In Brief
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Members can practise using a variety of structures
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Members may be able to practise with non-members, and may practice using a variety of structures
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CPP holding members whose firm meets the Chartered Firm requirement can use the CA ANZ logo
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Business names entail some restrictions
Disclaimer
The content on this website is provided for general information purposes and may not take into account detail that could be significant in your particular context. The website and its content is not a substitute for reading and understanding (as applicable) the Chartered Accountants ANZ’s Member Handbook, constitutional documents, legislation, regulations, professional guidelines or other applicable laws, or where necessary, obtaining specific advice regarding a specific issue.
For our full website terms and conditions click here.
Practice business structures options
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Australia
Chartered Accountants in Australia operate their practices in a number of ways: as sole practitioners, using trusts, partnerships or companies, and any combination of these.
As members there’s no limitations on the types of business structures you can use to meet your business needs. However, understanding the impact of relevant legislation and regulations on your practice structure can help you decide the best structure for your practice. Obtaining legal, tax or financial planning advice is recommended to help make this decision.
If you practise through a company in Australia , it’s worth considering Practice Entity Membership (PEM). PEM brings your company under the Professional Standards Scheme, limiting the extent to which a claim may be made against it.
Whatever type of practice structure you choose, please ensure you let us know:
- When you start your practice
- When you change your practice structure
- When you change partners, directors, shareholders or trustees
- If your practice ceases.
More information
Explore Practice Entity Membership in Australia
Find out more
Practice Details Advice
Use the Practice Details Advice to advise us of
details of your practice, both initially and when changes occur.
Download form now
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New Zealand
In New Zealand, all practice entities require approval and must meet the requirements of Rule 11 and Appendix IV of the NZICA Rules. The Rules require that CA’s holding CPP’s must:
- obtain approval to practice through any entity, and any changes to an existing entity
- have control over the ownership and governance of a practice (at least 51%), and
- have approval to practice with any non-members. Those non-members must meet specific requirements and also need approval.
Understanding the impact of relevant legislation and regulations on your practice structure can help you decide the best structure for your practice. Obtaining legal, tax or financial planning advice is recommended to help make this decision.
Practices with non-members
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Australia
Members can practise with non-members in Australia as long as they do not describe the firm as “Chartered Accountants” or use the CA logo.
If your firm would like to describe itself as "Chartered Accountants" or use the CA logo, this may be possible if non-member principals at your firm become Affiliate members of CA ANZ. This is discussed in more detail below.
”Principal” in a practice is a defined term in our regulations. Typically it’s someone in a leadership role in the practice, usually a partner or director. As leaders they have the ability to influence the actions of the practice. Therefore, non-member principals need to apply for admission as Affiliate members where the firm wishes to promote itself as “Chartered Accountants”.
More information
Explore about Affiliate membership
Find out more
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New Zealand
Members in New Zealand can practice with non-members who have been approved as non-member principals.
Using our logo and business name
Firms that meet the Chartered Firm requirement are welcome to describe their firms as “Chartered Accountants” and can use the CA logo in their business stationery, website and office.
Using the Chartered Accountants ANZ brand
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Australia
An Australian practice can describe itself as “Chartered Accountants” and use the CA Logo when it complies with CA ANZ Regulation CR9 Public Practice Regulations. This means:
- all principals in the practice are either Chartered Accountants with Certificates of Public Practice (CPP) or Affiliate members
- there are not more Affiliate members than CAs with CPPs
- Affiliate members don’t control more than 50% of the capital, financial results or voting rights of the practice.
Only corporate practices that meet this requirement can apply for Practice Entity Membership, to bring their company under the Professional Standards Scheme.
If you are part of a network of firms operating under a common brand name please ensure only those firms entitled to call themselves a CA practice do so. It is important to make this distinction clear for members of the public.
Australian members cannot include “Chartered” or “Chartered Accountant /s” in their registered company or business name. For example don’t use the following:
Northside Chartered Accountants Pty Ltd
Smith, Wang & Patel Chartered Accountants
Do use the following:
Northside Accountants Pty Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Smith, Wang & Patel
Chartered Accountants
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New Zealand
All approved practice entities in New Zealand can call themselves Chartered Accountants and use our logo.
Approved Practice Entity
Find out more about approved practice entities in New Zealand. See Rule 11 and appendix IV of the NZICA Rules.
Find out more
Are there limitations on my business name?
Choosing a name for your practice is an important decision. If you’re officially a CA practice and your practice meets the Chartered Firm requirements, we encourage you to include the words Chartered Accountants to describe your business and use the CA logo across your branding.
However if you’re using the CA branding please don’t use business names that are:
- unprofessional, offensive, or amounts to conduct unbecoming of a Chartered Accountant
- likely to reflect adversely on the profession
- false misleading or deceptive, or
- unlawful or undesirable.
More information
For more information refer to our regulations and By-Laws
Read more
Appointing power of attorneys
When you establish your practice it’s important to think about who will manage your clients if you are not able to. This is especially important for sole practitioners. It’s part of managing risk and ensuring your clients are protected in case something unexpected happens to you. It also makes things much easier for anyone winding up your estate in the event of your death.
We recommend appointing Power of Attorneys. When you grant a person power of attorney you authorise them to supervise your practice and make necessary decisions when you, the owner, can’t.
If you want to appoint a Power of Attorneys in New Zealand you need approval under the NZICA Act. Complete the relevant power of attorney document and have it signed, witnessed and returned to the NZ Regulation team for approval.
