Our certificates explained
Once you have searched for an accountant or accountancy firm, you will see if the member or firm holds any certificates or has a classification.
On this page, we explain what these certificates are. Use the options on this page to find out more.
Member certificates
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ACCA practising certificate
Members who wish to provide general accountancy services to individuals or businesses must hold an ACCA practicing certificate.
A practising certificate is a licence to practise and it allows members to offer a range of general accountancy services. These include: preparing accounts and tax returns; providing tax advice; planning accounts and cashflows for use by banks and other lenders; and providing business advisory services.
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Statutory auditor status
A statutory auditor is a member approved to carry out company audits. An ACCA member in the UK or Ireland who wishes to undertake this work must hold an audit qualification and the firm in which they work must be a statutory audit firm.
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Insolvency licence
An insolvency licence allows a member to be appointed in relation to formal insolvency procedures such as administrations, liquidations, individual voluntary arrangements and bankruptcies.
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Registered practitioner
Members who are carrying on public practice in a country or jurisdiction where an ACCA practising certificate is not required must notify ACCA and they will be placed on a register of ACCA practitioners. Such members must confirm to ACCA that they have complied with any local legislative and/or regulatory requirements to be eligible to carry on public practice.
An ACCA practising certificate is only required for members carrying on public practice in a designated territory or in a territory where there is some local legislative and/or regulatory requirement to hold an ACCA practising certificate.
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Authorised legal activities individual - probate
Members who wish to provide probate services must hold a legal activities qualification.
Firm certificates
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Regulated to undertake a range of credit-related regulated activities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
This enables firms to carry out a limited range of consumer credit activities, known as credit-related regulated activities, without having to obtain direct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
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Registered as auditors in the UK/Ireland by ACCA
This means that the firm is approved to carry out statutory audits of companies in the UK/Ireland.
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Regulated to undertake a range of investment business activities by ACCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
This enables firms to carry out a limited range of regulated activities, known as exempt regulated activities, without having to obtain direct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
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Authorised to conduct investment business under the Irish Investment Intermediaries Act 1995
This enables firms in Ireland to carry out investment business services.
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Registered by ACCA to carry on probate activities under the Legal Services Act 2007
This enables firms to provide probate services in the name of the firm.
Firm classifications
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Wholly composed of Chartered Certified Accountants
This means that all the partners/directors in the firm are members of ACCA.
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Available for continuity of practice
This means that the firm is prepared to provide continuity of practice arrangements.
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Contain ACCA insolvency licence holders
This means that the firm contains at least one individual who holds an insolvency licence from ACCA.