Global Positioning
How we delivered in 2008
1960s: A period of consolidation
The government introduces the first uniform national companies legislation in 1961. The Institute professionalises with the codification of Professional Conduct rules and the publication of the first Members’ Handbook. The first AARF research paper is published in A Statement of Australian Accounting Principles.
As a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), we continue to work closely with other pre-eminent international professional accounting bodies to shape the profession on a global scale.
Of the Institute’s 48,000 Chartered Accountants, 14 per cent are presently living overseas, spanning 119 countries from Canada to Kazakhstan.
As working overseas and connecting globally becomes an increasingly important part of everyday business, our GAA membership is delivering more and more opportunities for our members.
This year, for example, we gained recognition for our Chartered Accountants Program and reciprocal membership with eight institutes in Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, England and Wales, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa. This means members do not have to undertake bridging courses such as tax and company law to have their qualification recognised, or become reciprocal members of these institutes, when they move to a GAA country.
An Institute survey conducted during the year showed that 43 per cent of young accountants intended to travel overseas in the next two years. Of those, just less than half were younger than 25 years old. The results were similar to those of the 2006 survey.
The latest survey polled 680 of the 12,400 young accountants presently studying the Chartered Accountants Program.
The most popular destination at 66 per cent remained the UK, again the same as the 2006 survey. However, the second most popular destination was found to be Asia, pushing last year’s second choice, USA, to third place.
For GAA members living in Australia, we aim to provide home-away-from-home benefits that make the transition to working here seamless. To date, the Institute has received more than 2500 registrations from other GAA institute members to receive services from us.
The GAA’s focus for 2008 was on leadership and issues of convergence, in particular in the capital markets. We shared information, research and strategies on issues of relevance to the profession and collaborated on solutions for common challenges.
Individually and through the GAA we also continue to contribute to the International Federation of Accountants.
The GAA, formed in April 2006, is an alliance between:
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)
- Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
- New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA)
- South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
A global presence
The Institute’s education and training pathway is the preferred choice for industry professionals.
The Institute is leading the debate in the areas that matter most to business and the accounting profession. 
The Institute produces an invaluable suite of tools, guidance, products and services to help members in their work. 
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