Association of International Accountants

The Association of International Accountants (AIA)
Professional association
Industry Accountancy & Finance
Founded England, UK (1928)
Headquarters Staithes 3, The Watermark, Metro Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE11 9SN, United Kingdom
Slogan Creating world class accountants
Website aiaworldwide.com

The Association of International Accountants (AIA) is a professional accountancy body. It was founded in the UK in 1928 and since that date has promoted the concept of ‘international accounting’ to create a global network of accountants in over 85 countries worldwide.[1]

AIA is recognised by the UK Government as a Recognised Qualifying Body for statutory auditors under the Companies Act 2006, as a Prescribed Body under the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 in the Republic of Ireland, and members qualified as a statutory auditor and registered with a Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB) are able to seek registration as a statutory auditor across the European Union. In the UK, AIA also has supervisory status for its members in the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and has recognition to operate in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) as an Awarding Body. The AIA professional qualification is currently recognised in over 30 countries worldwide.

The AIA's Head Office is in the UK, and it has established branches in Hong Kong, Greece, Cyprus, Ghana, Singapore and Malaysia.

Membership

Associate or Fellow membership

AIA members use the designatory letters FAIA, as a Fellow and AAIA as an Associate. And AIA members can use the title or designation of International Accountant.

Those who achieve the AIA’s Recognised Professional Qualification as a company auditor are able to register with a Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB)[2] and undertake company audits of companies of all sizes in the UK in accordance with the UK Companies Acts.[3]

All AIA members must undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD),[4] are subject to Disciplinary Procedures and adhere to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Code of Ethics. AIA is regulated by the Professional Oversight Board (POB), part of the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC).

AIA offers a number of entry levels to applicants, depending on their qualifications and work experience profile.

Student membership is designed for those applicants who wish to undertake the AIA Professional Qualification[5] or Audit Qualification,[6] which is achieved through a combination of work experience and examinations that ensure candidates are equipped with the relevant skills and competencies required to work confidently and efficiently in this challenging profession.

Affiliate membership is offered to those applicants who have had over five years work experience in accountancy and finance, and want to become a member of a professional accountancy body. Affiliate members are entitled to use the designation AMIA. Affiliate membership is not full membership of AIA, Affiliate members are not authorised to sign off accounts and are not eligible for an AIA practising certificate.

Academic membership is offered exclusively to academics, who are working at universities or colleges and teaching at lecturer level or above. Applicants could also be a consultant or examiner for a professional body. Academic members are entitled to use the designation FAIA(Acad). AIA Academic Membership does not convey any entitlement to the AIA Professional Qualification.

Direct membership applies to those who have the right to practice in the United Kingdom under Regulation 5 of the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Directive. AIA are also recognised under the EC Audit Directive, which recognises professional qualifications for auditors as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Only applicants who are eligible under this route can apply for direct membership.

Audit route

As a Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB), AIA is recognised by the UK Government as being eligible to train qualified statutory auditors.[2]

Through a combination of study and work experience, the AIA statutory auditor training program provides a Government recognised qualification. Candidates must complete the exams including UK Paper 8 Company Law and taxation papers, namely Paper 5 Auditing & Taxation and Paper 16 Taxation and Tax Planning.

In addition, candidates need to complete an oral test and on successful completion of all the required elements, and register with a Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB).

MBA Pathways and Diploma Qualifications

The AIA collaborates with accredited universities to meet increasing demand for managerial skills and knowledge.[7]

The AIA professional accountancy qualification is accepted as equivalent to a first degree for entry purposes into a growing number of full and part-time MBA programmes in United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Cyprus.

In addition to the AIA professional qualification and statutory audit qualification, AIA also offers a number of Diplomas as follows:-

Europe

European Union

The AIA qualification is recognised as a Designated Body by the European Union under the Mutual Recognition Directive in respect of the activity of Company Auditor. This recognition extends to the European Economic Area nations i.e., the 27 member states of the European Union and Switzerland.

United Kingdom

AIA is a Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB) for statutory auditors under the Companies Act 2006. Six bodies are currently recognised by the UK government: the ICAEW, ICAS, ACCA, ICAI, CIPFA and AIA.[8]

AIA has Awarding Body status under the National Qualifications Framework and AIA's second stage application to operate in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) was approved by Ofqual’s Regulators’ Recognition and Accreditation Group (RRAG) at their meeting in November 2010.[9]

AIA qualification is recognised within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) at levels 5, 6 and 7. AIA is the first professional accountancy body to submit, and have units accepted at the higher levels.

AIA has supervisory status for its members in the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.

AIA is also statutorily recognised and listed accordingly in the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) for the purpose of Reporting Accountants.

AIA full members (AAIA or FAIA) are eligible to apply for membership of the Association of Authorised Public Accountants (AAPA), which is a Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB).

AIA is recognised by universities and other educational providers as equivalent to at least a Bachelor's degree in accountancy, for the purpose of obtaining credit to acquire a master's degree or enter an advanced study program.[10]

The AIA professional qualification is granted 30 points in the Points Based System Tier 1, General Migrant (INF 21).

Republic of Ireland

AIA is listed as a Prescribed Body under the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 in the Republic of Ireland and is supervised by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA).[11]

AIA full members (AAIA or FAIA) are eligible to apply for membership of the Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants (IIPA).[12]

Cyprus

The AIA professional qualification is recognised for the purpose of audit of public companies according to article 155(1)(b), Chapter 113, of the Companies Act.

AIA members are eligible for membership of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC).

Asia

Singapore

In Singapore, membership of AIA is viewed as a recognised qualification for the purpose of acting as a secretary of a public company under section 171(1AA) of the Companies Act and recognized by the Singapore Ministry of Law under one of the seven recognized accountancy bodies to certify the Money Lender Act reporting requirement.

Hong Kong

AIA and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) have signed an agreement for Mutual Examination Paper Exemption (MEPE) in 19/5/2008. The MEPE replaces the HKICPA's unilateral recognition accorded to AIA (which ceased in 30/6/2005).

Mainland China

AIA have signed an agreement with the China Association of Chief Financial Officers for AMIA certification.

AIA launched the AIA-CICPA Conversion Program in 2009 to promote internationalisation of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA), the sole authoritative body for accountancy in Mainland China. The conversion course is open to qualified CICPA members and successful candidates are eligible for direct membership of AIA.

India

AIA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) have signed a MoU for reciprocal membership arrangement. The MoU allows appropriately qualified and experienced AIA members to join the ICAI, a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 of India.

Malaysia

The AIA professional qualification (FAIA/AAIA) is recognised by the Public Service Department of the Malaysian Government as equivalent to an Honours Degree (in Accounting field) of a Public Institution of Higher Learning. Graduates of AIA are meanwhile, recognised as having a qualification equivalent to a General Degree (in Accounting field) of a Public Institution of Higher Learning.

The AIA certification is recognised under Section 153(3)of the Income Tax Act 1967, for purpose of registration as an Authorised Tax Agent.

AIA members (FAIA/AAIA) are eligible for membership of The Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM).

AIA members (FAIA/AAIA) are eligible for Professional Membership of The Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia (IIA Malaysia)

Americas

United States of America

The Institute of Internal Auditors Inc includes the AIA membership (FAIA/AAIA) in its Professional Recognition Credit List (PRC4). Thus, AIA members are eligible for exemption for Part 4 of the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam, the only globally recognised certification for internal auditors.

St Lucia

AIA is listed as a parent body for Accountants and Auditors under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of St Lucia (Incorporation) Act 1985.

Trinidad & Tobago

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago recognises AIA within the Schedule of Registered Societies.

Belize

AIA is listed as a scheduled society under the Accounting Profession Act Chapter 305 for membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Belize.

Dominica

The Commonwealth of Dominica under its Companies Act 1994, recognises AIA as a parent body for Accountants and Auditors.

Africa

Ghana

AIA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) have agreed on a pathway for AIA members to join the ICAG.

Nigeria

AIA is recognized under the ANAN Act 76 of 1993 Schedule 4 for membership with the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Mauritius

AIA is recognized by the National Accreditation and Equivalence Council for membership of the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants under the Financial Reporting Act 2004 S.51(3).

Uganda

The Accountants Act 1992 (Ch 266), recognizes AIA's eligibility for enrolment as full member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda.

AIA Memberships & Student Population

Worldwide, AIA had 9,250 members in 2014.[13] 'Member' means an individual who has applied for and has been admitted to membership in AIA. The figures exclude individuals who have passed their final examination and completed their training contracts but have not yet applied for membership.

Its worldwide student population was 9,064 in 2014.[13] 'Student' means an individual who is registered with AIA as a student and is actively pursuing the education process with a view to admission to full membership.

Council

International Accountant

International Accountant is the designation used by fully qualified members of the AIA (AAIA or FAIA).

International Accountant is also the bi-monthly magazine published by AIA.[14] Members receive the magazine as a membership benefit, and it is also available to subscribers. The magazine offers readers a variety of news stories which affect the profession, SME news, technical updates, and interviews with figureheads throughout the business world, as well as articles on issues such as IFRS, tax, environmental accounting, insolvency, Islamic accounting and ICT solutions.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Association of International Accountants
  2. 1 2 RQB and RSB recognition process, FRC
  3. ↑ UK Companies Acts
  4. ↑ Continuing Professional Development, AIA website
  5. ↑ Professional Qualification
  6. ↑ Audit Qualification
  7. ↑ List of participating universities
  8. ↑ List of RQBs and RSBs, Financial Reporting Council
  9. ↑ QCF levels
  10. ↑ Degree pathways
  11. ↑ Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA)
  12. ↑ Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants (IIPA)
  13. 1 2 http://www.iaasa.ie/publications/Annual_Report2012_Ch7.pdf
  14. ↑ International Accountant magazine

External links

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