This week, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has approved its first learning partner in Barbados under the ACCA's New Approved Learning Partner Programme. Prestige Accounting Bookshop & Accountancy College has been approved as the first learning partner in the Caribbean, achieving Gold status which is effective immediately.

Prestige, under the direction of Managing Director & Lecturer, David Simpson has been providing ACCA training since April 2000. Prestige provides various training options for both the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Scheme and the ACCA Professional Scheme. Prestige was first accredited by ACCA under the University College Registered Scheme (UCRS) in 2003 and maintained registered status until September 2007. ACCA is a global body which provides qualification at the technical, professional and post graduate levels to accounting professionals.

ACCA's current professional scheme is the world's fastest growing international accounting qualification with a new student registering every eight minutes. There are currently over 1,000 Barbadians who are either qualified ACCA professionals or who are undertaking studies towards accounting qualifications. ACCA qualified persons can be found working with the BIG Four locally as well as other private and public sector companies.

Esther Le Gendre, ACCA Caribbean's Head of Corporate Development has welcomed the Caribbean region's newest learning partner. She said, "Learning partners are an important link in the delivery of service to students working towards achieving professional qualifications. They help ACCA to provide the opportunity and the access to people of ability around the world." Gold status is granted only to tuition providers who meet a set of specific quality criteria. Prestige's approval means that Barbadians have more support to address the gap in providing locally qualified professionals to support the financial services industry.

Reproduced with the kind permission of ACCA Caribbean Office.
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Originally published October 30th, 2007. For further information please contact:

Maria Batson at 1 868 622 3434