ICAEW vs ACCA: what's the difference for my business?
By Kaiser Khan · Updated · 6 sources checked
ICAEW vs ACCA: side by side
| Feature | ICAEW | ACCA |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
| Professional title | Chartered Accountant | Chartered Certified Accountant |
| Letters after the name | ACA; FCA for fellows (can apply after 10 years) | ACCA; FCCA for fellows (after five years, with CPD) |
| Route to qualify | ACA: at least three years' training, including practical experience | Exams, three years' practical experience and an ethics and skills module |
| Can sign statutory audits | Yes, once registered with ICAEW for audit work | Yes, with the audit qualification and ACCA audit registration |
| Practising certificate and PI insurance | Usually both required for members in public practice | Certificate needed to run a practice; PI insurance compulsory for holders |
| Complaints | Complain to the firm first; ICAEW investigates misconduct, not fee disputes | Complain to the member first; ACCA investigates and can discipline |
| Where to check a member | ICAEW's Find a Chartered Accountant directory | ACCA's member search and firm directory |
Is an ICAEW accountant different from an ACCA accountant?
For most small-business work, not in any way that matters. Qualified ICAEW and ACCA members both prepare accounts, deal with tax and give business advice. They differ in the body they joined, the route they took and the title they use: ICAEW members are Chartered Accountants, while ACCA members are Chartered Certified Accountants.
ICAEW was established by Royal Charter in 1880. Its members put ACA after their name, or FCA once they become fellows. ACCA members use ACCA, or FCCA as fellows. Both titles include the word 'chartered', but they are different titles from different bodies, and an accountant should only use the one they hold. Both bodies expect members to keep their knowledge up to date through continuing professional development (CPD). Neither qualification outranks the other for a small business. A good ACCA accountant will suit you better than a poor ICAEW one, and the reverse is just as true. What matters more is their experience with businesses like yours, the services set out in your engagement letter, how they price the work and how quickly they reply.
Can ICAEW and ACCA accountants both do a statutory audit?
Yes, but membership alone is not enough. ICAEW and ACCA are two of the four Recognised Supervisory Bodies for UK statutory audit, alongside ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. An accountant from either body can sign an audit only once they, and their firm, are registered for audit work.
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) oversees statutory audit and delegates the registration and monitoring of auditors and audit firms to these bodies. ICAEW tells its members that regulated audit work needs registration with ICAEW. ACCA says a practising certificate is only one step towards becoming a statutory auditor: members also need the audit qualification and 'responsible individual' status. You can confirm audit status on the UK Register of Statutory Auditors. Many small companies never need an audit. GOV.UK says that, for financial years starting on or after 6 April 2025, a private company may be exempt if it has at least two of: turnover of no more than £15 million, assets of no more than £7.5 million, and 50 or fewer employees on average. You still need an audit if your articles say so, or if shareholders holding at least 10% ask for one.
How do I check an ICAEW or ACCA accountant is genuine?
Search the body's own directory before you sign anything. In UK law anyone can call themselves an accountant, so the word alone proves nothing. ICAEW runs a Find a Chartered Accountant directory. ACCA runs a member search by name and a separate firm directory. If you can't find someone, ask for their membership number.
An accountant who offers services to the public should also hold a practising certificate from their body and professional indemnity insurance. Ask about both, and get an engagement letter that sets out what they will do. ACCA notes that new entries and updates to its search can take up to 24 hours to appear. If something goes wrong, both bodies expect you to raise it with the accountant first. ICAEW suggests writing to your accountant and asking for a reply within 28 days. ACCA says your first step must be a formal complaint to the member. After that, either body can investigate misconduct and take disciplinary action. ICAEW does not deal with fee disputes and does not run a general compensation scheme. ACCA may refer some cases to its Conciliation Service.
How do the ICAEW and ACCA training routes differ?
ICAEW's ACA involves at least three years of in-depth training, including practical experience. ACCA asks students to pass its exams, complete three years' practical experience and finish its Ethics and Professional Skills module. Both routes lead to full membership, and both bodies expect members to carry on with CPD after they qualify.
Seniority shows in the letters. ICAEW associates (ACA) can apply for fellowship (FCA) after 10 years of membership. ACCA awards fellowship (FCCA) after five years of continuous membership with CPD compliance. So FCA and FCCA tell you how long someone has been a member. They do not tell you which body is stronger, and the two fellowship rules are not the same. For a client, the training route matters less than what the accountant has done since. Ask what kinds of clients they work with now, which software they use and who will handle your work day to day. If you are choosing a qualification to study rather than hiring an accountant, use ICAEW's and ACCA's own student pages instead.
People also ask
Is ACCA as good as ICAEW?
Both are serious professional qualifications, and neither body ranks above the other for small-business work. Both can register firms for statutory audit, and both require members in public practice to hold a practising certificate and insurance. Judge the individual accountant, not the body.
Is an ACCA a chartered accountant?
ACCA members and fellows are entitled to use the title 'Chartered Certified Accountant'. 'Chartered Accountant' is the title used by ICAEW members, and by members of ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland, so the two are different titles. Both are fully qualified, regulated accountants.
What do ACA and FCA mean after an accountant's name?
ACA means an associate member of ICAEW, a qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant. FCA means a fellow: associates can apply for fellowship after 10 years of membership. ACCA's equivalents are ACCA and FCCA.
Can an ACCA accountant audit my company?
Yes, if they hold ACCA audit registration, which needs the audit qualification and 'responsible individual' status as well as a practising certificate. You can check the UK Register of Statutory Auditors. Many small private companies are exempt from audit.
Do ICAEW and ACCA accountants have to be insured?
Yes, if they are in public practice. ICAEW members in public practice usually need a practising certificate and professional indemnity insurance, and ACCA makes this insurance compulsory for members who hold a practising certificate.
Should I train with ICAEW or ACCA?
This page is written for business owners hiring an accountant. In short, the ACA involves at least three years' training with practical experience, while ACCA combines exams, three years' practical experience and an ethics module. Compare the details on each body's own student pages.
Sources
- FRC: Recognition of RSBs and RQBs · checked 2026-10-21
- ICAEW: What is a Chartered Accountant? · checked 2026-10-21
- ICAEW: Become a fellow · checked 2026-10-21
- ACCA: Control and description requirements (guidance factsheet) · checked 2026-10-21
- ACCA: Do I need a practising certificate? · checked 2026-10-21
- GOV.UK: Audit exemptions for private limited companies · checked 2026-10-21
This article is general information for UK businesses, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and thresholds change — confirm current rules on GOV.UK or with a qualified accountant before acting. Fee figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.