Integrated Report Sets Out How ACCA Creates Public Value

HONG KONG, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ACCA's (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) annual report for 2012/13 has been published for the second year using the draft framework issued by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC).

The framework is centred on the material information about an organisation's strategy, governance, performance and prospects that reflect the commercial, social and environmental context within which the organisation operates.

The report has a focus on ACCA's long-term value creation process. It provides readers with a succinct and comprehensive view of how ACCA created value through its strategy over the past year, as well as showing how it intends to do so in the future.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA comments, "IR attempts to answer the question: What value is being created by the organisation? Through ACCA's IR, we are identifying and communicating the value of ACCA as an organisation and through our members."

"Following feedback from our stakeholders, we have made this year's IR more concise, while improving the quality of disclosure. We have paid more attention to reporting on our business model, our risks and our view of the future outlook for the profession and for ACCA."

In the IR, ACCA sets out its business model as being to develop a global supply of qualified accounting professionals who are trained and regulated to the same high standard around the world. ACCA also reports on its strategic and financial performance, and how it employs a range of capitals to create value, with commentary on risk management and the strategic outlook.

Helen Brand concludes, "We have continued to deliver tangible results towards our 2015 strategy to be the leading global professional accountancy body. With an eye firmly on the challenges and opportunities for the future, planning is already underway for our strategic plan beyond 2015, with a clear objective to continue to bring value as the best recognised global body in our sector.

"Underlying this performance remains our commitment to creating public value -- developing complete finance professionals for the world who are in demand by employers and respected by the wider public."

ACCA's annual report, CSR statement and financial accounts are available on ACCA's website: http://annualreport.accaglobal.com. This corporate information is released in advance of ACCA's Annual General Meeting, which takes place on 19 September 2013 in London.

Notes to Editors

1. ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
2. We support our 162,000 members and 428,000 students in 173 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills needed by employers. We work through a network of 89 offices and centres and 8,500 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development.
3. As the first global accountancy body entering into China, ACCA now has over 23,000 members and 48,000 students, with 8 offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR.
4. Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accounting professionals bring value to economies in all stages of development. We aim to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that, through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and their delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.

For more information, please visit www.accaglobal.com or www.facebook.com/ACCA.HongKong.