ACCA member directory questions

[Karimbo]

Hi

I'm just doing my due diligence on an accountant. Just curious as to what exactly does being a member on the ACCA directory mean?

Does it mean the accountant is fully qualified, part qualified or even just a student whose done the first exam?

Thanks

 

[john1989]

I believe it is those that hold a practicing certificate with ACCA.

 

[Bob]

No. The online directory is a list of all full members. There are indicators as to whether they hold a practising certificate or audit qualification

 

[john1989]

I searched two of my ACCA colleagues and couldn't find them. Does that mean they have resigned their membership?

 

[Karimbo]

id like to know this too, An accounting coompany I've found has 2 directors, one of the director has his direct email address all over the website and he's personally named on the testimonials by his customers but he's not personally on the ACCA website.

The other director is on the ACCA members directory but based on all the info online seems to be some sort of silent partner or something.

Something fishy is going on.

 

[john1989]

If the ACCA member owns the majority of the shares, then they can describe themselves as an ACCA practice.
If you PM me the firm, I'd be happy to do some further digging.

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

id like to know this too, An accounting coompany I've found has 2 directors, one of the director has his direct email address all over the website and he's personally named on the testimonials by his customers but he's not personally on the ACCA website.

The other director is on the ACCA members directory but based on all the info online seems to be some sort of silent partner or something.

Something fishy is going on.

Not necessarily. The other director could have qualified with one of the other chartered bodies such as ICAEW, ICAS or CIMA. Accountancy practices often have a mixture of directors and staff with a range of qualifications. A Chartered Accountant who qualified with ICAEW will not appear on the register of members of the ACCA and vice versa.

 

[Karimbo]

Not necessarily. The other director could have qualified with one of the other chartered bodies such as ICAEW, ICAS or CIMA. Accountancy practices often have a mixture of directors and staff with a range of qualifications. A Chartered Accountant who qualified with ICAEW will not appear on the register of members of the ACCA and vice versa.

No I asked them which body they're certified with and they said ACCA

 

[Bob]

I searched two of my ACCA colleagues and couldn't find them. Does that mean they have resigned their membership?

Who knows? It is supposed to be a full list and I still appear on it even though I no longer hold a practising certificate

 

[Bob]

If the ACCA member owns the majority of the shares, then they can describe themselves as an ACCA practice.
If you PM me the firm, I'd be happy to do some further digging.

Sadly, I do have a copy of the ACCA Rulebook on my desk and inter alia it says
"A firm (containing holders of practising certificates of whatever category or insolvency licences) may describe itself as a firm of “Chartered Certified Accountants”, “Certified Accountants” or “an ACCA practice” only where: (a) at least half of the partners (or directors in the case of a company, or members in the case of a limited liability partnership) are ACCA members; and (b) the principals noted in (a) above control at least 51 per cent of the voting rights under the firm’s partnership agreements (or constitution)."

It also says
"A firm that has at least one ACCA member as a partner or director may use the ACCA logo on letterheads, other stationery and on an Internet site, subject to the restriction that it may not be used unless a firm is controlled overall by holders of recognised accountancy qualifications. The logo shall be used in an appropriate manner, so that it cannot be confused with the logo of the firm, for example, in conjunction with the regulation statement in respect of audit or financial services, such as exempt regulated activities in the United Kingdom."

Make what you will of that

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

If you are that dubious about them then simply move on and find another accountant.

 

[Ola1]

On the ACCA directory, you can check the listings for either the member by name,
or the firm by its legal name.

Firms supervised by the ACCA should be listed on the Business advisers section, if not , pick up the phone an call the ACCA

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I searched two of my ACCA colleagues and couldn't find them. Does that mean they have resigned their membership?

No not necessarily.

I don't believe the directory is accurate and complete.

Unknown to me due to an ACCA error my details werent shown and I have been a full member for many years with a practising certificate.

 

[teddys]

No not necessarily.

I don't believe the directory is accurate and complete.

Unknown to me due to an ACCA error my details werent shown and I have been a full member for many years with a practising certificate.

The members' pages, and the directory pages of the ACCA website are being redone and will be ready in the next few weeks, with lots of new features. It should look good once ready - I've seen it in beta mode.

 

[Bob]

... and of course there is the usual schedule of changes to the ACCA Rulebook effective 1 January 2016 with the biggest change probably being the introduction of Consent Orders in the Disciplinary regime

 

[UK Contractor Accountant]

Oh dear looks like an excuse to put up the membership fees again!

 

[Bob]

I don't think they need an excuse to put the fees up As a retired member, not a problem as I don't have to pay ☺

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

The members' pages, and the directory pages of the ACCA website are being redone and will be ready in the next few weeks, with lots of new features. It should look good once ready - I've seen it in beta mode.

It certainly needs improving.

 

[talkinpeace]

FWIW I showed up on the ACCA directory of members for 2 years after I left
the directory tells you nothing other than that people have paid their subs within the last year or two
it is absolutely no guarantee of competence or expertise

to choose an accountant NOTHING beats the recommendation of a fellow business owner who has stuck with the same person for over three years

 

[Bob]

FWIW I showed up on the ACCA directory of members for 2 years after I left
the directory tells you nothing other than that people have paid their subs within the last year or two
it is absolutely no guarantee of competence or expertise

to choose an accountant NOTHING beats the recommendation of a fellow business owner who has stuck with the same person for over three years

Totally agree. Like every profession there is a huge range of expertise and you would have to wonder how some qualified in the first place. I guess one of the main benefits in engaging an accountant who is a member of a professional body is that you they must have undertaken some training to get a practising certificate and you do have a body to whom you could complain.

 

[john1989]

I'm not chartered, but I've had more on the job training than people that can pass ACCA within a couple of years and get the 2-3 years on the job experience to get a PC with ACCA.

Some of the questions on accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers from 'qualified' accountants are both laughable and frightening. The same does for unqualified accountants too though.

Qualification doesn't necessarily mean competency. But you do have someone to complain to - but in a world of social media, I think any grievance could be more hurtful without going through a professional body.

 

[Bob]

To be fair, I dont think any of the chartered qualifications prepare you for working in the small business sector. Learned it for my exams but dont recall Using Modigliani Miller theory or queuing theory in real life and they are just 2 examples

 

[Bob]

The members' pages, and the directory pages of the ACCA website are being redone and will be ready in the next few weeks, with lots of new features. It should look good once ready - I've seen it in beta mode.

One of the new features appears to be that I am no longer listed as a member
Will have to have words