click here for further information. AFAC also provides a comprehensive regional directory of its member organisations.
Pathways To Membership
Explore the various pathways to becoming a member of the leading global accounting organisations, including education, experience, and certification requirements.
Australia
The three main accounting bodies in Australia share the same professional and ethical standards, but each provides a unique pathway to membership. Click the links below to explore the different membership options:
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountant)
Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
United States of America
The primary accounting body in the United States at the national level is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), which sets ethical standards, issues auditing guidance, and administers the Uniform CPA Examination. In addition to the AICPA, each state has its own professional accounting body, typically referred to as a state CPA society, such as the California Society of CPAs or the New York State Society of CPAs. These state societies provide local support, advocacy, professional development, and networking opportunities for CPAs within their respective jurisdictions.
Click the link below to discover the different pathways to obtaining the AICPA designation:
https://www.aicpa-cima.com/membership/landing/become-an-aicpa-member
Canada
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) is the national body representing the Canadian accounting profession, formed through the unification of the country’s three major accounting organisations. Click the link below to explore the various pathways to earning a CPA designation:
https://www.cpacanada.ca/become-a-cpa/pathways-to-becoming-a-cpa
United Kingdom
There are six accounting bodies recognised by the UK government and regulators such as the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) that play key roles in setting standards for accounting, auditing, and ethics. Click the links below to explore the various pathways to membership of each body:
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (American Institute of CPAs and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
Chartered Accountants Ireland (includes Northern Ireland)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
Europe
The two main pan-European accounting bodies are:
1. Accountancy Europe
- Represents 49 professional associations of accountants and auditors from 35 countries across Europe.
- Covers over 1 million professional accountants.
- Plays a key role in influencing EU accounting, auditing, and sustainability policies.
2. European Federation of Accountants and Auditors for SMEs (EFAA)
- Represents national accounting, auditing, and tax advisory associations focused on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Has 15 members across Europe representing 400,000 accountants, auditors, and tax advisors.
- Advocates for the interests of small-and medium-sized practices (SMPs) in European policymaking.
These bodies work alongside the national professional associations in each relevant country (e.g. (e.g. ICAEW in the UK, CNCC in France, IDW in Germany).
Click the links below to view the professional organisations that both accounting bodies represent. You can also visit the website of each organisation to explore the different pathways to earning a professional designation in their respective countries:
https://accountancyeurope.eu/members
Asia and the Pacific
The two main regional accounting bodies in Asia and the Pacific are:
1. The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA)
- Represents 29 national professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) from 21 jurisdictions that operate in, or have an interest in, the Asia-Pacific region (e.g. Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants).
- The membership of these organisations comprises over 2 million professional accountants.
2. ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA)
- Umbrella organisation for national accountancy bodies in Southeast Asia (e.g. The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants)
- Membership comprised of all 10 AEAN countries.
Click the links below to view the professional organisation that both accounting bodies represent. You can also visit the website of each organisation to explore the different pathways to earning a professional designation in their respective countries:
https://www.capa-apac.org/about-us/members
http://www.afa-accountants.org/list_member.html
Africa
Pan African Federation of Accountants (FAFA)
- Represents the professional accounting organisations on the African continent
- Membership consists of 57 organisations in 47 countries across Africa. They represent more than 125 000 professional accountants
Click the link below to view a map of Africa, where all PAFA member countries are shaded in green. Select a country to access the websites of its member organisations and explore the different pathways to earning a professional designation, such as those offered by the South African Institute of Professional Accountants or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe.
https://pafa.org.za/membership/members
South America
Inter-American Accounting Association (AIC)
- Regional organisation that brings together professional accounting organisations from across the Americas, including South America.
Click here for a list of the countries and accounting bodies that AIC represents.
The AIC website does not provide a link to the websites of the various accounting organisations in each country. Below is a sample selection:
Federal Council of Brazil (CFC)
Mexican Institute of Public Accountants
Argentine Federation of Professional Councils of Economic Sciences (FACPCE)
Board of Deans of Public Accountants of Peru
Middle East
The two main regional accounting bodies in the Middle East are:
1. Arab Federation of Accountants and Auditors (AFAA)
- Official accredited union for all Arab accountants and auditors in all parts of the Arab countries.
- Seeks to issue an Arab Certified Public Accountant certificate.
Click here to access the AFAA website.
2. International Arab Society of Certified Accountants (IASCA)
- Promotes and develop the accounting, auditing, and related disciplines across Arab League countries.
- Offers the International Arab Certified Public Accountant (IACPA) qualification, which is its primary professional designation.
Click here to learn about the requirements for obtaining the IASCA designation.
Below is a sample selection of accounting organisations in the Middle East:
Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)
Jordanian Association of Certified Public Accountants