MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Membership Criteria

Medium-sized Firm of Chartered Accountants
We are not too rigid on size, as it is more important that member firms have the same outlook and share the same philosophy.  It is vital that we are all genuinely medium sized in the way we think and work and are not trying to emulate either small or large firms.

We would not normally invite firms with less than 10 partners to join unless they are a prominent firm in their local area and have one large office.  Some firms have grown to over 35 partners and they fit into the Association just as well as they have a number of offices and the partners are still committed to taking the same personal approach to their clients. 
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Membership Benefits

1. Exchange of Confidential Information

The exchange of confidential information is certainly one of the most valuable aspects of membership as for most of the senior or managing partners who are running their businesses there are probably no other means of having frank and open exchanges of this kind.  This information is freely exchanged in surveys and at meetings but perhaps more importantly outside of the meetings over drinks or dinner or by telephone.  If a survey is carried out firms are free to choose whether or not they participate but the information is only circulated to participating firms.

In some instances the information can go no further than the senior or managing partners and in any event APA representatives may only share information with their own partners in general terms.

I must add that it is rare for a firm not to participate and in areas such as Professional Indemnity Insurance. The collation of information has led to the negotiation of a scheme, which has reaped financial benefits for a number of APA firms (whether or not they were part of it).

At present members’ exchange confidential information on such issues as Professional Indemnity Insurance, practice finance, charge-out rates, salaries, pensions and retirement arrangements, equity share arrangements, partner reviews, debt management, computer systems, overseas associations and specialist services.

2. Public Relations

The Association has held dinners for businessmen and women from all over the country who have influence in the business world.  They were held at Merchant Taylors'  Hall in the City of London and our guest speakers have a very high profile therefore attracting high caliber guests. We have had such prestige speakers as Eddie George, Governor of the Bank of England; Barbara Mills who was then Head of the Serious Fraud Office; Sir Nicholas Goodison, Chairman of the TSB; Peter Morgan, a past Director General of the Institute of Directors; Sir John Bourn, Auditor and Comptroller General and Adair Turner, Director General of the CBI and Theresa Wallis of AIM.

We usually entertain around 30 or more solicitors, bankers, financiers and key people in organisations which affect the future flow of work to medium sized firms.  We do not usually invite our own clients to such events, as it is not the appropriate forum. However, we encourage members to invite appropriate contacts.

We have also held receptions at the House of Lords and House of Commons for APA members and key influencers in the business world, which were attended by many of our previous dinner guests and some of our speakers.

In the past we have commissioned some academic research into the position of medium sized firms in the market and this is available to member firms for their own marketing purposes and has been used by the Association as targeted PR to promote medium sized firms.

3. Influence with the Institute and Other Organisations

The Association is certainly consulted widely by the Institute and we do have more opportunities than individual firms do to talk directly to the President and Chief Executive. 

We have an annual dinner with them and generally when they wish to gain member support for major initiatives they will request a meeting with our members.

When there is a majority view on any issue whether it involves the Institute, JMU, DTI or other organisations we will lobby strongly on behalf of the medium sized firm. We also raise awareness of our type of firms with the banks, other financiers and influencers in finance by inviting them to our dinners.  We find that this is the best way for partners of our member firms to redress the balance and make key people aware of the fact that we are as capable of taking clients to the stock market or raising finance for them in other ways. In so doing we are trying to overcome the effect of the 'City Mafia'.

4. Technical Support

Technical support within the Association at present takes the form of informal groups of technical experts who meet regularly and exchange very useful information.  A register of these specialists is circulated to member firms regularly and contact numbers are given.  I know that firms will refer to each other on particular technical issues and they can make their own arrangements if they wish to use another member firm for any specific support.

5. Recruitment

We also carry out a number of exercises to promote the recruitment of students for Medium Sized Firms.  A booklet called ‘Becoming A Chartered Accountant - Training With A Medium Sized Firm’ was originally produced in liaison with various career advisers.  We send out over 7,000 copies of these to university careers services each year and firms each have a supply for their own use.

We also take out a four-page advertisement in Prospects and students can return a reply paid slip to request a copy of the booklet. 
Run-ons of 3,000 leaflet versions of the advertisement are also sent out to universities.

We hold an annual lunch at the Institute for a dozen or so University careers advisers and recruitment partners from member firms.

6. Work Referral

Work referral does happen among member firms although it is on an informal basis and because of the relationship we have built we tend to know which firm would suit the needs of the client which we are referring.

Member firms also have access to the specialist services of other APA firms and can take advantage of their geographic spread in the UK and overseas for their clients.

There is a register of specialisms that we consider to be beyond the ordinary range of services offered by most member firms and a list of overseas networks. Members can use these for their clients knowing that they are not at risk of being ‘poached’ by another firm.

7. Meetings

Either the managing or senior partner of a member firm is formally nominated as their representative of the Association.  These partners meet three times a year usually in February, June and October.  The President and Secretary of the (ICAEW) Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales join us for dinner after the AGM in October and there is also a dinner after the June meeting.

A small committee deals with the routine matters of the Association reporting to the full membership in order that we may devote our meeting time to the discussion of key issues for our firms.
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How to become a member

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Association, please apply in writing to:  The Association of Practising Accountants, 105 St Peters Street, St Albans, Herts AL1 3EJ.

Your application will be forwarded to the committee. If a member firm does not feel that it is appropriate for another firm to join then this would be respected.

Subscription - Contact the Secretariat for full details.

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