IFA Granted Full Membership Status

Global recognition signed, sealed and delivered
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global body for the accountancy profession, has announced its decision to admit the IFA to full membership, at its annual Council meeting, held this year in Berlin.

Speaking from Berlin, David Woodgate, the IFA’s chief executive, said, ‘Full membership of IFAC represents the achievement of a major strategic milestone. We have demonstrated the quality of our institute, confirmed through an external, independent due-diligence process.’

Great news for IFA members and students

As a full member of IFAC, the IFA takes its place alongside the UK and Ireland’s six chartered bodies, as well as 135 national and regional accountancy organisations, representing 125 countries and jurisdictions.

For IFA members in practice or business, full IFAC membership for the IFA further demonstrates – to clients, employees, colleagues and business partners – that they belong to an organisation with proven high standards of:

• Financial and operational viability
• Governance
• Regulatory frameworks
• Support for members
• Professionalism and ethics

David Woodgate added, ‘We must not rest on our laurels. The challenge now is to continue developing our products and services, while providing the support our members demand and deserve. But that’s a challenge to which I’m sure that all at the IFA will rise.’

There will also be opportunities for IFA members to contribute to IFAC’s activities, through its influential committees, forums and special interest groups. The role of accountants in business, the specific needs of SMPs and the development of the profession in emerging and developing economies are just some of the issues on which IFA members might lend expert perspective.

IFAC’s announcement is also great news for IFA students, who can look forward to enhanced career prospects and extra kudos on their CVs, as a result of pursuing a qualification from the only non-chartered professional accounting body in the UK and Ireland to enjoy full membership of IFAC.

Find out more

• Look out for in-depth coverage of IFAC membership in the November/December issue of Financial Accountant
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