“ACCA Approved CPD Employer Status is all about demonstrating a commitment
to employees’ development needs on a regular and sustained basis. Organisations
who proactively develop their employees not only build a reputation for being
excellent employers, they are also helping to protect their long-term reputation
through the development of highly effective staff.” He went on to say:
“SWAT has become the first UK training company to achieve Approved Employer
Professional Development status and is now helping us to audit applicants to
the scheme, so that employers who want to demonstrate this commitment to excellence
can be audited promptly and recognised for their success.”
Any organisation that employs ACCA members and can meet the principles and
criteria of the Approved CPD Employer status are eligible to apply direct to
the ACCA. However, from now on SWAT will be able to accredit any SWAT Member
firms who provide evidence to show compliance with the related criteria.
Firms may consider joining the scheme if they have ACCA members who under the
new continuing professional development rules have to track their own CPD units.
By becoming an Approved CPD Employer these staff now only have to confirm that
they work for an approved organisation, so don’t need to track their own
CPD individually and send in their CPD returns each year, thus saving time and
resources within the practice.
In order to become an ACCA Approved CPD Employer, you must commit to the following
four principles and provide evidence to show compliance with the related criteria:
Principle 1 – Individuals’ development needs are identified
Principle 2 – Development opportunities are provided
Principle 3 – Development activity is monitored
Principle 4 – Individuals are appraised and development needs reassessed
SWAT can work with Member firms to help them achieve this accreditation. In
order to do so the member firm must:
- Meet the four principles shown above, providing documentary evidence where
necessary
- Complete the ACCA Approved CPD Employer application form and provide the
necessary evidence to SWAT
SWAT will submit the applications to the ACCA for processing. The accredited
firms will then receive an ACCA Approved CPD Employer certificate, together
with a range of additional benefits that can be found on-line on the ACCA’s
website at www.accaglobal.com. These on-line benefits include:
Recruitment tools – to help you recruit students, affiliates or members
for training and qualified positions using ACCA’s worldwide listings and
jobs database.
Administrative support – providing a central area for you to gather information
such as ACCA examination timetables, deadlines, fees and be able to use the
ACCA’s online databases.
Online publications - Free access to ACCA's online publications, including:
accounting & business; accounting & business direct; ACCA Potential;
student accountant; finance matters; accounting link; teach accounting;
Technical FAQs – covering a variety of topics including practical experience,
supervisory issues, membership and post membership issues and Student Training
Record/Technician Training Records.
Training and development support – giving full details of the ACCA's new
CPD scheme.
Applicants will have to renew their ACCA Employer status every three years
and may be subject to a random monitoring visit by an ACCA reviewer.
SWAT member firms should contact their local regional office to discuss their
likely application with a technical consultant, and to receive a copy of the
application pack. We will then work with you to complete the forms and provide
the necessary information.
Firms who are not SWAT Members but do have ACCA staff members and would like
to apply for the scheme should contact the ACCA direct on 020 7396 5700, or
visit their website at www.accaglobal.com.
To find out more about the many benefits of becoming a SWAT member firm, please
click here.
Vicki Banthorpe
January 2006