国际会计师公会AIA BEIJING DESK荣誉主席Kenneth Lee出席国际会计师公会AIA85周年庆典
国际会计师公会AIA BEIJING DESK首席行政代表Wilson Shou、国际会计师公会AIA BEIJING DESK荣誉主席Kenneth Lee出席国际会计师公会AIA85周年庆典并与国际会计师公会总裁Philip Turnbull合影
Last Updated on Monday, 25 November 2013
This week we are celebrating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of AIA, with a celebratory dinner at the House of Lords. Naturally with such a milestone approaching my thoughts turn to the achievements and successes of the past 85 years and to considering how far we have progressed since our predecessors brought the concept of an international accounting body to life.
Formed in London in 1928, AIA became the first body in the world to train students on an international basis; what tremendous foresight our founding fathers had, and I wonder what they would make of the increasingly global society we live in today. AIA continues to promote that founding concept of creating world class accountants in every sense.
The years following our inception saw a period of consolidation, while AIA developed our membership in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and other areas. In the early seventies our first Branches were formed; the Hong Kong Branch in 1973 - who also celebrate their 40th Anniversary this year - and shortly after in 1975, the Singapore Branch. In 1991 the Malaysia Alumni Association was formed. As a membership organisation, our greatest assets and ambassadors are our members, and our Branches have been invaluable to the continued growth and development of the Association.
1994 was a crucial year in the history of AIA, when we gained recognition as a Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB) in the UK and were named in the Companies Act; followed by recognition in the European Union, and other financial centres around the world. AIA remains committed to building on our recognition and ensuring the best possible educational and professional opportunities for our Members and Students; and we are constantly striving towards the goal of expanding recognition. In 2006, AIA was recognised as a Prescribed Body in Ireland, a year later we were awarded supervisory status under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, and more recently in 2012, we gained recognition in the UK as an Awarding Body by Ofqual.
2003 is another key date in the story of the AIA, when we amalgamated with the Institute of Company Accountants, another body with a rich history; coming together to offer improved benefits and services to all Members.
However, all this retrospection also raises the question of what the next 85 years will bring and sets our sights firmly on the future. AIA is offering more routes to the accountancy profession than ever before, giving Students the opportunity to choose between our professional accountancy qualification, our QCF qualifications and our statutory auditor training programme (RPQ). The support and study options that we offer Students is first class, with our interactive study programme - AIA Achieve - and our range of study materials produced by leading publisher BPP Learning Media. We also work with a growing number of Approved Study Providers throughout the world, a significant number of which, like Metro Education and LiXin University in China, are long standing and committed education partners.
Furthermore, AIA has invested significant resources over recent years in enhancing our policies and procedures, which ensures that the standards to which we are examining are the highest possible, and this is reviewed on an ongoing basis by our regulators; the Financial Reporting Council and Ofqual. All of these factors combined, are creating the next generation of International Accountants, who - as are our current Members - will be leaders in their field, with the skills and expertise to take the profession and the AIA forward.
AIA Members work throughout the global accountancy profession; from the Big Four, to SMEs and throughout commerce and industry. Their commitment to being at the top of their profession, technically and ethically, has resulted in the strong position AIA finds itself in today, and they will continue to drive the Association on to greater things in the future. We are working hard to ensure that Members, like our Students, have access to the best possible opportunities and resources, through working with leading partners such as LexisNexis, Sage and Microsoft, and award winning online CPD providers like Nelson Croom. Our Secretariat and our Branches work tirelessly to provide members with the latest news and developments, as well as CPD, social and networking opportunities.
With such strong foundations in place, and the continued dedication and support of AIA Members, Branches, Partners and staff, the next 85 years will undoubtedly see new landmark achievements for the Association, as we cement our place in the accountancy profession and build on our past successes.
