Practising Certificates

Practising Certificates

Didn't find your answer?

Today I have found myself in somewhat of a predicament!

I have an AAT practising license and have been providing full accounting services for a number of years for a handful of clients whilst being in full time employment in industry and studying for the ACCA qualification, I have previously worked in practice and became a member of the ACCA in 2007.

The majority of the practice work I have previously undertaken is outside the scope of the ACCA definition of public practice, and the remainder fits the criteria of “honorary”.

I have been approached by an existing book-keeping and payroll client to prepare his year end financial statements, which is obviously public practice and could not be classed as honorary by the ACCA definition – I approached the ACCA with regards to my existing practice license with the AAT (which clearly permits me to undertake this work) and my membership with the ACCA and what their rulebook may permit, the answer was that I am unable to practice under my AAT license without holding an ACCA practising certificate, as a result I have turned away work, and possibly lost a client!

Has anyone else been in this situation?

I am really quite frustrated by this, whilst I value my ACCA membership and I respect their rules with regard to public practice, I feel they are somewhat prohibitive, although the AAT is not a CCAB member, they are a professional accountancy body who deem me as a fit and proper person who has the competence to provide public practice services.

I currently work in industry and really enjoy my current role and salary! I have no plans to change jobs, I do not wish to work for an ACCA approved employer for two years simply to adhere to the ACCA requirements, particularly when the private work that I do is part time and I intend for it to stay that way.

I plan to communicate further with the ACCA on this issue, however I also plan to enquire about membership and practising requirements of the other professional accountancy bodies and consider switching bodies and/or cancelling my membership with the ACCA.

Any comments or advice would be gratefully received!

Anon

Replies (11)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By SE_Confused
27th Jan 2009 17:26

any progress
Hi there
have u made any progress with the ACCA? I am curious to find out as I will be in this situation shortly.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 16:24

Sure
I'm based in the Midlands if thats any good, and have clients all over.

My email is fellowcraft1 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 14:53

contact details
Fellowcraft

Where are you based?

Thanks (0)
x
By rockallj
03rd Dec 2008 14:20

Join the club!
Consider the possibility of resigning from the ACCA, or get their PC. Otherwise simply stick to bookkeeping, payroll and management accounts.

There's no point in taking it up with the ACCA as they will not budge.
I am afraid there are many of us in this draconian situation with the ACCA and we only have the choices listed above too.


Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 13:15

Anon
If you want to refer the client to me, you can do the donkey work and bill me for your time.

Alternatively can't you be employed by the company under PAYE, and submit the accounts/CT600 as part of your employment duties?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By nilesh_m
03rd Dec 2008 09:29

Approved employer
I think you may be getting confused between approved training centre and approved employer.

No, approved employer does not have to be in a practice.
Are you most senior in your company? Do you have a supervisor who is a qualified accountant?

Here is a link to FAQ to ACCA website.

http://www.acca.co.uk/members/professionalstandards/prac_info/practisingcertificates/faqs_uk

Also ring ACCA's professional standard on 0141 534 4175.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 09:06

Are you mad??
You have given up a potentially lucrative client and for what?

Are you actively going to pursue the ACCA practising certificate? doesnt sound like it, so why stay as a member and abide by their rules when AAT will let you do what you want to do right now??

You have 2 qualifications, why didnt you just resign from ACCA and practise under your AAT qualification and nothing else. There is nothing wrong with that and you'd save yourself a few quid in membership fees as well!

I'm ACCA myself and this really seems like a no brainer to me!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By rhangus.
02nd Dec 2008 22:56

Forget the CCABs
Nearly qualified through ACCA seems to count less than AAT membership. Proves the pt about not really needing to be qualified to do a job which some people seem to think is essential.

There are plenty people of sufficient quality who are not fully qualified but who are well capable of doing a good job in public practice. Why should u then cow tow to these bodies who will do nothing to promote to the public y it is better to be fully qualified. Most of the work in public practice can be done by fairly inexperienced and poorly trained people. So if they can do it so can a p/q with plenty experience so why need ICAS or ACCA etc just to rubber stamp in a meaningless manner?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
02nd Dec 2008 21:07

Approved employer
doesn't an approved employer - for practising purposes need to be in practice?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By pawncob
02nd Dec 2008 20:34

Nothing changes
I was faced with the same predicament 38 years ago.
I'd passed all the exams, but due to circumstances couldn't qualify for a practising certificate.Even though I was working for a partnership which had a FCA in it, because I was working in an office which didn't have, I couldn't get the experience.
Seems nothing changes.
Take the ACCA qualification and use it to obtain an equivalent qualification which doesn't have such stupid criteria.
(Can you still do this?)

Thanks (0)
avatar
By nilesh_m
02nd Dec 2008 20:34

Approved employer
You become a member in 2007 so you may have nearly two years post membership experience with current employer.

There is a possibility that if you ask your current employer to register as approved employer and request ACCA to back date approved employer registration. If ACCA agrees;

Then complete PCTR get your manger to sign off and you would get practising certificate.

Other option is find a local accountant to do the tax and final accounts work for you. You do the bookkeeping, payroll and vat. You can keep the acca membership.

I do not recommend to relinquish ACCA membership.

Thanks (0)