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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has announced a new professional qualification, a move it says meets increasing demand for skilled accounting around the world.
The professional accountancy body said by creating the Accounting and Business Professional (ABP), it has increased opportunities for recognition in the sector and reinforced the path towards its central Chartered Accountant (CA) designation.
However, it noted trainees can pursue it either as an independent professional qualification or as a stepping stone into the full CA programme.
It specified that those who wish to continue to the CA scheme will not need to complete the first syllabus level.
ICAS said the ABP combines its Certificate in Accounting and Business (CAB) with practical experience, merging technical accounting and business skills with hands-on practice.
It added that it can be achieved in four to 12 months, through either its digital platform or workshop-based learning online or in a training centre.
School leavers, graduates and experienced professionals can all get involved, without committing to the full CA programme at the get-go.
ICAS said that for employers such as ATOs, SMEs and large organisations, the ABP is an affordable avenue through which to develop early-career talent as it can “strengthen finance teams and support internal progression, all with minimal operational disruption”.
It added that the scheme has also been designed to be eligible for Level 4 apprenticeship levy funding in England, which would help employers make the qualification more accessible and cost-effective.
The ABP is the third professional distinction created by the ICAS in its 172 years of existence, and the only one linked to its primary CA offering.
Gail Boag, ICAS CEO, said: “The ABP represents a significant evolution in how ICAS supports the profession and strengthens the long‑term talent pipeline. It offers its own valuable professional identity while also providing an accessible new pathway toward Chartered status.
“What stands the ABP apart is that it recognises both learning and practical experience in core accounting and business acumen – supporting employers, empowering learners and responding directly to the needs of a modern profession.”
