Members' Handbook

The Members' Handbook provides essential information and sets out membership obligations for all members.

Firms registered with the ICAEW for audit or licensed by the ICAEW to undertake DPB activities should also refer to the 'Audit Regulations and Guidance' and the 'DPB Handbook'. Insolvency practitioners licensed by the ICAEW should refer to the 'Insolvency Licensing Regulations and Guidance Notes'.

The following documents are in PDF format and you will need a PDF viewer to access them. Download a free version of Adobe Reader

In addition to the individual sub-sections below, you can download the complete Members' Handbook as a zip file. Please note this is a large file and may take a few minutes to download:

Complete Members' Handbook (ZIP 3.5mb)

Introduction

• Foreword

  (PDF 38kb/1 page)

• Group Consumer Credit Licence

  (PDF 27kb/1 page)

• Keeping you up to date

  (PDF 38kb/1 page)

Section 1 Constitutional documents

• 1.1 Explanatory notes

  (PDF 43kb/2 pages)

• 1.2 Royal Charter of 11th May 1880

  (PDF 46kb/3 pages)

• 1.3 Supplemental Charter of 21st December 1948

  (PDF 65kb/10 pages)

• 1.4 Principal bye-laws

  (PDF 115kb/28 pages)

Section 2 Bye-laws, regulations and guidance relating to discipline

• 2.1 Disciplinary bye-laws

  (PDF 155kb/49 pages)

• 2.2 Investigation Committee regulations

  (PDF 57kb/8 pages)

• 2.3 Disciplinary Committee regulations

  (PDF 55kb/7 pages)

• 2.4 Appeal Committee regulations

  (PDF 60kb/9 pages)

• 2.5 The scheme adopted by the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board

  (PDF 32kb/1 pages)

• 2.6 The regulations adopted by the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board

  (PDF 32kb/1 pages)

• 2.7 The duty to report misconduct

  (PDF 59kb/7 pages)

• 2.8 The duty on firms to investigate complaints - guidance on how to handle or avoid them

  (PDF 67kb/10 pages)

• 2.9 Council guidelines on publicity for the disciplinary and regulatory processes

  (PDF 45kb/3 pages)

Section 3 Code of Ethics

• 3.1 Approach, scope and authority

  (PDF 58kb/4 pages)

• 3.2 General application of this Code (part A)

  Sections 100-150: Introduction and fundamental principles; Integrity; Objectivity; Professional competence and due care; Confidentiality; Professional behaviour; Appendix (PDF 84kb/14 pages)

• 3.3 Professional accountants in public practice (part B)

  Sections 200-290: Introduction; Professional appointment; Conflicts of interest; Corporate finance advice; Second opinions; Fees and other types of remuneration; Agencies and referrals; Marketing professional services; Gifts and hospitality; Custody of client assets; Objectivity - all services; Independence - assurance engagements;Appendix to 210 (PDF 260kb/79 pages)

• 3.4 Professional accountants in business (part C)

  Section 300-350: Introduction; Potential conflicts; Preparation and reporting of information; Acting with sufficient expertise; Financial interests; Inducements; Appendix (PDF 118kb/26 pages)

• 3.5 Definitions for Part A, B and C 

  (PDF 75kb/11 pages)

• 3.6 Insolvency practitioners (part D)

  Section 400: The practice of insolvency (PDF 97kb/20 pages)

• 3.7 Index

  (PDF 68kb/15 pages)

Section 4 Regulations relating to membership

• 4.1 Regulations governing the information to be supplied by members

  (PDF 42kb/2 pages)

• 4.2 Regulations governing the payment of the annual subscription

  (PDF 40kb/1 page)

• 4.3 Regulations governing the power to reduce, remit or refund fees and subscriptions

  (PDF 20kb/3 pages)

• 4.4 Regulations relating to membership cessation, re-admission and resignation

  (PDF 45kb/3 pages)

Section 5 Regulations relating to learning and professional development

• Section 5 contents

  (PDF 14kb/1 pages)

• 5.1 preliminary

  (PDF 29kb/4 pages)

• 5.1 Regulations relating to provisional members

  (PDF 49kb/7 pages)

• 5.1 First schedule: Entry routes

  (PDF 21kb/3 pages)

• 5.1 Second schedule: ACA assessment regulations

  (PDF 61kb/8 pages)

• 5.2 Regulations relating to ICAEW authorised training employers

  (PDF 32kb/4 pages)

• 5.3 Regulations relating to members

  (PDF 31kb/4 pages)

• 5.4 Regulations relating to non-ACA qualifications

  (PDF 41kb/5 pages)

• 5.5 Regulations relating to rights of appeal

  (PDF 20kb/2 pages)

Section 6 Regulations and guidance relating to practice

• 6.1 Council statement on public practice

  (PDF 597kb/10 pages)

• 6.2 Regulations governing corporate practice

  (PDF 45kb/2 pages)

• 6.3 Regulations governing the use of the description 'chartered accountants' and general affiliates of the ICAEW

  (PDF 92kb/15 pages) - Effective from 1 July 2009

• 6.4 Professional Indemnity Insurance regulations and guidance

  (PDF 121kb/26 pages)

• 6.5 Practice Assurance regulations

  (PDF 47kb/4 pages)

• 6.6 Clients' money regulations

  (PDF 69kb/11 pages)

Section 7 Guidance for all members

• 7.1 Professional conduct and disclosure in relation to defaults or unlawful acts

  (PDF 82kb/15 pages)

• 7.2 - This section has been deleted. See Section 9.5

• 7.3 Professional conduct in relation to taxation

  (PDF 198kb/52 pages)

• 7.4 Accountants and legal services

  (PDF 58kb/7 pages)

• 7.5 Acting as a trustee

  (PDF 82kb/14 pages)

Section 8 Guidance principally for members in business

• 8.1 Financial and accounting responsibilities of directors

  (PDF 306kb/90 pages)

Section 9 Guidance principally for members in practice

• 9.1 Managing the professional liability of accountants

  (PDF 89kb/17 pages)

• 9.2 Arrangements to cover the incapacity or death of a sole practitioner

  (PDF 46kb/3 pages)

• 9.3 The names and letterheads of practising firms

  (PDF 47kb/3 pages)

• 9.4 Documents and records: ownership, lien and rights of access

  (PDF 89kb/17 pages)

• 9.5 - Anti-money laundering guidance for the accountancy sector

  (PDF 443kb/130 pages)