The CIPFA PAQ is a globally recognised CCAB (Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies) award.

CIPFA’s Professional Accountancy Qualification

Many of CIPFA’s Employing organisations have been assessed for their support of trainees and have received CIPFA’s Employer Accreditation. The scheme acts as a means of recognising good practice amongst employers and establishes the minimum standards of support expected to be offered to their CIPFA trainees.

How the course is structured

CIPFA’s PAQ has been designed in three stages and has been developed to dovetail with a trainees work placement and the practical work skills they acquire.

Certificate Level:
The modules at this stage are the building blocks of any career in accountancy or financial management. From double-entry bookkeeping, to preparing and interpreting financial statements and management accounts. The certificate level gives you the right grounding for your career.

Diploma Level:
Building upon knowledge gained at certificate level, the diploma focuses on specific public sector business skills and financial topics. It covers areas such as whole of government accounts procedure, public sector reporting frameworks, public sector borrowing. Although this level focuses on public sector issues the overall knowledge can easily be transferred into the private sector companies.

Final Test of Professional Competence
The FTPC is the last stage in becoming a chartered public accountant. It is the culmination of all the skills learnt throughout the qualification and gives students a more focused strategic financial management overview of running major projects and large complex organisations.

Developing your career
The CIPFA PAQ has been developed from the Institutes “Statement of Expertise” this document outlines the skills and knowledge expected of a CIPFA member 5 years after qualification. The course ensures that every student gets the skills and knowledge base to reach this level on completion.

Many CIPFA students find career progression quickly. With their new skills many are promoted before they qualify and on completion go onto greater things. The majority of finance directors in local government and the NHS are CIPFA members because the qualification has given them skills and insights to reach the very top.