Employer roles and responsibilities

All organisations wanting to train ACA students need to be an ICAEW authorised training employer (ATE). Each ATE works to a set of ICAEW training standards designed to help ensure consistency of training and support for all students wherever they work. Employers have a number of roles and responsibilities to fulfil as part of this process.

These should not be overly onerous for employers but must be taken seriously.  These roles may be performed by one or a number of people - depending on the size of your organisation and the number of ACA students.

Qualified person responsible for training (QPRT)

The qualified person responsible for training (QPRT) is required to manage the delivery of ACA training within your organisation and is usually the main point of contact with ICAEW. The QPRT takes an active lead in the development of students and ensures organisations maintain ICAEW training standards.

• Role and responsibilities of a QPRT

Person responsible for training (PRT)

The role of person responsible for training (PRT) only exists in a subsidiary office within a ‘training office group’ (TOG). The person responsible for training (PRT) carries out the same function as a qualified person responsible for training (QPRT).

• Role and responsibilities of a PRT

Counsellor

The role of counsellor usually exists in mid-sized or larger organisations, as a support to the QPRT, where it would be unreasonable or impossible for the QPRT to support each ACA student through their training.

• Role and responsibilities of a counsellor

ACA student manager

The ACA student manager is responsible for administration and monitoring of exam training (in larger organisations). The ACA student manager is the person that a student reports to when carrying out a particular task or assignment. They do not have to be a member of a professional accountancy body, or have direct line manager responsibility for that student.

• Role and responsibilities of an ACA student manager

Adviser to the QPRT

All authorised training employers (ATEs) must appoint a qualified person responsible for training (QPRT). If the QPRT is not an ICAEW member, then the QPRT will need to nominate an ICAEW member to acts as an adviser. This will ensure access to key ICAEW resources and support that can help your organisation and students.

• Role and responsibilities of an Adviser to the QPRT