An island nation located in the heart of Asia, Singapore is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with abundant lush green gardens and tall skyscrapers. Singapore’s multi-ethnic culture is a blend of tradition and customs from the Malays, Indians, Chinese and Eurasians.

With 710 square kilometers of land, Singapore’s strategic location has facilitated our role as a trade and transport hub, connecting the world on both sides – east and west. Singapore has implemented 22 Free Trade Agreements with 32 trading partners. Its robust economy, business-friendly rules and regulatory environment offer companies the ideal landscape for investment.

The law governing the public accountancy profession in Singapore is the Accountants Act 2004[1] (which came into effect on 1 April 2004 and revised in 2005). This Act consists of two other rules:

- The Accountants (Public Accountants) Rules dated 1 April 2004 and,

- The Accountants (Accounting Corporations, Accounting Firms and Accounting LLPs) Rules dated 6 October 2006

For more information on the full act and rules, please refer to the Singapore Statutes Online website.

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. ISCA’s vision is to be a globally recognised professional accountancy body, bringing value to our members, the profession and wider community. There are over 32,000 ISCA members making their stride in businesses across industries in Singapore and around the world.

Established in 1963, ISCA is an advocate of the interests of the profession. Possessing a Global Mindset, with Asian Insights, ISCA leverages its regional expertise, knowledge, and networks with diverse stakeholders to strengthen the profession and contribute towards the development of strong economies. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and ASEAN Federation of Accountants. ISCA is the Administrator of the Singapore CA Qualification and the Designated Entity to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore - CA (Singapore) - designation.

Membership with ISCA

There are four types of Membership available with ISCA:

-   Affiliate (ISCA) or Accredited Accounting Technician (Singapore)

-   Associate (ISCA)

-   Chartered Accountant of Singapore (“CA (Singapore)”)

-   Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore (“FCA (Singapore)”)

All ISCA members are expected to uphold and maintain their professional and ethical standing within the accountancy profession by abiding to the ISCA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and the ISCA Constitution & Rules.

For more information on the ISCA Member Obligations, please refer to the ISCA website.

Affiliate (ISCA) or Accredited Accounting Technician (Singapore)

Affiliates (ISCA) are qualified accounting technicians who perform a variety of accounting and financial roles. The official designation of Affiliate (ISCA) members is "Accredited Accounting Technician (Singapore)" or "AAT (Singapore)".

Accounting technicians can join ISCA as an Affiliate (ISCA) and get the professional recognition, support and resources for career development. Find out more here.

Associate (ISCA)

Associates (ISCA) are professionals with an accounting degree or an equivalent accounting qualification, working in the accountancy profession across diverse sectors and industries. The official designation of Associate is "Associate (ISCA)".

Accounting graduates can join ISCA as an Associate (ISCA) and be recognised as a highly skilled and knowledgeable accounting professional possessing a grasp of real-world business issues. Find out more here.

Chartered Accountant of Singapore (“CA (Singapore)”)

Chartered Accountants are qualified accounting professionals equipped with financial expertise and business acumen. They are valued by employers and recognised as holding the highest standards in ethical and professional conduct. The CA (Singapore) designation remains the highest form of professional designation conferred by ISCA, with its stringent eligibility criteria unchanged.  

The Chartered Accountant of Singapore or CA (Singapore) professional designation will be conferred to candidates who have completed the Singapore CA Qualification.

Entry Routes to be a CA (Singapore):

-  Complete the Singapore CA Qualification; or

-  Apply for CA (Singapore) through the Reciprocal Membership Agreement (RMA) route

Find out more here.

Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore (“FCA (Singapore)”)

Fellow membership is a recognition accorded to long-standing senior CA (Singapore) members. The official designation of Fellow Member is "Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore" or "FCA (Singapore)".

A CA (Singapore) who has been a member of ISCA for 10 years or more and has no less than 5 years at senior management level or has been in full-time practice as a public accountant is eligible to be advanced to the status of Fellow of the Institute. A Fellow of the Institute shall use the designation “Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore” or the designatory letters “FCA (Singapore)”. Find out more here.

NAB & PRA requirement

Approved external auditor must be a member of ISCA (CA Singapore) and approved by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

NAB requirement:

1. Complete the CA (Singapore) Qualification; or
2. Satisfy the conditions of the Transitional Arrangements within the specified timelines; or
3. A full member of another professional accountancy body through the Reciprocal Membership Agreement (RMA) route

Transitional Arrangements:

PRA Requirement:

Must obtain audit license from ACRA.

Other regulatory requirement:

The auditing firm appointed by the issuer must be

• Registered with ACRA;
• Registered with and/or regulated by an independent audit oversight body acceptable to the Singapore Exchange (i.e. SGX); or
• Any other auditing firm acceptable by the Exchange.

SGX has the right to object to the appointment of auditors if the Exchange does not find them to be suitable.

For Financial Institutions/Insurance companies, the appointment and/or reappointment of auditors must be approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

No.


Remarks

Subject to domestic regulations such as Accountants Act, Companies Act immigration & employment laws etc.

Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

This service is regulated by ACRA. A license issued by ACRA and membership with ISCA is required for practice.

NAB Requirement

No

PRA Requirement

Yes. Approved liquidator can be either a public accountant or non-public accountant and must be registered as such with ACRA. An approved liquidator is required for compulsory winding up by the Courts or creditors. Voluntary winding up by members or creditors are not required to be performed by approved liquidators.

NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

NAB Requirement:

PRA Requirement :

No.


Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

This service is regulated by ACRA. A License issued by ACRA is required for practice.

NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

Capital Market Services (CMS) license will only be granted to a corporation, by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Details of CMS license can be found here.

No.

Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

Not open to Individuals.

• CFO
• Finance Director
• Finance Manager
• Group Accountant
• Tax Accountant
• Accounts Executive

NAB Requirement :

No

Note: Since May 2010, tax professionals are encouraged to be accredited by Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SIATP).

Accreditation is based on three categories -Accredited Tax Advisor, Accredited Tax Practitioner and Accredited Tax Practitioner (Provisional) - and two areas of specialisations - Income Tax and GST.

Details of accreditation can be found here.

PRA requirement:

No


NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

NAB requirement:

No

PRA requirement:

No

Other requirements(from other regulator):

No

No.


Remarks

Subject to domestic regulations such as Accountants Act, immigration & employment laws, stock exchange rules, Income Tax and various tax statutes (eg GST, property tax) etc.

Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

This is a non regulated service and hence open to all including ASEAN CPA/ RFPA.

NAB Requirement Registration Requirement :

Yes

PRA requirement:

No


NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

NAB requirement:

• Pass and complete ISCA Financial Forensic Accounting Qualification exams within 2 years or
• Submit a professional competency write-up (1,000-1,500 words) under the one-off limited period grandfathering scheme which is for highly experienced financial forensic professionals

Additional note:

Non-ISCA members who do not hold valid class of ISCA memberships  such as full membership with FCA (Singapore), CA (Singapore) designation or Associate (ISCA), but have passed and completed the ISCA Financial Forensic Accounting Qualification or submit a professional competency write-up under the one-off limited period grandfathering scheme, can apply to become ISCA Associate (Specialist) and be conferred the ISCA FFP.

PRA requirement:

No

Other requirements (from other regulator):

No

No.


Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

This is non-regulated service and hence open to all including ASEAN CPA and RFPA.

• Internal Auditor
• Risk Manager
• Governance Advisory Consultants
• Management Consultant

No

NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)

NAB requirement:

No

PRA requirement:

No

Other requirements(from other regulator):

No

No.


Remarks

Subject to domestic regulations such as immigration & employment laws, stock exchange rules etc

Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)

This is a non-regulated service and hence open to all including ASEAN CPA and RFPA.