How would you like to be an ACPA?

If you are a Philippine CPA, did you know that you may now apply for the ACPA (Asean Chartered Professional Accountant) title? Jun Cuaresma writes, in The Manila Times article, “And the Asean CPA is born . . .

To get the ACPA title, the provisions of the recognition agreement state that Filipino CPAs have to undergo initial qualification and eligibility screenings through the local Board of Accountancy (BoA) and/or the Philippine Institute of CPAs and then the ACPA Coordinating Committee would make the final approval.

Upon successful approval, the Filipino CPA will acquire the ACPA title and be accorded as a Registered Foreign Professional Accountant (RFPA) who then can, in all other nine Asean member states: (1) work as consultant or employee of commercial, industrial or educational entities, or (2) work as external auditor but in collaboration with designated external auditing firms in the host country.

Currently, Filipino CPAs can already work as accountants, auditors, consultants, etc., in countries among the Asean member countries and beyond, even without the ACPA title. Thus, I can’t imagine how this title can enhance one’s résumé.

So, unless a new and separate governing body is tasked to conduct qualifying exams (board exams) in lieu of the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission), I can’t see how else Filipino accountants will flock to acquire this title.

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Wilson March 3, 2016 Reply

I think this is a good thing for Filipino CPAs òr other ASEAN accountants as a platform for regional and worldwide recognition. I guess it would make it easier to convert to US CPA or UK ACA or any other accounting qualifications highly recognised around the world.

In my case in Australia, I have to start from scratch to get my Aussie CA (i.e. take all 5 CA modules). My counterparts/colleagues from US and UK were able to convert theirs without taking any exams at all, even the local tax and business laws which are relatively different to their home countries!

deuts March 3, 2016 Reply

As a stepping stone perhaps for other certifications. But wouldn’t you agree that it would put more weight on the title if there is a one and new governing body to screen the applicants and actually conduct the exams for all the 10 member countries?

Ambon21 March 3, 2016 Reply

Yeah I sort of agree with you regarding one body conducting the exams to add more credibility to the qualification. But I’m wondering how the specific countries’ Taxation and Business Laws are going to be addressed? Perhaps they conduct exams on general financial, management accounting and auditing, or ethics as these are universal across the world and the rest still sit with the home countries.

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