ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, will mark a significant occasion this weekend as it celebrates 120 years since its creation. Founded in London by a group of eight accountants on November 30, 1904, it has since grown into a global network of more than 252,500 members and 526,000 future members across 180 countries.

ACCA President Ayla Majid said: “By staying true to our founding value of inclusion, ACCA has become a truly global organisation, working for the public good. When ACCA was founded in 1904 nobody could have predicted how much we’d achieve. Our story has been one of innovation and growth but, above all, it’s a story of more people’s careers launched, lives transformed, and many dreams come true.

“We have an amazing community of talented and committed members around the world undertaking successful careers and making positive and sustain”

The election of Ayla Majid to the office of president at the recent AGM, along with Melanie Proffitt as deputy president and Datuk Zaiton Mohd Hassan as vice-president, makes this the first time in ACCA’s history that women have held all three officer posts at the same time. It’s another milestone for the professional accountancy body, which was the first to admit women to membership in 1909.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, remarked: “[The year] 2024 has truly been a landmark year for us. In May our membership numbers exceeded a quarter of a million. In September we launched our new Professional Diploma in Sustainability.

“And earlier this month we were recognised with a special nomination in the international category of the UN Trade and Development which recognised our work to improve reporting and skills capacity building on sustainability.”

Watch our interactive timeline to find out more.

About ACCA

We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a globally recognised professional accountancy body providing qualifications and advancing standards in accountancy worldwide.

Founded in 1904 to widen access to the accountancy profession, we’ve long championed inclusion and today proudly support a diverse community of over 252,500 members and 526,000 future members in 180 countries.

Our forward-looking qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical judgment to create, protect, and report the sustainable value delivered by organisations and economies.

Guided by our purpose and values, our ambition is to lead the accountancy profession for a changed world. Partnering with policymakers, standard setters, the donor community, educators and other accountancy bodies, we’re strengthening and building a profession that drives a sustainable future for all.

Find out more at: www.accaglobal.com