No merger for ICAEW/CIPFA

THERE ARE no plans for a merger between the ICAEW and CIPFA, according to Michael Izza.

In a wide-ranging interview with Accountancy Age taking in his five-year anniversary as chief executive, Izza said there was no chance of revisiting the proposed merger with CIPFA, which was narrowly voted down in 2005.

"There are no formal merger plans in the short, medium or long term," Izza told Accountancy Age.

He hoped that CIMA would decide to return to the institutes' umbrella organisation the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB)

However, the five bodies (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland) within the CCAB would "continue forward" without them.

Izza also discussed the institute's public policy strategy, international focus, the new Practice Resource Centre, the outlook for small and medium-sized firms - and the soon-to-be revised qualification.

Visit Accountancy Age tomorrow for the full interview.