Interested in going into Accounting or Audit Practice?
Becoming an Accountant in Practice
The Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants welcomes Professional Accountant from other bodies.
As you seek to expand and develop your career you may decide that it is time for you to go out on your own. This is where the IIPA can help. Our Institute offers the opportunity to Accountants who are members of any of the major* accounting bodies to enter into public practice as an Accountant, and in certain circumstances as a Registered Auditor.
Becoming an Accountant in Practice
In order to qualify for an Accounting Practising Certificate and become a Member in Accounting Practice of the IIPA you must satisfy a number of criteria:
- Be a member of the IIPA*
- Demonstrate that you have sufficient skills and experience to operate as an accountant in practice
- Agree to undertake the Accounting Practice and Operation Training
- Agree to the conditions of membership regarding continuing professional development, continuity of practice and professional indemnity insutance
To apply for membership and an accounting practising certificate you need to complete the accounting practice application form.
*Automatic membership of the institute is open to members in good standing of the following Professional Accounting Bodies:
- Association of Certified Chartered Accountants
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Ireland
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales
- Association of International Accountants
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
Becoming a Registered Auditor
Apply for approval to act as a Company Auditor
The IIPA is a "Recognised Accountancy Body" as defined by the Companies Act 1990. This means that the Institute is permitted to authorise members and / or firms to perform company audits subject to certain conditions. In order to qualify for authorisation as a company auditor by the IIPA you must satisfy a number of criteria:
- Be a member of the IIPA
- Have two years post qualification experience with any recognised accountancy body*
- Have undergone appropriate training under the direction of a Registered Auditor. You must complete a training record (included in the audit practice application form).
- Agree to the conditions of membership regarding continuing professional development, continuity of practice, and professional indemnity insurance
To apply for membership and an audit practising certificate you need to complete the Audit Practice Application Form. Qualifying for an audit practising certificate also entitles you to engage in accounting practice.
* The following bodies are "Recognised Accountancy Bodies"as defined in section191 of the Companies Act 1990:
- Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants
- Association of Certified Chartered Accountants
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Ireland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales
A Better Membership Experience
How will you find your interaction with the IIPA?
The largest membership profile type in the IIPA is the Registered Audit and Accouting Practice. This is a practice which is run by either a single principal or a partnership of two principals. Accordingly our technical, monitoring and compliance requirements match that member profile.
We in the IIPA recognise that small firms auditing in the Small and Medium Enterprise sector operate best when they operate in an appropriate regulatory environment. We we carefully balance the reporting and monitoring functions that need to be undertaken to ensure proper regulation of Registered Auditors against the needs of the small auditing firm not to be bound up in red tape which takes from their ability to undertake value adding work.
Members coming from other Accounting Bodies will find a refreshing approach to regulation from the IIPA.