Editing Chartered accountant (section)

{{short description|Professional designation for accountants}}
{{distinguish|Certified Accountant (disambiguation){{!}}Certified Accountant}}
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'''Chartered accountants''' were the first [[accountant]]s to form a [[professional accounting body]], initially established in Scotland in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants (1854), the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries (1854) and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants (1867) were each granted a royal charter almost from their inception.<ref>{{cite book|last=Perks|first=R.W.|title=Accounting and Society|publisher=Chapman & Hall |location=London|year=1993|pages=16|isbn=0-412-47330-5}}</ref> The title is an internationally recognised professional designation; the [[certified public accountant]] designation is generally equivalent to it. Women were able to become chartered accountants only following the [[Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919]] after which, in 1920, [[Mary Harris Smith]] was recognised by the [[Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales]] and became the first woman chartered accountant in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Walker|first=Stephen P.|date=14 March 2019|title=Smith, Mary Harris|journal=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]|doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.111926|isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-111926|access-date=27 January 2021|archive-date=1 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701102812/https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-111926;jsessionid=BEC8BE3D56678077505EF4D15171D0C5|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Chartered accountants work in all fields of business and finance, including auditing, taxation, financial and general management. Some are engaged in public practice work, others work in the private sector and some are employed by government bodies.<ref name="icas">{{cite web|url=http://www.icas.org.uk/site/cms/contentCategoryView.asp?category=4365|title=Life as a CA has many advantages|publisher=ICA Scotland|access-date=2011-10-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927135524/http://www.icas.org.uk/site/cms/contentCategoryView.asp?category=4365|archive-date=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charteredaccountants.ie/General/About-Us/Chartered-Accountancy/Becoming-a-Chartered-Accountant/Why-Chartered-Accountancy/ |title=Why Chartered Accountancy? |publisher=CA Ireland |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218121443/http://www.charteredaccountants.ie/General/About-Us/Chartered-Accountancy/Becoming-a-Chartered-Accountant/Why-Chartered-Accountancy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Chartered-Accountants/What-is-a-Chartered-Accountant/Where-do-Chartered-Accountants-work.aspx |title=Where do Chartered Accountants work? |publisher=ICA Australia |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006185311/http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Chartered-Accountants/What-is-a-Chartered-Accountant/Where-do-Chartered-Accountants-work.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Chartered accountants' institutes require members to undertake a minimum level of continuing professional development to stay professionally competitive.
They facilitate special interest groups (for instance, entertainment and media, or insolvency and restructuring) which lead in their fields. They provide support to members by offering advisory services, technical helplines and technical libraries. They also offer opportunities for professional networking, career and business development.<ref name="icaew">{{cite web |url=http://www.icaew.com/en/join-us/why-join-icaew |title=Benefits of joining the ICAEW |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422134347/http://www.icaew.com/en/join-us/why-join-icaew |url-status=live }}</ref>

Chartered Accountants Worldwide comprises 15 institutes with over 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students in 190 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chartered Accountants Worldwide|url=https://www.icaew.com/about-icaew/who-we-are/who-we-work-with/accountancy-bodies/chartered-accountants-worldwide|access-date=2021-01-30|website=www.icaew.com|language=en}}</ref>