The Association of Professional Accountants and Auditors (APAA) is a United Kingdom–based professional body established to serve as a global hub for excellence in accounting, auditing, and assurance. APAA was founded with the vision of strengthening the accounting and auditing profession by providing a recognized platform for professional development, international certification, and ethical practice.

APAA is formally constituted as a professional awarding body in the United Kingdom, mandated to set and uphold the highest standards in professional accounting, auditing, and finance education. As an awarding body, APAA is inherently accredited and recognized by virtue of its legal registration and regulatory standing. Unlike training providers or educational institutions, awarding bodies do not require separate external accreditation for each qualification. By default, they operate as self-accrediting authorities, empowered to develop, regulate, and award professional qualifications that carry international recognition.

This distinction places APAA in alignment with globally respected professional bodies and institutes. Every certificate, diploma, and professional credential conferred by APAA is issued under the authority of an awarding body, making it a globally portable and professionally respected qualification.

Global Accreditation and Recognition

• Inherent Authority – APAA’s awarding body status confers the right to design, validate, and award qualifications that are automatically recognized internationally.
• No Additional Accreditation Required – By definition, awarding bodies are recognized on the basis of their registration and governance. They are self-accrediting entities, unlike training providers that must seek approvals from external parties.
• International Standards – APAA qualifications are benchmarked against global best practices (IFRS, ISA, international risk and compliance frameworks) ensuring that its credentials are respected across borders.
• Employer & Institutional Trust – Organizations, regulators, and academic partners accept APAA qualifications as equivalent to those of other global professional awarding bodies.

Through a strong focus on international standards, professional ethics, and continuous development, APAA ensures that its members are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and credibility to compete and lead in the global financial marketplace.

Our association is committed to upholding international standards, promoting professional integrity, and preparing members to meet the evolving challenges of financial reporting, audit, governance, and assurance across diverse industries and global markets.