ICAEW is an international professional body for chartered accountants. We run the globally-recognised ACA qualification, enabling those interested in a career in finance to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, and we provide ongoing support to our students and members throughout their careers.
ICAEW has close to 158,000 members working in 147 countries.
ICAEW has more than 31,600 students currently training for the ACA and ICAEW CFAB qualifications around the world.
There are over 5,000 organisations that are ICAEW authorised training employers and offer ACA training contracts.
ICAEW stands for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Founded in 1880, ICAEW has been helping its members pursue successful careers in the finance industry for more than 130 years.
We are a world leader in accountancy, supporting more than 189,500 ICAEW Chartered Accountants and students in 147 countries around the world.
We are considered a leader in the accountancy and finance profession due to our robust qualification programmes, our expert technical knowledge and the wide ranging senior roles our members hold.
We help talented individuals develop the knowledge, skills and experience they need to perform at the highest level in accountancy, finance and business.
We asked our members at Amnesty International about the ACA qualification, why they chose to pursue it and what benefits they thought it would bring to their career.
(Source: ICAEW member data and FTSE 350 data at December 2019)
The title ‘chartered accountant’ can only be used by those who have met the requirements of the ICAEW’s ACA qualification.
To qualify students must undertake a minimum of three years on-the-job training, pass a series of rigorous examinations and commit to continuing professional development.
This means that ICAEW Chartered Accountants are highly sought after, commanding higher salaries than those with other accountancy qualifications.
We work with more than 5,000 authorised training employers (ATEs) internationally to provide ACA students with the work experience they need to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
If you're interested in becoming a chartered accountant, ICAEW sends regular newsletters about potential job opportunities, how you can secure a training agreement and news to help you through the recruitment process, as well as highlighting forthcoming events. Sign up here.
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If you are interested in learning more about how businesses operate and a grounding of finance before you start the full ACA qualification, ICAEW offers its Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB).
ICAEW CFAB is a globally-recognised qualification in finance, accounting and business. It is formed of the first six exam modules of the ACA and covers topics including assurance, law and tax.
The exams can be completed in any order and are assessed via computer-based assessment at a local exam-centres.
ICAEW CFAB can be achieved in 12 months and many people then move on to complete the full ACA and qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
ICAEW CFAB is a qualification on its own, but it’s also a stepping stone to the ICAEW Business and Finance Professional (BFP) designation.
BFP provides you with professional status, recognises your achievements and supports you with your development as you progress in your career.
By gaining the designation, and adding the BFP letters to your name, you demonstrate your ability to stay up to date in your profession, and show a strong understanding of ethics and a commitment to professional development.
You can start your journey to BFP and complete the requirements while studying for ICAEW CFAB, or once you complete it.