CPA Ireland
CPA Ireland is a Dublin-headquartered Recognised Accountancy Body under Ireland's Companies Act 2014, delivering the CPA qualification, CPD programmes, statutory audit authorisation and a Trainee Placement Service. It amalgamated with Chartered Accountants Ireland on 1 September 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CPA Ireland does
CPA Ireland — formally the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland — is a private professional accountancy body headquartered in Dublin (with a regional office in Belfast) and recognised under Ireland's Companies Act 2014 as a Recognised Accountancy Body, granting it statutory authority to license member firms to perform statutory audits. It serves qualified CPA members working across public practice, industry, commerce, the public sector and education; CPA students progressing through the multi-stage professional accounting qualification; member firms holding practising certificates; and employers recruiting accountancy trainees. On 1 September 2024 the entity amalgamated with Chartered Accountants Ireland, transferring all members, students, operations and services and creating the largest professional accountancy body on the island of Ireland. CPA members retained their designations and gained access to the ACA/FCA pathway, while the legacy member portal is scheduled to close on 26 June 2026 with continuity of service from 29 June 2026 on the Chartered Accountants Ireland platform.
The operating platform is built around the MyCPA Member Portal (subscription and CPD-record management), a Student Portal (syllabus, training records, mentor coordination) and an Online Examination System delivered via Canvas LMS, supplemented by the Trainee Placement Service (a complementary recruitment platform launched in 2019) and member-facing publications including Accountancy Plus, the Members e-Bulletin, Practice Plus (monthly) and the Audit Bulletin (bi-annual). Marketing and member outreach reach across the cpaireland.ie site, eight social channels (LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest plus the Alumni network), a pipeline of CPD webinars and in-person events (Irish Accountancy Conference, Breakfast Briefings, Essential Practice Update, CPD Wrap Up), and public Member and Firm Directories.
Revenue is generated through three recurring streams: annual membership subscriptions (2026 subs due 30 April 2026 with a €50 late fee), student registration, study-guide and examination fees, and annual practising certificates required for statutory audit and public practice. CPD courses are tier-priced with a member discount versus non-member rates (e.g. €225 vs €275 for Essential Practice Update, €340 for the two-day CPD Wrap Up, €50 for the Sustainability Hub launch). A Mutual Recognition Agreement with NASBA/AICPA, effective 1 June 2022, extended the credential's utility into the US market via reciprocal recognition.
CPA Ireland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CPA Ireland
- Legal name
- The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland
- Website
- https://cpaireland.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CPA Ireland is a Dublin-headquartered Recognised Accountancy Body under Ireland's Companies Act 2014, delivering the CPA qualification, CPD programmes, statutory audit authorisation and a Trainee Placement Service. It amalgamated with Chartered Accountants Ireland on 1 September 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CPA Ireland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Accountancy Membership and Qualification Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA), Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)
Keywords
Where CPA Ireland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CPA Ireland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees paid by CPA members. Members who joined through the amalgamation with Chartered Accountants Ireland on 01 September 2024 must pay 2026 subscriptions through their profile. Due date is 30 April 2026 with a late fee of €50 for non-payment.
- Student Registration and Course Fees: Fees for student registration, study guides, examination fees, and CPD course enrollment
- Practising Certificates: Annual practising certificates issued to qualified members in practice, required for statutory audit and public practice
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Member course rates with reduced pricing |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-member standard rates |
| Subscription | Annual | 2026 Membership Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels13 records
CPA Ireland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CPA Ireland is a Recognised Accountancy Body that delivers the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) professional qualification pathway, administers professional examinations, issues practising certificates for statutory audit authorisation under the Companies Act 2014, and provides continuing professional development (CPD) courses, technical publications, and member services to qualified accountants and students across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Following the 1 September 2024 amalgamation with Chartered Accountants Ireland, it now forms part of the largest professional accountancy body on the island of Ireland.
Product overview
CPA Ireland operates as a professional accounting body offering a unified membership management platform and educational services. The core offering includes the Member Portal (MyCPA) for membership administration and the Student Portal for education and examination management. Supporting services encompass the Trainee Placement Service for graduate recruitment, CPD courses and webinars for continuing professional development, and the Practice Plus and Audit Bulletin publications for professional standards guidance. Member and Firm directories provide public-facing search capabilities. The organization is currently undergoing amalgamation with Chartered Accountants Ireland, effective September 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Practice Plus: A monthly bulletin issued to members in practice covering professional standards, regulatory updates, and technical guidance.
- Audit Bulletin
- Trainee Placement Service
Products and services
- CPA Professional Qualification Programme Structured professional qualification pathway delivering the Certified Public Accountant designation through examinations, study guides, training requirements, and admission to membership. Designed for individuals pursuing a recognised accounting qualification in Ireland.
- CPA Membership Subscription Annual membership subscription granting qualified accountants use of the CPA/FCPA designation, access to the Member Portal, CPD records, technical bulletins, and member services. Members who joined through the 1 September 2024 amalgamation pay 2026 subscriptions through the CPA profile with a 30 April 2026 due date.
- Online Examination System
Companies that use CPA Ireland
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CPA Ireland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CPA Ireland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Chartered Accountants IrelandcoreIn February 2024, members of both bodies voted to join together. The High Court sanctioned the scheme in July 2024. Amalgamation became effective September 1, 2024, incorporating all CPA members, students, operations, and services into Chartered Accountants Ireland, creating the largest professional accountancy body on the island of Ireland.
- NASBA/AICPA U.S. International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB)coreThe National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)/American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) U.S. International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB) and CPA Ireland signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) effective June 1, 2022. This agreement enables CPA Ireland members to pursue US CPA qualification through reciprocal recognition of credentials.
- Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA)coreIAASA is the regulatory oversight body for accountancy in Ireland. CPA Ireland works with IAASA for regulatory approvals including bye-law amendments and constitution changes, as well as quality assurance oversight.
- Accountancy EuropeminorCPA Ireland participates in Accountancy Europe, the umbrella organisation for the accountancy profession in Europe, contributing to policy development and receiving educational materials on European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
- CCAB-I (Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies in Ireland)coreCPA Ireland is a member of CCAB-I alongside other Irish accountancy bodies. The committee produces joint pre-budget submissions and coordinates positions on national policy matters affecting the profession.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CPA Ireland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): Global professional accountancy body offering the ACCA qualification, CPD, and membership services. Directly competes with CPA Ireland for Irish students, members, and employer recognition.
- AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): US national CPA body that signed the 1 June 2022 Mutual Recognition Agreement with CPA Ireland, enabling reciprocal credentialing. Closest international analogue to CPA Ireland's CPA designation franchise.
- CPA Australia: Asia-Pacific professional CPA body offering the CPA designation, CPD, and member services. Closest peer by name and qualification structure to CPA Ireland.
- Chartered Accountants Ireland: Irish Recognised Accountancy Body that amalgamated with CPA Ireland on 1 September 2024. Operates an overlapping qualification, CPD, practising certificate, and member portal franchise for accountants on the island of Ireland.
Broad incumbents
- ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): UK-based Recognised Accountancy Body offering chartered qualification, CPD, and member services. Competes with CPA Ireland for cross-jurisdiction students and members, particularly in Northern Ireland.
- CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants): Global professional body for management accountants offering CGMA designation and CPD. Competes with CPA Ireland for Irish students in industry, commerce, and public sector roles.
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (pre-merger ICAI legacy): Larger established Irish chartered body now part of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Competed directly with CPA Ireland for the same Irish accounting talent pipeline and audit authorisation.
Others
- IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors): Global professional body for internal auditors with certification, CPD, and member services. Comparable to CPA Ireland in operating model (qualification + CPD + member directory) but focused on a different audit specialty.
Emerging players
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT): UK-based professional body for accounting technicians, providing entry-level qualifications and CPD. Comparable to CPA Ireland as a UK/Irish accounting qualification and membership body, focused on a different rung of the qualification ladder.
Regional players
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS): Scottish chartered accountancy body with similar Recognised Accountancy Body functions. Comparable as a UK-and-Ireland jurisdiction professional accounting body operating a chartered qualification and practising certificate regime.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CPA Ireland social profiles
Digital presenceCPA Ireland compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
CPA Ireland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CPA Ireland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CPA Ireland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CPA Ireland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CPA Ireland
What does CPA Ireland do?
CPA Ireland is a Recognised Accountancy Body that delivers the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) professional qualification pathway, administers professional examinations, issues practising certificates for statutory audit authorisation under the Companies Act 2014, and provides continuing professional development (CPD) courses, technical publications, and member services to qualified accountants and students across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Following the 1 September 2024 amalgamation with Chartered Accountants Ireland, it now forms part of the largest professional accountancy body on the island of Ireland.
Is CPA Ireland a public or private company?
CPA Ireland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently acquired.
When was CPA Ireland founded?
CPA Ireland was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CPA Ireland based?
CPA Ireland is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does CPA Ireland make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are student Registration and Course Fees and practising Certificates.
Who are CPA Ireland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), AICPA (American Institute of CPAs), CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Ireland. Broad incumbents are ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (pre-merger ICAI legacy). IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) is listed as an others. Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is listed as an emerging player. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is listed as a regional player.
Does CPA Ireland have an API?
No public API is recorded for CPA Ireland.
What industry is CPA Ireland in?
CPA Ireland's product category is Professional Accountancy Membership and Qualification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAD, Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications, with a secondary code of EDAAALAA, Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE). Its NAICS code is 541211.