Professional Bookkeeper Associations

Which one should I join?

It is important to appreciate that it is not now, or is it expected to be in the future, compulsory for a bookkeeper to join a professional association.

There is provision in the Tax Agent Services Regulations 2009 for an organisation to apply to the Tax Practitioners Board to become a "recognised BAS agent association" but there appears to be little or no advantage for a bookkeeper who is a member of such as association over a bookkeeper who is not – other than marketing opportunities.

Having said that there are number of other good reasons to join a Bookkeeper Association, including moral support, recognition, status, networking, lobbying and technical support - including publications, templates, technical advice, seminars and professional development.

Perhaps the most important reason is that it will give your prospective clients more confidence in your experience and ability.

Associations for Bookkeepers

There are five organisations that offer memberships for bookkeepers, three of them are 'not-for-profit' (NFP) associations and the two are 'fee-for-service' (FFS) organisations. All five organisations were represented on the ATO's 'Bookkeeper Advisory Group' (BAG) (AAPB resigned for some reason in November 2009) which focuses on providing input to shape the design and build of administrative interactions between bookkeepers and the Tax Office.  The five organisations are:

BIA — Bookkeeping Institute of Australia 

BIA membership is unique in that it is only available to graduates awarded a Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping) by BIA.  BIA graduates have the the exclusive right to use the post nominal letters MBIA after their name, have the right to use the "BIA Member" logo on their letterhead and business cards and to have their name and business details promoted on an exclusive page of the BIA web site.

BIA graduates are also awarded the status of a BIA Accredited Bookkeeper with the right to use the "BIA Accredited Bookkeeper" logo on your letterhead and business cards.

BIA has played a significant role in the bookkeeping industry since 2001, initially as a bookkeeping and consultancy business and since 2003 as a the leading provider of bookkeeping training in Australia. BIA now has the largest number of enrolled students (over 600) in the Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping) in Australia.

ABN — Australian Bookkeepers Network  

The Australian Bookkeepers Network (ABN) helps bookkeepers build bigger and better businesses by providing them with the right support, tools and resources. ABN has served the bookkeeping industry since 2001 and in that time has grown to become Australia’s largest private representative body for self-employed and contract bookkeepers.

ABN's flagship product is the BAS Wizard Partner Program, a quality assurance framework whereby ABN as a registered tax agent (ABN BAS Pty Ltd) enables its member bookkeepers to be working under their supervision and control whilst providing BAS agent services for a fee or engaging in other conduct connected with providing such services. ABN BAS will also hold the relevant BAS Agent credentials that will allow a bookkeeper to gain relevant experience under the new law. The program will also contain a Register for the aspiring bookkeeper for use in recording their 1,400 hour obligation

Another of ABN's popular offerings is Bookkeeper-Client Connect, allowing bookkeepers to securely transfer large files to and from clients and their accountants. ABN also has a vast range of resources, tools and support aimed at: improving your knowledge; streamlining your business; increasing your profit; expanding your horizons and providing member benefits.

ABN is very different to not-for-profit bookkeeping associations. They are a private organisation with a focus on providing bookkeepers with commercial solutions and value-for-money resources and support, whereas associations typically have their prime focus on professional standards and ethics, and representation to government.

BIA recommends that all bookkeepers join ABN either for their superior support or to use their BAS Wizard program. In an effort to assist our students in this regard BIA are able to offer all BIA students 90 days FREE membership of ABN, thereby enabling BIA students to sample ABN's offerings without cost and to make use of their publications to assist in their studies. At the end of the free 90 day period BIA students will be in a position to judge for themselves the value of ongoing ABN membership.

BIA believes that this ongoing partnership with ABN will strengthen both organisations and will be of considerable benefit to new bookkeepers entering the industry as we move into the uncharted and new BAS Agent era.

ICB — Institute of Certified Bookkeepers

This NFP association is growing fast and already has over 1,500 members. It has solid support both internationally, from the 150,000 strong ICB UK organisation and in Australia from MYOB, the largest supplier of accounting software to small business. Many of its members are MYOB Certified Consultants and MYOB Professional Partners.

ICB is widely recognised by the bookkeeping industry as being an association that fully supports bookkeepers and appears to have very good contacts with government which gives them the ability to influence government policy on behalf of bookkeepers. ICB supports the nationally recognised Certificate IV Financial Services (Bookkeeping) as part of its membership criteria.

Matthew Addison, ICB Executive Director states: "The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers brings a certainty to the developing bookkeeping industry. Accountants, businesses and government seem to be looking for a structure to understand bookkeeping and the competence of bookkeepers. ICB will accredit, assist and inform bookkeepers and the community thereby increasing the structure and definition of the industry. ICB is a member based, not for profit, professional association: bookkeepers helping bookkeepers."

In addition to being ICB's Executive Director, Matthew Addison is a member of the Tax Practitioners Board and the ATO's 'Bookkeeper Advisory Group' (BAG).

BIA supports ICB and recommends that all bookkeepers who wish to belong to a professional 'not-for-profit' association join ICB. All BIA students are entitled to join ICB as a student member at a discounted fee.

AAT — Association of Accounting Technicians

This NFP association is the Australia's largest paraprofessional body in the accounting/finance sector and is funded by CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the National Institute of Accountants (NIA).

AAT Australia membership provides a commitment to high standards, professionalism, recognition and status for paraprofessional accounting technicians including payroll officers; assistant accountants, accounts payable/receivable officers and other accounting support staff.

AAT have a representative on ATO's 'Bookkeeper Advisory Group' (BAG).

BIA does not recommend this association as being appropriate for bookkeepers but believes that it is an ideal association for students wishing to enter the mainstream accounting industry.

AAPB — Australian Association of Professional Bookkeepers 

This NFP association was formed in 2005 and initially spent much of its time promoting, along with BIA,  the introduction of the Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping). This was achieved in July 2007 and they are to be congratulated for their effort.

Unfortunately although AAPB claim to represent bookkeepers, they have positioned themselves outside of the mainstream bookkeeping industry and, as a result, have failed to succeed in their most recent goal of setting "standards" for the bookkeeping industry.

AAPB is the most expensive bookkeeping association to join and appears to be somewhat elitist. They have no apparent relationship with MYOB, preferring to promote Quicken and Cashflow Manager. Given that MYOB has around 85% of the accounting software market it is difficult to understand this attitude.

They are the only professional bookkeeping association not represented on ATO's 'Bookkeeper Advisory Group' (BAG).

BIA has no recommendation to make in regard to joining this association.

Associations for Accountants

In Australia there are seven (7) professional accounting associations, recognised by the ATO.

Of these associations most (CPA and ICAA in particular) require that their members not only hold an accounting degree but that they have also undertaken further postgraduate study in accounting.

However you can join either the National Institute of Accountants (NIA) or the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants (ATMA) as an associate member if you hold an Advanced Diploma in Accounting; or if you hold a University Degree majoring in Accounting you can join either association as a full member, provided you meet their experience criteria.

Membership of either the ATMA or NIA enables a bookkeeper to legally lodge BAS returns in accordance with section 251L(6)a of ITAA 1936. This will assist with their transition to becoming a BAS Agent under the new leglistaion.

The seven firms are:

• CPA - CPA Australia

• ICAA - Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia

• NIA - National Institute of Accountants

• ACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

• ATMA - Association of Taxation and Management Accountants

• CIMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

• TIA - Taxation Institute of Australia