CPA Australia

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CPA Australia

Industry

Accounting and Finance

Founded

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1886 as IIAV)

Head Office

Melbourne, Australia

Locations

Australia,

Europe,

Hong Kong,

China(mainly Beijing, Shanghai, andGuangzhou),

Indonesia,

Malaysia,

Singapore,

Vietnam, and

New Zealand,
London,United

Kingdom

Areas served

Global

President

Graeme Wade

CEO

Alex Malley

Members

150,000

Member's

CPA & FCPA

Designations

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.[1]

Founded in 1886, CPA Australia is one of the worlds largest accounting bodies, with more than
150,000 members across 121 countries.[2] 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 Australias 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. [3]
Contents
[hide]

1History

2Membership

3International affiliations
o

3.1Canada

3.2Europe

3.3Hong Kong

3.4India

3.5Singapore

3.6Sri Lanka

3.7Malaysia

3.8United Kingdom

3.9Others

4Arms

5See also

6References

7External links

History[edit]
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.[4]
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[edit]

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 sixyear period, successfully complete the CPA Program.
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 Australias
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.[5]

International affiliations[edit]

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[edit]

Certified General Accountants Canada

Certified Management Accountants Canada

Europe[edit]

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

CPA Ireland: Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland

Hong Kong[edit]

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants

India[edit]

Institute of Chartered Accountants India

Singapore[edit]

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

Sri Lanka[edit]

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka

Malaysia[edit]

Malaysian Institute of Accountants

United Kingdom[edit]

Aston University

Others[edit]
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.[6]

Arms[edit]
Arms of CPA Australia

Notes

The arms of CPA Australia consist of:[7]

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 representatio
Motto
Integrity
Symbolism
The T formed by the fess and pale represents a double-sided account, and

See also[edit]

International Qualification Examination