Accountancy & Finance Services

Professional Accounting vary depending on countries although many are global some main qualifications include:

• ICAEW offer Chartered Accountant designations and other qualifications including certificates and diplomas. In the United Kingdom, chartered accountants of the ICAEW undergo annual training, and are bound by the ICAEW's code of ethics and subject to its disciplinary procedures. Chartered Accountants usually focus on Financial Accounting.  

• ACCA is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and is a broader skill set and lend itself to candidates who are less sure of the direction they wish to go in re career.  Also the ACCA is offered more in industry that Practice

• CIMA is the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and as the name suggests focusses on Management Accounting and is used in both C&I to produce regular Budgets and Forecasts to ensure the business is on track.

• CIPFA is the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and is a professional institute for accountants working in the public services.

• ATII stands for "Associate of the Taxation Institute Incorporated" a specialise qualification in Taxation

• AAT is the Association of Accounting Technicians (designations MAAT or FMAAT, standing for "Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians" or "Fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians", respectively) is the UK’s leading body offering a qualification at a level between that of 'bookkeeper' and that of the Recognised Qualifying Bodies.

• There are many other country specific accountancy qualifications e.g. In the United States, the requirements for joining the AICPA as a Certified Public Accountant are set by the Board of Accountancy of each state, and members agree to abide by the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and Bylaws

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program is a postgraduate professional certification offered internationally by the American-based CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research, or AIMR) to investment and financial professionals.

• The program teaches a wide range of subjects relating to advanced investment analysis - including security analysis, statistics, probability theory, fixed income, derivatives, economics, financial analysis, corporate finance, alternative investments, portfolio management - and provides a generalist knowledge of other areas of finance. A candidate who successfully completes the program and meets other professional requirements is awarded the "CFA charter" and becomes a "CFA charterholder".
  The top employers of CFA charterholders globally include JP Morgan, UBS, Royal Bank of Canada, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.

Accounting standards and Convergence of accounting standards

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are issued by standard-setting organizations. For example, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issues the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Organizations in individual countries may issue accounting standards unique to the countries.

For example, in the United States the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues the Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, which form the basis of US GAAP, and in the United Kingdom the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets accounting standards. However, as of 2012 "all major economies" have plans to converge towards or adopt the IFRS.

If you have a requirement for Accountancy or Finance related staff contact us to discuss