Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Abbreviation ICAS
Predecessor

Edinburgh Society of Accountants, Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries,

Aberdeen Society of Accountants
Formation December 11, 1854 (1854-12-11)
Legal status Chartered body
Website www.icas.com

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is the Scottish professional body of Chartered Accountants (CAs). It is a regulator, educator and influencer.

ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professional business community. Although other British accounting bodies use the title Chartered Accountant, the CA designation is unique to ICAS in the UK.

ICAS has more than 21,000 members and students worldwide. ICAS provides support, advice and services to its CAs throughout their professional lives. ICAS members are business advisors, business leaders and entrepreneurs. They play leading roles in 80% of the FTSE 100 companies.[1] Half of ICAS members are based in Scotland; the other half work in England and around the globe.[1]

History

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is the world's first professional body of accountants, receiving its Royal Charter in 1854. The institute originated from:

  1. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants, formed in 1854;[2]
  2. The Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries, formed in 1854;[2]
  3. The Aberdeen Society of Accountants, formed in 1867.[2]

These three bodies merged to form the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 1951.[2] It was the first to adopt the designation "Chartered Accountant" and the designatory letters "CA" are still an exclusive privilege in the UK for members of the Scottish Institute.

Membership and Qualification

Admission to membership

It takes 3 years to qualify as a CA during which students will combine structured work experience with classroom-based study of relevant education syllabus. The training programme enables students to develop the professional knowledge, skills and attributes essential to qualify as a CA.

In order to be eligible to enter training to become a chartered accountant, prospective CA students must hold a UK degree (or overseas equivalent). The UK NARIC provides a service to individuals seeking confirmation on comparability between international qualifications and UK qualifications. In addition prospective CA students must obtain a training contract with an authorised employer.

Mutual recognition

The Institute has mutual recognition agreements in place with:

ICAS members may admit to full memberships of the above institutions after passing an aptitude test or subject to other specific requirements.

Members of equivalent bodies in other European Economic Area member states and Switzerland may also be admitted to membership after passing an aptitude test, provided they are a citizen of an EEA state or Switzerland.

A mutual recognition arrangement between the Institute and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) was put in place in 1996, but was terminated by ICAS in 2005.[3]

Role of ICAS

Under the Royal Charter, ICAS works in the public interest. The objective of ICAS is to uphold the integrity and standing of the profession of chartered accountancy in the interests of society and the membership, through excellence in education and the development of accountancy and through service to members and the enforcement of professional standards.

ICAS is a Designated Professional Body under the Financial Services and Markets Act, licensing firms of CAs to conduct a range of incidental investment business activities. It is a Recognised Professional Body under the Insolvency Act to issue permits to individual CAs to conduct insolvency appointments. ICAS is also a Recognised Qualifying Body and Recognised Supervisory Body in relation to company auditing under the Companies Act 1989.

ICAS is able to authorise members to conduct audit, insolvency and investment business work in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Luxembourg. This right is held in common with ACCA, ICAEW and the ICAI.

ICAS are a member of The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) – an alliance of the world’s leading professional accountancy bodies, which was formed in 2005. The GAA is intended to promote quality services, share information and collaborate on important international issues. It works with national regulators, governments and stakeholders, through member-body collaboration, articulation of consensus views, and working in collaboration, where possible with other international bodies, especially IFAC.

Disciplinary process

ICAS was hesitant to join the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board when it was first set up (as the AIDB),[4] but joined after approval by a special general meeting in October 2004.[5]

The AADB only hears matters considered to be in the public interest. The Institute conducts its own hearings into less substantial allegations. These used to be held in private, but ICAS resolved at a further special meeting in 2009 to follow the example of other bodies such as ICAEW to make the hearings public.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "About ICAS" (PDF). Submission from ICAS on Corporation Tax Reform. Scottish Parliament. 8 September 2011. p. 16. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Perks, R.W.(1993): Accounting and Society. Chapman & Hall (London); ISBN 0-412-47330-5. p.16
  3. ↑ "Fast-track membership of ICAS for CIPFA members ends". ICAS. 11 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
  4. ↑ ICAS cuts a solitary figure in opposition to AIDB, Financial Director magazine, 2 Sept 2004
  5. ↑ ICAS to join AIDB, Management Consultancy, 1 Nov 2004
  6. ↑ ICAS opts for public disciplinary tribunals, Accountancy Age, 4 March 2010

External links

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