CPA Australia

CPA Australia

File:CPA Australia logo 400x175.PNG
Industry	Accounting and Finance
Founded	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1886 as IIAV (1886 as IIAV))
Head Office	Melbourne, Australia
Locations	Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, China (mainly Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou), Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, and London, United Kingdom
Areas served	Global
President	Graeme Wade
CEO	Alex Malley
Members	150,000
Member's Designations	CPA & FCPA
Website	www.cpaaustralia.com.au

CPA Australia (Certified Practicing Accountants) is one of three major professional accounting bodies in Australia, the others being the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants.

Founded in 1886, CPA Australia is one of the world’s largest accounting bodies, with more than 150,000 members across 121 countries. Core services to members include education, training, knowledge exchange, technical support, networking and advocacy.

CPA Australia was an early entrant into the Asian market, where their involvement began in the early 1950s and was aimed at developing and strengthening the accounting profession in the region. Today almost one-quarter of CPA Australia’s members now reside outside of Australia, with over 35,000 in Asia.

CPA Australia currently has 19 staffed offices across Australia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand and the UK.

History

The current form of CPA Australia dates from 1952, when the Commonwealth Institute and Federal Institute merged to create the Australian Society of Accountants. In July 1990 the name changed to the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, and in April 2000, the name became CPA Australia.

The main predecessor bodies of the Society, with year of formation, were:

• Incorporated Institute of Accountants, 1886
• Federal Institute of Accountants, 1894
• Association of Accountants of Australia, 1910
• Australasian Institute of Cost Accountants, 1920

Membership

CPA Australia's head office in Melbourne.

To become a CPA, candidates must hold a degree or a postgraduate award that is recognized by CPA Australia, and demonstrate competence in the required knowledge areas and, within a six-year period, successfully complete the CPA Program. This CPA program requirement is not entirely true. In 2010 existing Associates with 10 years consecutive experience were upgraded to C.P.A. status by board decision, effectively cheating those who who were required to compulsorily complete the program. This board decision was not publicised and details remain hidden from the public forum. It is understood that the decision was taken to artificially boost CPA membership in face of the then impending amalgamation of it's rival accounting organisation, I.C.A. with their N.Z. counterparts.

When a candidate applies to study the CPA Program, their previous education and qualifications are assessed to determine if they have covered the required knowledge areas to begin the CPA Program.

The required knowledge can be demonstrated by completing one or more of CPA Australia’s foundation exams, or completion of an accredited and recognised degree, such as an accounting degree. Such degrees will often meet all the required knowledge areas and allow candidates to commence the CPA Program.

The CPA Program is an integrated education and professional experience program with exceptionally high standards, and is recognized with ISO 9001 certification. It consists of 6 education subjects, 4 compulsory subjects and 2 electives, as well as a fully integrated practical experience requirement.

The CPA Program focuses on four main areas that ensure a CPA is valued by any employer – leadership, strategy, ethics, and governance. Content is globally relevant, with a focus on providing flexibility of learning and delivery modes. Overall, the CPA Program builds leadership, strategy, higher level analysis, judgment, decision making and reporting skills.

The three-year practical experience requirement that is part of the CPA Program has been designed in response to the needs of different stakeholders including employers, industry and graduates. The practical experience requirement further develops candidates’ technical, business, personal effectiveness and strategic leadership skills.

Upon renewing membership each year, members are required to declare their ongoing compliance with the CPA Australia constitution, by-laws and minimum continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. Fulfillment of 120 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours per triennium (3-year period) with a minimum of 20 CPD hours in each year is required for continued membership. Members must monitor their own CPD hours and CPA Australia also conducts random audits of members to confirm that they are meeting the CPD requirements.

Full members of CPA Australia use the designatory letters CPA, while senior members may become Fellows and use the letters FCPA.

International affiliations

CPA Australia has affiliations with a range of leading accounting bodies all around the world, to ensure that CPAs are internationally recognized. These include:

Canada

• Certified General Accountants Canada
• Certified Management Accountants Canada

Europe

• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• CPA Ireland: Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants

India

• Institute of Chartered Accountants India

Singapore

• Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

Sri Lanka

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka

Malaysia

• Malaysian Institute of Accountants

United Kingdom

• Aston University

Others

CPA Australia has signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Macau Society of Registered Accountants.

CPA Australia has also signed an MoC with the Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors, the National Accounting Council of Cambodia, Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors, and the Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors.

Members of these bodies can benefit from an exchange of training and continuing professional development programs.

Arms

Coat of arms of CPA Australia

Notes The arms of CPA Australia consist of: Crest On a Wreath of the colors, five books erect proper. Escutcheon Azure, a Fess enhanced and in base a Pale Argent, over all a representation of the Southern Cross counterchanged. Motto Integrity Symbolism The T formed by the fess and pale represents a double-sided account, and thus double entry book-keeping.

See also

• International Qualification Examination

External links

• CPA Australia's website
• The CPA Program
• Become a CPA
• CPA Australia's student network
• YouTube Channel
• Twitter Page
• Facebook Page
• CPA Australia Congress Centre – Second Life
• IFACnet
• Flickr page