Just had a client asking if I could sign to vouch that he is who he says he is for a new passport application.
On the list of those allowed to sign was an Accountant, which as it stands, I believe I am, i'm AAT qualified (MAAT). What I wondered is does accountant mean a Chartered Accountant and how do they check if we are qualified and who with. I have a friend who is a CIMA Accountant (not in practice) and told me that there's nothing online to prove he's chartered, although he is
I know it's been debated on here before, but as there is no legal term for Accountant how do they police this.
Most documents just say accountant but to my mind they are very badly written.
One would assume that the border agency has some form of joined up thinking so what constitutes an accountant for other evidence purposes should I believe also constitute what they consider to be an accountant for countersigning passport applications.
However, as I found it so difficult to find I imagine that not many border agency personel are that abreast of the different flavours of accountant and by that measure probably anyone who can legitimately call themselves a qualified accountant with whichever body (including MAAT MIPs) would probably be accepted.
However, the strict wording of one of their more helpful documents on tier 1 clearance does go into more detail as to what they perceieve an accountant to be.
112. Where an applicant is providing evidence from an accountant or accountancy firm the accountant must be either a fully qualified chartered accountant or a certified accountant who is a member of a registered body. If the earnings were for work done while the applicant was in the UK, such evidence must come from an accountant or accountancy firm in the UK who is a member of a recognised supervisory body. These are: The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW); the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (ICAS); the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI); the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA); or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). If the earnings were made while the applicant was not in the UK, the evidence must come from one of the above accountants or from an accountant or accountancy firm on the list of full members given on the website of the International Federation of Accountants, on http://web.ifac.org/about/member-bodies
In short I think that you would be ok but strictly speaking I think that only IFAC member bodies are really acceptable.
Hope that helps,
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I have to agree with your answer, although I think that the IFA inclusion is interesting - as from this site I am led to believe that there are many members by experience and they may have taken less exams than say an AAT member. I do appreciate that it's because the IFA is now a member of IFAC but it seems strange to me.
I don't know about tax but the qualifications are certainly taxing.
it's actually the route I've now gone myself but on the back of almost complete ACCA (and may be fully ACCA before I step down) plus my three years already signed off and over 30 years working in finance.
However, as you say, it is possible to get IFA without ever taking an exam although to do that my understanding is that you need a couple of qualified sponsors and evidence of what needs to be quite considerable experience.
this passport query just puts icing on the minefield doesn't it!.... Wonder how long it will be before some university does a BSc in understanding accountancy qualifications!!! lol
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
The university idea isn't such a bad idea. Although the course that I think should be available is 'Accountancy - How to start and run your own practice'.
This would cover a range of subjects such as law, marketing, economics, Accountancy etc. The course could provide passes to all Chartered level one exams and provide immediate membership to AAT or IFA.
The course sounds good to me - where do I sign up.
