Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia

Australian professional body

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (the institute) was the professional accounting body representing Chartered Accountants in Australia before it merged with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants to become Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. It had over 61,000 members and some 12,000 students. It was one of three major legally recognised Professional Accountancy bodies in Australia. The others being CPA Australia and Institute of Public Accountants. It is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA). Members of the Institute are part of the international accounting coalition of the world's premier accounting bodies, the GAA. Chartered Accountants audit 100 per cent of the Top ASX listed companies in Australia. In November 2013 Members of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants voted yes on a proposal to create One New Institute: "Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand". New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) amalgamated to become Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

The Corporation of Accountants of Australia was granted the official coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1905. In 1906, the Corporation of Accountants of Australia and the Sydney Institute of Public Accountants moved to create a national accounting body of all practising public accountants in Australia.

In 1907, negotiations between the Corporation of Accountants of Australia, the Sydney Institute of Public Accountants and the Institutes in Melbourne, resulted in the formation of the Australasian Corporation of Public Accountants (ACPA) on 14 June. The ACPA membership was composed exclusively of practising public accountants. The ICAA was the first accountancy body outside the United Kingdom to receive a Royal Charter. On 26 October 1929 The Earl Marshal of England granted the current arms to the institute. The arms include the Latin motto 'Nec Timens Nec Favens' which translates to 'Without Fear or Favour'. The Institute now operates under a Supplemental Royal Charter (amended from time to time) granted by the Governor General on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 August 2005.

After voting on the merger with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants the bodies formed Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand 31 December 2014. CA ANZ is a professional body of over 120,000 Chartered Accountants around the world. CA ANZ focuses on the education and lifelong learning of its members, and on advocacy and thought leadership in areas of public interest and business.

To become a member of the institute, Chartered Accountants complete the Chartered Accountants Program which includes study of the Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA) and three years of practical experience. Entry to the Program is available for graduates who hold an accounting degree, however those holding non accounting degrees may also be permitted entry after some additional requirements are met.

To take this path you will have either a bachelor or master's degree in commerce, business or accounting from an Institute accredited Australian university. The commerce and business degrees will require a major in accounting, in order to qualify.

Chartered Accountants continue their education to ensure they are able to provide the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. A Chartered Accountant must complete a total of 120 hours of Continuing Professional Education every three years.

The institute collaborates with CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants in supporting the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB), founded in 2006. APESB publishes ethics related standards that must be followed by accountants in Australia based on the international standards published by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).