CPA Ireland

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.

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

Product category

Professional Accountancy Membership and Qualification Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAANAD

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDAAALAA

Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDANAIAD

Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Professional Certification & Licensure Exam Prep

SECONDARYEDAAALAJ

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

Keywords

• Professional accountancy body
• CPA qualification
• Continuing professional development
• Statutory audit authorisation
• Accounting membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Student Registration and Course Fees: Fees for student registration, study guides, examination fees, and CPD course enrollment
3. Practising Certificates: Annual practising certificates issued to qualified members in practice, required for statutory audit and public practice

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core 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

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Accountants IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024In 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022The 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)coreOthersIAASA 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 EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/CPANews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CPAIreland
• Facebookfacebook.com/cpaireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cpaireland
• TikToktiktok.com/@cpaireland
• Pinterestpinterest.com/CPAireland

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CPA Ireland