This means that firms don't have to obtain direct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This limited range of regulated activities is known as exempt regulated activities and should be ‘incidental’ to the core accounting, auditing, taxation and business advice activities of the firm.

You can read more about the scope of exempt regulated activities and the application process in section three of our Practice Information handbook. To apply, download an application for exempt related activities (UK).

If you carry out, or plan to carry out, regulated activities other than exempt regulated activities, you’ll need direct FCA authorisation.

For further information about the DPBRs or types of work ACCA regulated firms can undertake, contact our Technical Advisory team at advisory@accaglobal.com. Further information about investment business activities can also be found on our technical article.  For further information about credit-related regulated activities, read our technical article Consumer credit: how it affects ACCA members.

You can find out the eligibility requirements for different practices, simply select the most relevant to you.

  • Sole practitioner

    To be eligible to carry on regulated activities, a sole practitioner:

    • should be a member; 
    • hold a practising certificate; and
    • their main business be the provision of public practice accountancy services.
  • Partnership

    To be eligible to carry on regulated activities for a partnership:

    • at least one of the partners in the firm should be a member, and each partner who isn’t a member should be entitled to practise accountancy and subject to our regulations; 
    • the partners who are members of ACCA or of another designated professional body (if any) should manage or control the firm; and
    • the main business of the partnership should be the provision of public practice accountancy services. 
  • Company

    To be eligible to carry on regulated activities for a company:

    • at least one director and controller should be a member, and each director who isn’t a member should be entitled to practise accountancy and subject to our regulations;
    • the directors who are members of ACCA or of another designated professional body (if any) should manage or control the firm; and
    • its main business should be the provision of public practice accountancy services.