The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is one of a number of professional associations for accountants in the UK (others include the ACCA, the ICAEW and CIMA). CIPFA has more than 15,000 members and 3,000 students and is the only accountancy body that specialises in the public services.

The Institute began life as the Corporate Treasurers’ and Accountants’ Institute in 1885, changing its name to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in 1973.

CIPFA is a member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, the umbrella organisation for the British accountancy profession. It also belongs to the International Federation of Accountants.

Designation

Members of CIPFA are entitled to style themselves Chartered Public Finance Accountant and use the designatory letters CPFA.

Mutual Recognition

• A mutual recognition arrangement between CIPFA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) was put in place in 1996, however this was terminated by ICAS in 2005.Details
• In Octobe 2005, CIPFA and the Society of Management Accountants of Canada announced a dual-designation program to allow Canadian public sector accountants to train to become Canadian Certified Management Accountants and obtain the CPFA designation in parallel. This is due to be launched in September 2006. Details (pdf)

External links / References

• http://www.cipfa.org.uk

British professional bodies | Accounting organizations | Accounting in the United Kingdom