AAT and ACCA sign memorandum of understanding

L to R: Adam Harper, AAT's Director of Professional Development and Wyn Mears, Director of ACCA UK.

Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) sign memorandum of understanding (MoU)

The AAT and ACCA will sign a joint memorandum of understanding today (8 May 2008) in London that will drive the professional development agenda, benefiting each of the bodies' members and also the employers who offer AAT and ACCA qualifications.

Through this agreement, employer organisations already recognised by the ACCA Approved Employer programme will have the opportunity to become accredited by AAT under its equivalent scheme, without having to go through AAT's full assessment process. Likewise, employers accredited by AAT will be able to obtain ACCA Approved Employer status through an expedited process.

The agreement will mean that AAT members working for an ACCA Approved Employer will find it easier to meet their mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

The agreement also signifies the intention of ACCA and AAT to streamline accreditation processes for the benefit of individual members and employers alike, as well as promoting best practice in professional development for the benefit of employers and finance professionals.

Wyn Mears, director of ACCA UK, says: ''Making meaningful and relevant synergies with like-minded organisations is important to ACCA, so I am delighted that this memorandum of understanding is being signed today with AAT. It is excellent news for employers, members and students who will ultimately benefit from this joint arrangement.''

Adam Harper, Director of Professional Development at AAT says: ''The AAT is very pleased to have reached this agreement with ACCA, which will remove unnecessary bureaucracy and deliver real advantages to our members and their employers. It serves also to recognise the importance of CPD for all accounting and finance professionals, whatever their stage or level within the profession.''

For further information:

Helen Thompson, ACCA Newsroom
phone: +44 (0)20 7059 5759 / + 44 (0)7725 498 654
e mail: helen.thompson@accaglobal.com

Kate Martin
phone: + 44 (0) 20 7397 3170
e mail: kate.martin@aat.org.uk