A to Z of accountancy abbreviations

Associate of the Society of Commercial Accountants (1942-1974)

Accounting for Sustainability

Accountant-administratieconsulent

(Netherlands)

American Accounting Association

also

Accountants and Auditors Association (United Arab Emirates)

also

Authority of Audit and Accounting (Lithuania) until 1 January 2016 when it merged with two other bodies to form the Authority Of Audit, Accounting, Property Valuation And Insolvency Management (AVNT).

Associate of the Institute of Administrative Accountants

(no longer a valid qualification- the body is now called Institute of Financial Accountants, and their qualification is AFA).

Associate of the Association of Accountancy Practitioners

Association for Accountancy & Business Affairs

Audit and Assurance Council

(formerly the Auditing Practices Board)

Associate of the Association of Certified Book-Keepers

Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board

Association of Accountants, Financial Workers and Auditors of Republic of Macedonia

Airline Accounting Guidelines

(issued by the International Air Transport Association)

Associate of the Association of International Accountants

Associate of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting

(Formerly the American Association of Hispanic Certified Public Accountants)

Accredited Asset Management Specialist (US)

(from the College for Financial Planning)

Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions

Association of Accountancy Practitioners

Address: 74 Bradford Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 8LU Tel: 07880 623455

Association of Authorised Public Accountants

A subsidiary company of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

also

Associate of the Association of Authorised Public Accountants

Australian Accounting Research Foundation

Australian Accounting Standard

Australian Accounting Standards Board

also

Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (Canada)

Australian Associated Stock Exchange

Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board

(SLAASMB Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board)

Auditing and Assurance Standards Oversight Council (Canada)

known in French as the Conseil de surveillance de la normalisation en audit et certification (CSNAC).

Association of Accounting Technicians

Auditing Board of the Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland

It was replaced by the Audit Oversight Unit (AOU) in 2015.

Association of British Accountants in France

Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of South Africa

Association of British Independent Accounting Firms

ABIAF was dissolved on 6 January 2015.

Association of British and Irish Accountants in Luxembourg

Accountancy Board of Malta

Accounting Bodies Network

Alternative Business Structure 

Accredited in Business Valuation (US)

(from AICPA)

Association of Accountancy Bodies of West Africa

Accounting Council

(Formerly Accounting Standards Board)

Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

also

Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

Asociaţia Contabililor şi Auditorilor Profesionişti din Republica Moldova

(Association of Professional Accountants and Auditors of the Republic of Moldova)

Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers

Association of Chartered Accountants in the US

Association of Certified Book-Keepers

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

(Member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies)

also:

Associate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Associate of the Institute of Cost and Executive Accountants

Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

American College of Forensic Examiners International

Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

(now the London Institute of Banking & Finance )

The Associateship Course

(Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland)

Association of Charity Independent Examiners

Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute

Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

(since 2019 The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland)

Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

also

Associate of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan

also

Associate Cost and Management Accountant of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India

Associate of the Chartered Management Institute

Associate of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland

also

Associate of the Association of Certified Public Accountants (International)

also

Affiliated Conference of Practicing Accountants International

also

Associate of the Association of Certified Public Accountants

(formerly known as the Corporation of Public Accountants)

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Singapore)

or

Associate of the Corporation of Registered Accountants

(a designation of the Corporation of Accountants, 1891-1939)

Accounting Standards Board (Canada)

Accounting Standards Executive Committee (US)

(now known as the Financial Reporting Executive Committee)

Association of Corporate Treasurers

also

Association for Computers and Taxation (US)

Associate of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants (1919 – 1972)

Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority

Advanced Diploma in International Taxation

offered by the Chartered Institute of Taxation

Asociacion Espanola de Contabilidad y Adminsitracion de Empresas

(Spanish Association of Accounting and Business Administration)

Audit Engagement Partner

or

Accredited Estate Planner (US)

(from the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils)

Associate of the Institute of Financial Accountants

Associate of the Association of Financial Controllers and Administrators

Autoriteit Financiële Markten (Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets)

Advanced Financial Planning Certificate

African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions

African Organization of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions

Associate of the Federation of Tax Advisers

Association of Government Accountants (US)

Accountants Group in Germany

Association of International Accountants

Associate of the Institute of Company Accountants (1928-1974)

Associate of the Institute of Certified Book-Keepers

Associate Member of the Institute of Credit Management

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

or

Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

Accountancy Investigation and Discipline Board

(was also the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board)

Association of Independent Financial Advisers

Associate of the Institute of Financial Planning

Associate of the ifs School of Finance

Associate of the Institute of Indirect Taxation (IIT)

The IIT merged with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in 2012

Associate of the Institute of Management Consultancy

(which merged with the Institute of Business Advisers in 2007 to form the Institute of Business Consulting,

which was renamed Institute of Consulting in 2011.)

Previous qualification of the Institute of Management

(now the Chartered Management Institute).

For the current membership qualification, see CMI.

Association for Investment Management and Research

(now the CFA Institute)

Accountants International Study Group

Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants

Audit Inspection Unit

now the Audit Quality Review Team

Associate of the Life Insurance Association

now the Personal Finance Society

Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (US)

formerly the American Association of Hispanic Certified Public Accountants

Associate member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers

Affiliate member of the Association of International Accountants

Agencija za javni nadzor nad revidiranjem

(Agency for Public Oversight of Auditing, Slovenia)

Accountancy National Training Organisation

(Closed on 31 March 2002 it was taken over by the Accountancy Occupational Standards Group)

Auditing Oversight Authority (Slovak Republic)

Auditors Oversight Board (Egypt)

Audit Oversight Board (Malaysia)

German Auditor Oversight Commission (Abschlussprüferaufsichtskommission

The term of office of the Auditor Oversight Commission (AOC) expired on 16 June 2016.

Accountancy Occupational Standards Group

The AOSG was an independent organisation formed by four of the main professional accountancy bodies (AAT, CIMA, CIPFA and ICAEW) for the development and promotion of national occupational standards in accountancy and the continuation of key activities previously managed by ANTO.

In April 2008 the functions of AOSG were transferred to the Financial Services Skills Council - see FSSC.

Asian-Oceanian Standard-Setters Group

Association of Practising Accountants

German Auditor Oversight Commission (Abschlussprüferaufsichtskommission, APAK)

The term of office of the Auditor Oversight Commission (AOC) expired on 16 June 2016.

Auditing Practices Board (formerly the Auditing Practices Committee)

also

Accounting Principles Board (US)

Auditing Practices Committee

(replaced by the Audit and Assurance Council)

Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers

now The Wealth Management Association (WMA)

Association des Comptables du Tresor Public

(Association of the Accountants of the Treasury - France)

Association of Professional Financial Advisers

formerly known as the Association of Independent Financial Advisers.

Associate of The Personal Finance Society

Associate of the Pensions Management Institute

Associacao Portuguesa de Tecnicos de Contabilidade

(Portuguese Association of Accountants)

Association of Partnership Practitioners

Accountancy Profession Strategic Forum

Audit Quality Forum 

Audit Quality Review

Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions

Accounting Research Bulletin

(from AICPA)

Accounting Regulatory Committee

Professional associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

now MRICS

Auditor Regulatory Sanctions Procedure

Accredited Senior Appraiser (US)

(from the American Society of Appraisers)

Associate of the Society of Accountants and Auditors

(this body was later known by the names: Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors, Society of Incorporated Accountants). No longer an active qualification (the Society was dissolved in 1957 and members joined the ICAEW, ICAI and ICAS).

Accounting Standards Advisory Forum

Accounting Standards Board

(formerly the Accounting Standards Committee)

also

Auditing Standards Board (US)

(AICPA technical committee for auditing, attestation and quality control)

Accounting Standards Committee (now the Accounting Council of the FRC)

also

Accounting Skills Certificate (ICAEW)

Associate of the Institute of Company Accountants (1990-2003)

also

Associate of the Society of Company and Commercial Accountants (1974-1990)

also

Arab Society of Certified Accountants

Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants

Associate of the Society of Financial Advisers

now the Personal Finance Society

Australian Securities and Investment Commission

Auditing Special Interest Group of the British Accounting & Finance Association

Arab Sustainability Leadership Group

Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions

Associate of the Society of Practising Accountants

(located at the Corporation of Public Accountants/Association of Certified Public Accountants at 52, Market Street, Wigan, Tel:01942 510145)

Accounting Series Releases

(from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

American Society of Women Accountants

Changed its name in Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance in 2013

Authorised Training Employer  

Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation

(from 1 Jan 2003 existing members can call themselves either ATII or CTA. New members must call themselves CTA.)

Authorised Training Principal

Member of the Association of Taxation Technicians

Audit Regulatory Committee

Auditing Standards Board (Canada)

Accredited Valuation Analyst (US)

(from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts)

Authority of Audit, Accounting, Property Valuation and Insolvency Management

American Women's Society of CPAs joined AICPA in 2017

Board of Accreditation of Accountancy Educational Courses

(Disbanded March 2001)

Bristol and District Chartered Accountants' Student Society 

British Association of Hospitality Accountants

now Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA)

Business Advice Service

and

Board for Actuarial Standards

Business, Accounting and Skills Education

national business competition from ICAEW aimed at sixth form students

Beds, Bucks and Herts District Society of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW)

Beds, Bucks & Herts Chartered Accountants' Student Society 

Birmingham Chartered Accountants' Student Society

Associate Parliamentary Group on Business, Finance and Accountancy

Business Finance Advice Scheme

Business Finance Professional

(ICAEW)

Beijing Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Bradford and District Chartered Accountants' Student Society 

Business Sustainability Programme

(from ICAEW)

Birmingham and West Midlands Society of Chartered Accountants 

Chester and North Wales Chartered Accountants' Student Society 

Chartered Accountant

eg Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland or Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

formed by the merger of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2014.

Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association

Chartered Accountants for Business in Wales 

Chartered Accountants' Charities Investment Pool

Camera Auditorilor Financiari din Romania

(Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania)

Chartered Accountants Ireland

formerly known as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

Chartered Accountants Independent Financial Services

also

Chartered Associate of the ifs School of Finance

Chartered Accountants Joint Ethics Committee

General Charitable Trust of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Chartered Accountants' Library Limited

Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants

Committee on Accounting for Public-benefit Entities

Chartered Accountants' Permanent Education Trust

Center for Audit Quality

Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board (Ireland)

The Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board (CARB) ceased on 22 May 2020 and was replaced by the Professional Standards Board

Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions

Chinese Accounting Standards

Chartered Accountants' Student Society Huddersfield

Chartered Accountants' Student Society of London

Certified Accounting Technician (ACCA)

and

Chartered Accountants' Trustees Ltd

Chartered Accountants' Trust for Education and Research

Certified Bank Auditor (US)

designation from Bank Administration Institute

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies

The major accountancy bodies in the UK and Ireland first joined together in 1974 to form the CCAB. It provides a forum in which matters affecting the profession as a whole can be discussed and co-ordinated and enables the profession to speak with a unified voice to the government. Currently made up of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW); the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS); the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI); the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

CCAB Ethics Group

CCAB European Issues Task Force

now CCAB FEE

CCAB International Issues Task Force

formerly CCAB IPCC

CCAB International Policy Coordinating Committee

now CCAB IITF

Cumberland Chartered Accountants' Student Society 

Certified Cash Manager (US)

(from the Association for Financial Professionals)

Certified Computing Professional (US)

(from Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals)

Conseil Canadien sur la Reddition de Comptes

Certified Documentary Credit Specialist

(from the ifs School of Finance)

Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance

(from ACCA)

Chartered Director

qualification from the Institute of Directors in the UK

Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies

Certified Employment Benefits Specialist (US)

(from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans)

Corpul Expertilor Contabili si Contabilior Autorizati din Romania

(Romanian Association of Certified Chartered Accountants)