Professional Associations
CIMA – Ghana – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
This is one of the influential body of professional accountants. It combines the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants to empower the world’s most highly-skilled accountants – CPAs and CGMAs – with the knowledge, insight and foresight to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges.
CIMA Global has its headquarters in London, UK. It was founded in 1919 and is regarded as one of the leading and largest professional body of management accountants in the world with over 106,000 certified members and over 280,000 students. CIMA unlock the full potential of management accounting which helps individuals and businesses become successful.
Qualification Offered: Chartered Management Accountant (CMA)
CGMA – Chartered Global Management Accountant
The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation is powered by AICPA (the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) and CIMA, two leading accounting organisations.
ICAG – Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.
Its mission is to produce professional accountants of the highest quality, provide cutting edge services to their clients at all times and upholding the ethical values of the accountancy profession.
Other Accounting Professional Bodies in the World
Every country in world has their own professional accounting bodies which regulate the profession in that country. But this is a list of some prominent accounting bodies among all of them, in terms of global acceptance, professional membership mode of training.
Established in 1880 by Royal Charter under Queen Victoria, ICAEW has trained and licensed over 181,500 professional members and students across 148 countries. While being a leading professional accounting institution, ICAEW also serves as a regulatory body for the profession, meaning that it has the powers to investigate and can hold both members and companies answerable to the law. It can also withdraw licenses of its members if found guilty of misconduct.
Qualifications Offered:
ICAEW Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA);
ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting, and Business (CFAB);
ICAEW Business & Finance Professional (BFP)
The institute was established in 1854 by Royal Charter, and has about 23,000 members. It functions as an industry regulator and thought leader, supervising the activities of its members and firms across over 100 countries, representing them on various issues in accountancy, business and finance, whilst always acting in the interest of the public.
Qualifications Offered: ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA)
Established in 1887, the AICPA represents the CPA profession in the United States and establishes regulations and standards for the profession for private companies, while monitoring and enforcing compliance. AICPA has over 429,000 members in 122 countries. Areas of practice for AICPA include business and industry, public practice, government, and education.
Qualifications Offered: Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Formerly referred to as the London Association of Accountants, ACCA was originally established in London in 1909. Since then, ACCA has an increasing presence in 52 countries with over 219,000 members and 527,000 students worldwide. ACCA is unique in a way that the term and designation “Chartered Certified Accountant” is used for only its members – none of the accounting bodies in the world have the same designation.
Qualification Offered: ACCA Qualification
Initially, the professional body was established by Royal Charter in 1988 as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. It is now the Chartered Accountants Ireland; the largest accountancy body in Ireland. It educates, represents, and supports its 27,000 members around the world across various sectors of the economy. The institute is committed to bringing back confidence at every level of the economy and collaborates with governments and businesses to sensitize the public on the need for smart financial advice.
Qualification Offered: Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA)
CPA Australia has a global membership of more than 164,695 members working in 150 countries and regions around the world. It is the largest professional accounting body in Australia in terms of membership. Its core services to members include education, training, technical support and advocacy.
Qualification Offered: Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).