Executive Leadership Pathway

Prepare your supporting documentation, such as proof of identity, degree completion certificate (if applicable), academic transcript(s), curriculum vitae (CV/resume), and a testimonial from an IFAC member that confirms the details of your position and duration of employment to validate your eligibility. 

Start your CPA membership application here. You will first be prompted to answer prequalifying questions and provide an indication of your leadership and work experience by selecting “Yes” to confirm you have relevant experience. Then upload supporting documents, including evidence of your experience in a C-suite/executive management role in accounting or finance.

Once all documents are uploaded, pay the application fee and submit your online application.

We will review your application carefully and, if necessary, contact you to request additional information to ensure we have everything required to complete the assessment.

You may be eligible to begin the Ethics and Governance subject under the CPA Program immediately based on your experience. Completing Ethics and Governance is an important step toward advancing to CPA status. 

If you do not meet the requirements for the Executive Leadership Pathway, we will review your application under the Experience-Based Pathway and provide a tailored outcome with clear guidance to support your journey to membership.

For information on application turnaround times, please contact us. Assessment outcomes may vary depending on the skills and experience you have achieved to date.

Roles won’t be publicly specified, but typical roles eligible under this pathway include Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer (with a strong accounting/finance background), Director of Finance, Partner, Principal, Head of Finance, and General Manager of Finance. Please note: roles vary across the globe, so it isn’t possible to prescribe every role type. 

We suggest that you provide as much information as possible in your curriculum vitae (CV) / resume to support your membership application. This may include, but is not limited to: 

• a summary of your level of skills, experience and expertise
• your career progression and detailed descriptions of the responsibilities you held (including achievements in each role) 
• any other training or achievements you feel are relevant and should be considered in your application. 

If you are ineligible for the Executive Leadership Pathway, you can still be considered for assessment under the Experience-Based Pathway or other pathways to CPA status. This may require you to provide additional information so that it can be assessed and validated by CPA Australia.

As an employer there is nothing additional you need to do, other than continue to support your employee as they complete their pathway to becoming a CPA.

You can reach out to your Relationship Manager, or contact us if you need further information.