CPA Australia

CPA Australia is one of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a global membership of more than 164,695 members (as at 31 December 2018) working in 150 countries and regions around the world.

Our core services to members include education, training, technical support and advocacy. Employees and members work together with local and international bodies to represent the views and concerns of the profession to governments, regulators, industries, academia and the general public.

Our Vision

Partnering with members to prepare for today and tomorrow in a globally connected world.

Our Purpose

Advancing trusted and valued accounting and business professionals who enhance their communities.

What is a CPA?

A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) is a finance, accounting and business professional with a specific qualification. Being a CPA is a mark of high professional competence. It indicates a soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accountancy knowledge.

CPAs are widely regarded by employers and members. It provides members with an internationally recognised qualification as well as the opportunity to complete specialist training and continuing professional development (CPD). To use the CPA designation, a member must:

• complete a degree or a postgraduate award recognised by CPA Australia
• complete the CPA Program, including three years of professional experience in finance, accounting or business
• undertake CPD activities each year
• comply to a strict code of conduct set by CPA Australia.

To offer public accounting services, CPAs must also complete CPA Australia’s Public Practice Program and hold a public practice certificate in accordance with the CPA Australia’s By-Laws.

Indigenous Accountants Australia project

CPA Australia, along with other professional accounting bodies are looking to address the under-representation of Indigenous Australians within the accounting profession.

The Indigenous Accountants Australia initiative sees the accounting bodies using their extensive networks, knowledge and expertise to encourage more students, particularly those at, or about to enter, tertiary level studies to consider an accounting qualification as a stepping stone to a professional and rewarding career.

A key element of the initiative is relationship building – connecting with other organisations involved in programs focused on the Indigenous community, businesses and accountants who can assist students in their professional development and offer support.  Get involved to act as a mentor, provide work experience or utilise the opportunity to fill vacancies within your organisation through the below mediums.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Join the Indigenous Accountants Australia network

Volunteering leave is available to all employees who want to contribute to the community through the employee volunteering program.

Mentor the Treasurer Program

In partnership with Pro Bono Australia, we now offer qualified CPA Australia members the opportunity to add value to their community through the Mentor the Treasurer program.

Through this unique program, qualified CPAs volunteer their time and expertise to mentor treasurers of small not-for-profit organisations. Mentors will be able to build and broaden their skill-sets and personal and professional networks, along with gaining valuable insights in to different not-for-profit organisations and activities.

As a not-for-profit mentee, participation in the program offers treasurers the opportunity to benefit from CPA Australia members’ professional support and guidance which in turn enables the acquisition of new skills and knowledge to fulfill the requirements of the treasurer role.

If a mentee organisation already employs a CPA as their treasurer but still require access to the mentoring tools, you may apply to be a mentor and gain access. Assistance and mentoring under the Mentor the Treasurer program is provided free of charge.

Find our more:  https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/member-services/mentor-the-treasurer

CPA Australia global research perspectives program:

The GRPP is CPA Australia’s annual research grants program. Its aim is to encourage and support quality applied research worldwide that is relevant to CPA Australia, instructive of our members, the wider accounting profession, the global business community, governments, regulators, and policy setters.

CPA Australia actively seeks to foster bold and innovative applied research that addresses “big questions” and “wicked problems”, which creates knowledge, drives innovation, informs policy decisions, and is in the public interest.

In 2019 CPA Australia will fund three different categories of GRPP grants, with funding to be provided from 1 January 2020.

1. Commissioned thought leadership research grants on specific themes
   Up to two grants per annum will be commissioned by CPA Australia with funding of up to AUD$60,000 per project. This amount includes any relevant taxes, for example, Australian GST.
2. Priority research grants on “hot topics”
   Up to four grants per annum for funding research projects on “hot topics” identified by CPA Australia, with funding of up to AUD$40,000 per project. This amount includes any relevant taxes, for example, Australian GST.
3. Priority research grants on “hot topics” for emerging researchers only, with supervision by a senior researcher as project mentor
   Up to four grants per annum for funding research projects undertaken by emerging researchers (only), according to the criteria for identifying “emerging academics” (see eligibility for funding), on “hot topics” identified by CPA Australia, with funding of up to AUD$15,000 per project. This amount includes any relevant taxes, for example, Australian GST.

The funding available for GRPP projects for research undertaken in 2020 is up to $300,000 in total, including any relevant taxes.

Find out more:  https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/academics/global-research-perspectives-program

CPA Australia and Australian Scholarship Foundation scholarship

CPA Australia and the Australian Scholarship Foundation (ASF) offer up to five scholarships annually. The purpose of the scholarship is to enable managers and financial officers of registered charitable organisations to enhance their knowledge and skills to further contribute to the management and accountability of charitable not-for-profit organisations. The scholarship entitles recipients to exemption from all CPA Program subject fees.

The scholarship application is available through the Australian Scholarships Foundation website.

Closing date for applications is Friday 25 October.

Read about one of the past CPA Australia and ASF scholarship recipients.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships

CPA Australia sponsors up to five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships. The scholarships aim to help people to meet the educational requirements for CPA status. The scholarship entitles recipients to exemption from all CPA Program subject fees and a full three (3) years of ASA membership fees waived, at Associate level. Full ongoing tuition will be offered to two scholarship holders per year. Tuition will be provided by PDL Academy in the form of weekly classes.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship information and application form (PDF)

Māori scholarships

CPA Australia is offering up to two scholarships annually for students of Māori descent. The scholarships will be awarded each October to the best-qualified applications based on tertiary academic results and will assist recipients to meet education requirements needed to attain CPA status. Scholarship recipients will be exempt from all CPA Program subject fees and first year membership fees as an Associate (ASA).

Closing date for applications is Saturday 31 August.

Māori scholarship information and application form (PDF)

Not-for-profit scholarship New Zealand

CPA Australia offers up to two scholarships annually for professionals working in the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand. The scholarship will assist recipients to meet the educational requirements needed to attain CPA status. Scholarship recipients will be exempt from all CPA Program subject fees and from the first year’s membership fees as an Associate (ASA).

Closing date for applications is Saturday 31 August.

Not-for-profit scholarship New Zealand information and application form (PDF)

Oceania Regional Scheme

The Oceania Regional Scheme was established to facilitate nationals of select Oceania countries to undertake the CPA Program. It eases the financial burden for eligible individuals by offering subsidised assessment, exam, enrolment and membership fees.

Find out more about the Oceania Regional Scheme.

For more information:  https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/cpa-program/cpa-program-candidates/scholarships

Australia’s not-for-profit sector is large and diverse. It has a strong history of helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people across a range of areas. There are approximately 600,000 not-for-profits in Australia, 54,000 of which are charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The ACNC’s annual Australian Charities Report recently found that combined income of Australia’s registered charities is over $134 billion, the equivalent of 8.3 per cent of Australia’s GDP.

Capacity International

Capacity International’s vision is to improve and enhance the social and business impact of social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations by supporting and facilitating their capacity development.

Since 1997, Capacity International, an independent boutique consultancy, has worked in partnership with government, non-government organisations (NGOs) and business in Australia and internationally

Capacity International offers a flexible, tailored learning and development product designed to augment and enhance existing courses, which of necessity are of a more generic nature. The areas covered include particular areas of interest to social enterprises such as governance, measurement and evaluation, and practical business issues faced by social enterprises.

Accounting for international development

CPA Australia supports Accounting for International Development’s (AfID) work and opportunities available to members worldwide. AfID is a multi-award winning social enterprise based in the United Kingdom that offers experienced finance professionals the opportunity to use their skills to make a genuine difference as volunteers and to gain rewarding hands-on international development experience.

Australian Volunteers International

Australian Volunteers International is an Australian not-for-profit organisation committed to achieving economic and social development outcomes across the Asia-Pacific and the world.