HKICPA signs Memorandum of Understanding with ACCA to advance ethics and integrity in the accounting profession

The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to reinforce shared values and contribute to the advancement of ethical standards within the accounting profession. The collaboration will enrich the ethics training program of the two accounting bodies and enable joint initiatives that strengthen public confidence in the profession.

The MoU establishes a framework for mutual co-operation, focusing on the mutual promotion of ethics-related learning offerings within both bodies and joint initiatives to foster a culture of integrity, accountability and responsible practice across the accounting profession. Under the MoU, both HKICPA and ACCA will also explore other areas of potential collaboration, including continued expansion of the range of CPD course offerings available to members.

The HKICPA and ACCA held a MoU signing ceremony yesterday (10 November). The MoU was signed by Margaret Chan, Chief Executive and Registrar of the HKICPA, and Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive of ACCA, under the witness of Edward Au, President of the HKICPA and Wilson Cheng, Chairman of ACCA Hong Kong.

HKICPA President Edward Au said, “Ethics conduct is the bedrock of public trust in the accounting profession. We are delighted to sign this MoU with ACCA, which represents a significant milestone. By leveraging the combined strengths of our two professional accounting bodies, we can unlock new opportunities to elevate the ethical proficiency of our members, equipping them to meet the demands of an evolving market and regulatory landscape. This collaboration will not only raise the professional standards of the entire industry but also reinforce public confidence in the profession.”

Wilson Cheng, Chairman of ACCA Hong Kong said, “This MoU will strengthen the collaboration between ACCA and HKICPA, as together we promote the highest ethical standards, which have never been more crucial as we face emerging challenges in the digital era. We’re delighted to offer our global resources and learning resources to support HKICPA members, helping to prepare them for the complex professional landscape being shaped by AI and digital innovation. Together, ACCA and HKICPA will lead the profession into the future with integrity, advancing ethical excellence for the benefit of business and society.”

Guided by the Strategic Plan 2025, the HKICPA has all along been actively emphasizing ethics and integrity through a series of impactful initiatives. The recent efforts included the partnership with Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to introduce an ethics training course in mid-July 2025 with applications of local case studies to strengthen practical ethical decision-making. In September 2025, the online Ethics Resources Centre was launched, offering more than 30 CPD courses, including self-developed content and collaborative courses with partners such as the ICAC, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants / The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (AICPA/CIMA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Furthermore, the HKICPA hosted its Ethics Conference on Global Ethics Day, 15 October 2025, to raise awareness among members.

Looking forward, as one of the founding members of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), the HKICPA will continue engage with international accounting bodies consistently and benchmark with global standards to uphold the highest ethical standards in the accounting profession of Hong Kong, thereby building global trusts to Hong Kong as a leading international financial centre.

^{The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which reinforce shared values and contribute to the advancement of ethical standards within the profession. The MoU was signed by Margaret Chan, Chief Executive and Registrar of the HKICPA (Second from the left), and Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive of ACCA (Second from the right), under the witness of Edward Au, President of the HKICPA (First from the left) and Wilson Cheng, Chairman of ACCA Hong Kong (First from the right).}