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How ACCA continues to grow

2006 demonstrated that ACCA is developing its reputation in employment markets in all regions of the world, through growth, engaging with its members in 170 countries and working through prestigious new partnerships.

ACCA is also investing in its future through the development and launch of its new professional qualification, with its emphasis on professionalism and ethics.

The market leader

ACCA is now the international market leader by size in 47 markets and, based on independent surveys in 15 markets, it has increased its reputation among employers of accountants over the last five years. ACCA achieved its growth targets in 2006, with a 13.8% increase in total student numbers and 5.3% increase in total members.

All these achievements make ACCA the world's largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body.

Global impact

ACCA has achieved this position by focusing on global delivery and global opportunity. ACCA's global infrastructure means that exams and support are delivered at local level, together with reputation and influence building, directly benefiting stakeholders wherever they are based - or plan to move to in pursuit of new career opportunities. More importantly, ACCA has developed according to a unique set of values which set it apart in the accountancy profession - in particular, by championing opportunity, diversity and integrity.

Students worldwide choose ACCA

Growth was strong across all markets, with the fastest member growth in 2006 in South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe, including China, Ghana, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. ACCA's largest markets, including Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK, also showed healthy growth. The top 20 largest markets for ACCA members highlight its increasingly global profile, containing three countries from Central and Eastern Europe, five from Africa, and five from Asia Pacific.

Student growth was especially high in some regions in 2006. Six of ACCA's top 20 fastest-growing student markets in 2006 were in the Middle East and a further five in Central and Eastern Europe.

ACCA now has 296,000 students and 115,000 members in 170 countries.

What's in store for 2007?

ACCA will continue to develop and strengthen its reputation and influence as it meets the global demand for accountants with international skills.

The first exams for the new ACCA Qualification will be taken in December. An international series of conferences and events on the theme of professionalism and ethics is being held throughout the year, to mark the introduction of the new qualification.

ACCA will continue to pursue global accountancy partnerships which add value to its members and which are consistent with its aims and values - particularly in relation to enhancing global delivery and providing opportunity to people of ability and application, and in the areas of quality assurance and professional development.

The partnership between ACCA and Cambridge University English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) will come to fruition, with the first exams sessions for the Cambridge International Certificate in Financial English (Cambridge ICFE), this May.