Annual Results From ACCA Show Rise in Demand for Accountants

LONDON, April 27, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) continues to see growth in member and student numbers, reflecting the need for professional accountants, especially in the context of global economic conditions.

The global membership of ACCA now stands at 140,000, a growth of 6.5 per cent from the 31 December 2008 figure of 131,500 members. Student numbers have increased from 366,000 to 404,000, a rise of 10.4 per cent.

As a result of its increased global network and the reputation of members in 170 countries, ACCA is increasingly rated as the leading global professional accountancy body by employers around the world.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, says: "ACCA has made significant contributions to the public debate on matters of world importance, such as the agenda of the G20 nations and in particular their call for the adoption of international accounting standards, COP15 and climate change, the value of audit, financial regulation and access to finance.

"This healthy growth comes during an economically challenging time, but it shows that the finance profession is an attractive global career. Accountants' skills are more important than ever, to restore confidence in the global economy, to help businesses large and small to identify and manage costs and deliver sustainable growth.

"Following significant investment in enhancements to service delivery, ACCA students and members have recorded increased satisfaction with levels of service they receive. The organisation is pleased to see that the enhancements delivered have led directly to perceived improvements in service levels by customers."

Last year, ACCA opened offices in Brussels, Bangladesh, Chengdu and Macau, and also began collaborative work with major organisations such as KPMG, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the IAAER (International Association for Accounting Education and Research). ACCA also partnered with CGA Canada and CPA Australia for an Economist Intelligence Unit research report into small businesses and access to finance.

ACCA now has 57 global accountancy partnerships with organisations around the world. In 2009/10 ACCA forged partnerships through a range of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with:

    - the Auditors Chamber of Ukraine

    - the Georgian Federation of Professional Accountants and Auditors,

    - the Jordanian Association of Certified Public Accountants (JACPA),

    - the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Greece - SOEL (Soma
      Orkoton Elegkton Logiston)

    - the Business Development Company Ltd (BDC), the umbrella body for small
      business development in Trinidad & Tobago

    - the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC)

    - the Barbados Small Business Association (BSBA)


    Regional performance in 2009


    Region                           Total       Total      Totals     Total
                                   members    students  March 2010  increase
                                March 2010         and                % from
                                            affiliates                  2008
                                            March 2010
    Asia Pacific                    40,825     103,254     144,079       8.4%
    Europe and Americas             88,308     151,666     239,974       3.9%
    MENASA (Middle East, North       2,720      69,526      72,246      31.9%
    Africa and South Asia)
    Sub Saharan Africa               8,372      79,597      87,969      12.4%
    Global totals                  140,225     404,043     544,268       9.5%

Note: ACCA changed its year-end from December to March, so the chart above represents 15-months.

    Notes to Editors

    1) ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is
       the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer
       business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of
       application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a
       rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

    2) We support our 140,000 members and 404,000 students in 170
       countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting
       and business, with the skills required by employers. We work through
       a network of over 80 offices and centres and more than 8,000 Approved
       Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning
       and development. Through our public interest remit, we promote
       appropriate regulation of accounting and conduct relevant research to
       ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

    3) Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core
       values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and
       accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies
       in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the
       profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values
       are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure
       that through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business.
       We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and
       remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and delivery
       to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.


    For further information, please contact:
    Hannah Smith, ACCA Newsroom
    +44-(0)20-7462-8900
    [email protected]

SOURCE ACCA