Who we are and what we do

Welcome to the Institute.  We are the professional body for Chartered Accountants in Australia and members operating throughout the world.

Representing more than 70,000 professionals and business leaders, the Institute has a pivotal role in upholding financial integrity in society. Members strive to uphold the profession’s commitment to ethics and quality in everything they do, alongside an unwavering dedication to act in the public interest.

Chartered Accountants hold diverse positions across the business community, as well as in professional services, government, not-for-profit, education and academia. The leadership and business acumen of members underpin the Institute’s deep knowledge base in a broad range of policy areas impacting the Australian economy and domestic and international capital markets.

Established by Royal Charter in 1928, the Institute today has more than 58,000 members and around 12,500 talented graduates working and undertaking the Chartered Accountants Program.

The Institute operates under a Supplemental Royal Charter (PDF, 466KB) (amended from time to time) granted by the Governor-General on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II on 22 August 2007.

The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven members who are elected by Chartered Accountants on regional registers and up to four Board appointed members. Directors and regional councillors will be elected for a three year term, with one-third of the positions on the Board and Regional Councils being up for election each year. The President and Deputy President are elected annually by the Board.

Article last updated 23 February 2012