ICAEW launched its Next Generation ACA qualification, the most advanced business, finance and accountancy qualification, at a reception at Chartered Accountants’ Hall earlier this week (Monday 22 September 2025).
The first students have already taken certificate-level exams as part of the redeveloped ACA. More than 100,000 students, employers and stakeholders were consulted on the changes to future-proof the ACA, which are the biggest updates to the qualification in 30 years.
The event brought together leaders from across ICAEW membership and featured a panel discussion on changes to the qualification, with speakers Lottie Roberts, of RSM; Ginny Bradwell, from First Intuition; Andrea Cook, from ICAEW; Henry Michaelson, of Bupa. ICAEW Chief Executive Alan Vallance also spoke at the event.
Alan Vallance, ICAEW Chief Executive, said:
“In an era when businesses and society face complex challenges, the need for agile, ethical leadership has never been greater. We’ve worked with employers, students and educators to design a qualification that will equip future Chartered Accountants with the skills to lead now and in the future, across a vast range of careers.
“That’s why we’ve incorporated integrated sustainability, technology and ethics content into the Next Generation ACA, alongside a Specialised Learning platform that will provide students with real-time insight into emerging trends and issues.
“The ACA has been my passport to a global leadership career and I’m proud to be an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. It is the qualification for the business leaders of tomorrow – and I wish every ICAEW student the very best of luck.”
The future of the ACA
There are three core components to the revised and refreshed ACA: 14 business, finance and accountancy modules; professional work experience; and a new Specialised Learning programme which can quickly adapt to cover emerging topics and skills needs. Students will need to complete 30 Specialised Learning modules including any mandated by their employer.
As of July 2025, new ICAEW students are automatically registered onto the updated ACA, while existing students can choose their pathway. The ACA remains the only professional finance qualification that embeds real workplace data analytics software in exams.
The Next Generation ACA is one of the first actions delivered as part of ICAEW’s refreshed strategy to maintain relevance, enhance the reputation and increase the resilience of the chartered accountancy profession, enabling people everywhere to do business with confidence.
Lottie Roberts, RSM Associate Director, Early Careers Talent Development, said: “The Next Generation ACA is not just an accountancy qualification. The depth of learning equips students to work within any business or organisation due to the depth and breadth of the syllabus. The critical thinking, ethical foundations, sustainability understanding and technical knowledge allows any ACA student to thrive, giving them the tools they need for a long and varied career.”
