ICAS ICAS logo

Quicklinks

  1. About Us

    Find out about who we are and what we do here at ICAS.

  2. Find a CA

    Search our directory of individual CAs and Member organisations by name, location and professional criteria.

  3. Careers

    Access current vacancies and understand what it’s like to work here at ICAS.

  4. Contact Us

    Get in touch with ICAS by phone, email or post, with dedicated contacts for Members, Students and firms.

Login
  • Annual renewal
  • About us
  • Find a CA
  • Careers
  • Contact us
  • Become a CA
  • CA jobs
  • SCABA
  • ICAS Foundation
  1. Members
    1. Become a member
    2. Manage my membership
    3. Benefits of membership
    4. Professional development
    5. Mentoring
    6. Member rewards
    7. CA jobs
    8. Area networks
    9. International communities
    10. Get involved
    11. CA Connect
    12. CA magazine
    13. Top Young CAs
    14. Career breaks
    15. The ICAS member app
    16. Newly admitted members 2020
    17. CA Wellbeing
  2. Become a CA
    1. How to become a CA
    2. Routes to becoming a CA
    3. CA Stories
    4. Find a training agreement
    5. Why become a CA
    6. Qualification information
  3. CA Students
    1. Studying with ICAS
    2. Timetables and exams
    3. Learning requirements
    4. Learning updates
    5. Learning blog
    6. Totum Pro | Student discount card
  4. Employers
    1. Become an Authorised Training Office (ATO)
    2. Resources for Authorised Training Offices (ATO)
    3. Professional entry
    4. Apprenticeships
  5. Thought leadership
    1. Technology
    2. Trust
    3. Talent
    4. Research
    5. CA Agenda podcast
    6. CA Agenda videos
    7. ICAS webinars
    8. CA Summit
  6. Professional resources
    1. Anti-money laundering
    2. Audit and assurance
    3. Brexit
    4. Charities
    5. Coronavirus
    6. Corporate and financial reporting
    7. Business and governance
    8. Ethics
    9. Insolvency
    10. Pensions
    11. Practice
    12. Public sector
    13. Sustainability
    14. Tax
  7. Regulation
    1. Complaints and sanctions
    2. Regulatory authorisations
    3. Guidance and help sheets
    4. Regulatory monitoring
  8. Governance
    1. At a glance
    2. Charter, rules and regulations
    3. Council
    4. Boards and key committees
    5. Public reporting
    6. Executive team
    7. Diversity
    8. Member research
  9. Contact us
    1. ICAS technical helpdesk
    2. ICAS logo request
  10. Careers
    1. Business centres
    2. Meet our team
    3. Benefits
    4. Vacancies
    5. Imagine your career at ICAS

What is a Chartered Accountant (CA)?

A Chartered Accountant (or CA for short) has trained with ICAS to reach the highest professional accountancy level and qualified for a successful career in business and beyond.

What’s the difference between an accountant and a Chartered Accountant?

In order to become ‘chartered’, an accountant must have trained with ICAS to reach the highest professional level, undertaken a minimum 450 days of rigorous training, followed our programme of expert tuition, and passed examinations in accountancy and business.

For a Chartered Accountant the hard work doesn’t end upon qualification. ICAS CAs commit to a process of continuous professional development that’s designed not only to advance their careers, but to ensure their professional skills and knowledge remain up-to-date no matter what industry or technology developments the future brings.

ICAS acts as an industry regulator to ensure the highest standards are met. Our Chartered Accountants and their firms are also bound by a Code of Ethics, which upholds a duty to consider the public interest and maintain the reputation of the accountancy profession over and above any personal self-interest.

What does a Chartered Accountant (CA) do?

Chartered Accountants (CAs) don’t just work for accountancy firms. That’s because the ICAS CA is a complete qualification informed by a broad-scope business syllabus.

Through a mix of study and practical workplace experience our CAs gain technical expertise in finance and accounting, alongside broader business skills in management, analysis, communication, presentation and ethics. As a result, ICAS Chartered Accountants are employed at the highest levels not only as accountants, but in a range of business-related roles.

Some of the main areas in which ICAS Chartered Accountants are employed include:

  • Private accountancy practice
  • Corporate finance
  • Audit
  • Tax accountancy
  • Business management
  • Forensic accountancy
  • Entrepreneurship

CA – an ICAS exclusive

Did you know that not all Chartered Accountants are equal? That’s because in the UK only Chartered Accountants who have qualified with ICAS can use the professional designation of ‘CA’ after their name.

The CA is an identifier that carries real weight throughout the international business community, commanding respect and opening doors of opportunity for our members, no matter where their careers might take them.

How to become a Chartered Accountant

You can become a Chartered Accountant (CA) by following one of a range of ICAS training routes, which includes options for school leavers, graduates, professionals and apprentices.

To study with ICAS you don’t need to have a degree or any previous accountancy or finance experience, and you’ll earn a competitive salary whilst you train.

Learn more

Become a CA hero image

How to become a Chartered Accountant (CA)

Find out how to become a CA, including the options for school leavers, graduates, professionals and apprentices.

Why you should become an ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA)

Learn why becoming a Chartered Accountant will lead to an extraordinary and rewarding career in business and beyond.

2021-01-freeagent - anotherreason 2021-01-freeagent - anotherreason
ICAS logo

Footer links

  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Privacy notice

Connect with ICAS

  • Facebook (opens new window) Facebook Icon
  • Twitter (opens new window) Twitter Icon
  • LinkedIn (opens new window) LinkedIn Icon
  • Instagram (opens new window) Instagram Icon

ICAS is a member of the following bodies

  • Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (opens new window) Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies logo
  • Chartered Accountants Worldwide (opens new window) Chartered Accountants Worldwide logo
  • Global Accounting Alliance (opens new window) Global Accounting Alliance
  • International Federation of Accountants (opens new window) IFAC
  • Access Accountancy (opens new window) Access Acountancy

Charities

  • ICAS Foundation (opens new window) ICAS Foundation
  • SCABA (opens new window) scaba
ICAS logo

Our cookie policy

ICAS.com uses cookies which are essential for our website to work. We would also like to use analytical cookies to help us improve our website and your user experience. Any data collected is anonymised. Please have a look at the further information in our cookie policy and confirm if you are happy for us to use analytical cookies: