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Employers rate ACCA as the leading global accountancy body, independent research confirms
ACCA announces growth in global membership

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has been rated as the leading global professional accountancy body in reputation, influence and size by employers around the world more frequently than any other professional accountancy body, according to an independent survey¹ of 1,300 employers in 20 countries.

This finding shows that ACCA is widely recognised for its global reach and its leading perspective on issues facing the accountancy profession. This is supported by ACCA's global network of 83 offices and centres, more than 70 global accountancy partnerships, extensive alliances with learning partners and exam centres.

ACCA's relevance to employers around the world can be seen in the growth in its global membership, which now stands at over 147,000 members, compared with 140,000 announced last year - an increase of five per cent. ACCA's worldwide student base has reached 424,000 compared with 404,000 this time last year.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, says: 'These results show that professional accountancy adds value to business on a global basis. At a time of continuing economic instability, the role of our members on the business stage is critical. I am especially pleased to note that employers of our members recognise the contribution ACCA is making as a leading global body.
'ACCA has also worked against the backdrop of unprecedented inquiries into the role of auditors and the value the profession brings to business. ACCA is a leading and consistent voice in that debate. I believe this is a time of great opportunity for the accountancy profession and we must work harder than ever to retain trust and show how we bring public value.

'This was a key theme at the largest-ever World Congress of Accountants, held in Kuala Lumpur, of which ACCA was a leading sponsor. In particular, ACCA was proud to use the global stage of the World Congress to sign a memorandum of understanding with the profession in China, now a leading economic influence in the world.'

A year in summary - achievements in the year 2010-11:

• A strengthening of ACCA's global partnership arrangements by signing agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with The Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (November 2010); The Chartered Management Institute (March 2010) and the Interamerican Accounting Association (IAA - January 2011). ACCA now has 71 global accountancy partnerships and agreements around the world.
• The successful launch in January 2011 of Foundations in Accountancy, a new suite of entry-level qualifications.
• The relaunch of the ACCA Qualification to focus more on the needs of the global economy with enhanced papers in audit, risk and corporate governance.
• Focusing on the customer by introducing modern online application processes for Foundations in Accountancy and the ACCA Qualification, using an improved online application form.
• Participation in the World Congress of Accountants in Malaysia - attended by over 6000 finance professionals - organised by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) in November 2010.
• Participating on the working group to establish the International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC).
• Working with Deloitte on Hitting the Notes, but what's the tune?  - a report about the future of narrative reporting.
• Working with KPMG on a joint report called Maximising people power: effective talent management in finance 
• Producing a new report on access to finance for Small and Medium Sized-Enterprises (SMEs) in collaboration with leading professional accountancy bodies CGA-Canada and CNDCEC, the Italian accountancy body.

Helen Brand concludes: 'I am pleased to note the progress we are making towards our strategic vision, on behalf of our members. Our investment in aligning our organisation to the needs of employers and transforming our underlying service delivery is essential to the delivery of Council's strategy. I am very satisfied to see that employers see the benefits in working with ACCA and its global membership base. This establishes a promising platform for our development in 2011 - 12.'

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STATISTICS ABOUT ACCA

Regional performance in 2010-11 (April to March)

Region	Total members	Total students	Totals	Total increase % from 2009
Asia Pacific	42, 252	108,389	150,641	4.6%
Europe and Americas	92,642	156,089	248,731	3.8%
MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia)	3,239	76,981	80,220	11%
Sub Saharan Africa	9,132	82,479	91,611	4.1%
Global totals	147,265	423,938	571,203	4.9%

 

• On average, a new student registers with ACCA every five minutes.
• ACCA is the largest professional accountancy body in 54 markets.
• 80 per cent of members are satisfied or very satisfied with their membership of ACCA.
• ACCA's Annual Report will be published in mid-2011.

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Notes to Editors

• 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.
• We support our 147,000 members and 424,000 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 83 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.
• 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.
• 1 The research was conducted globally by Millward Brown between December 2010 and the end of February 2011. The 20 countries surveyed were: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Mauritius, Canada, Caribbean, USA, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia, Cyprus, Poland, Russia, Ireland, the UK.

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For further information please contact:

Helen Thompson, ACCA Newsroom
+44 (0)20 7059 5759
+44 (0)7725 498 654
helen.thompson@accaglobal.com