A-Z of abbreviations

The directory of essential accountancy abbreviations is a unique product brought to you by the Library & Information Service at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

The directory aims to provide a central access point to abbreviations used in the accountancy profession and related fields. Included in the directory are the abbreviations of organisations, qualifications and other acronyms of accounting documents. The emphasis is on the UK, but the directory also includes the most important worldwide abbreviations. Alongside each abbreviation you will find a definition, a direct hyperlink where available, and in some cases notes to help clarify what has happened to an organisation or qualification.

Browse the Alphabetical Listings

To browse the listings, just click on the first letter of the abbreviation you are looking for, and you will be taken to the appropriate section of the listing to browse that section.

Search the Alphabetical Listings

To search the listings, just enter the abbreviation you are looking for eg. AAAI and then and press the 'Find abbreviation' button. If the abbreviation is listed in our index you will be taken directly to the definition. If the abbreviation cannot be found you will be taken to the top of the listing, with some suggestions and tips on locating the abbreviation you are looking for.

Enter abbreviation and press 'Find abbreviation'

If the search tool has been unable to locate an abbreviation matching your query the search will take you to the top of the directory. We would recommend that you then use the directory browse provided to go to the letter that the abbreviation began with, and see if there are any similar matches. If you are a member, and are still unable to locate the abbreviation you require just pick up the phone or send us an email, and the team of professionals at the Library Enquiry Desk will try and hunt your abbreviation down.

Suggestions

If you spot a national accountancy body or qualification that is missing from this directory, please let us know by e-mail to library@icaew.com.