ACCA is being sued for more than £100,000 by an employee who says he was sacked for being American.

The lawsuit, brought by a former member of ACCA's global press office based in London, emerged last week at a dramatic AGM in which a vote to increase members' subscriptions was passed by only 28 votes.

The claim, made under the Race Discrimination Act, is being brought by Geoffrey Pomerantz, an American citizen, Accountancy Age can reveal. It alleges that Pomerantz was unfairly dismissed in January on the grounds that it was not legal for him to work in the UK.

Pomerantz disputes the fact that it was illegal for him to work in Britain, alleging further that ACCA chief executive Allen Blewitt personally failed to follow disciplinary procedures in not allowing him to appeal against the sacking.

ACCA refused to comment on the case, saying that it does not discuss personnel matters.

A spokesman said of the vote: 'We are listening to members and take the vote on board. You have to invest in services to provide services and enable the organisation to grow.'