ACCA Expands Its Presence in the Egyptian Market Through Strategic Agreements with ESAA and Leading Academic Partnerships

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), one of the world’s leading professional bodies in accounting and finance, has announced a new package of strategic agreements and executive initiatives aimed at enhancing professional capability, advancing and modernising the accountancy profession in Egypt, aligning academic education with labour market demands, and strengthening the competitiveness of the Egyptian market regionally and internationally.

A high-level meeting was recently convened between the Egyptian Society of Accountants and Auditors (ESAA) and ACCA, during which both parties reaffirmed their strategic alignment and agreed to accelerate and expand collaborative efforts to further develop the profession in Egypt.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Hazem Hassan, Chairman of ESAA and Chairman of KPMG Egypt, and one of ACCA’s longest-standing members in Egypt, alongside Mr Kamel Saleh, Chairman of the Examination Committee at ESAA and Managing Partner at SBA – Grant Thornton Egypt. Also in attendance were Mr Mohamed Yehia, Director of the ESAA Training Centre, and Mr Mohanad Khaled FCCA, Managing Partner at BDO, who was appointed as the principal point of contact to coordinate collaboration between the two organisations.

Both parties agreed to launch an executive cooperation framework as the next phase, comprising a series of focused working sessions to define priority areas, establish clear performance indicators, and develop a practical roadmap for implementation.

The agreed areas of collaboration include strengthening employer engagement in advancing the profession, supporting professional dialogue and contributing to technical and policy insights, enhancing recognition and membership pathways, and facilitating knowledge exchange around the continued development and redesign of the ACCA qualification to meet future market demands.

This joint coordination reflects a shared commitment to elevating the standing of the profession in Egypt and aligning it with international best practices and global standards.

Expanding Academic Partnerships Across Egypt

ACCA has also signed Memoranda of Understanding with two prominent Egyptian universities, further strengthening the integration between higher education and internationally recognised professional qualifications. These agreements build upon ACCA’s existing strategic partnerships established in recent years with leading institutions such as The American University in Cairo (AUC), The German University in Cairo (GUC), Modern International University (MIU), Alexandria University, and other distinguished academic institutions across the Egyptian market.

ACCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the German International University (GIU), marking the launch of a strategic partnership aimed at embedding global professional standards within academic programmes. The MoU was signed by Prof. Slim Abdelnazer, President of GIU, and Mr Raymond Jack, Global Executive Director, Finance & Operations at ACCA, in the presence of senior academic and executive leaders from both sides.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr Raghda El Ebrashi, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Dr Sameh Reyad, Professor of Accounting; Ms Sanaria Essam Ali, Assistant Lecturer in Accounting; along with several faculty members.

Representing ACCA were Mr Kush Ahuja, Head of ACCA Middle East and Asia, and Ms Nurihan AbdelBary, Market Development Manager – Egypt, who emphasised that the partnership represents a strategic step toward expanding access to globally recognised professional qualifications within Egyptian universities. She highlighted the positive outcomes achieved through partnership agreements during 2024 and 2025 with leading Egyptian universities, noting their measurable impact on enhancing graduates’ readiness for both local and international labour markets.

Ain Shams University: A Practical Step Toward Global and Local Integration

In a further milestone, the Faculty of Commerce at Ain Shams University announced the launch of the “Dual Path Programme” in collaboration with ACCA. The programme enables students to pursue their academic studies while simultaneously progressing toward the ACCA professional qualification, reinforcing deeper integration between academic education and international professional accreditation.

Tangible Impact Across the Professional Community

ACCA’s expansion in Egypt extends beyond formal agreements. It includes interactive engagement initiatives with members and students, strengthened collaboration with Approved Learning Partners, and increased employer engagement to support the attraction and development of qualified talent.

Feedback from members and students in Egypt reflects growing appreciation of the value of the ACCA qualification in supporting professional career pathways—particularly among individuals transitioning from specialised certifications such as DipIFRS to full ACCA membership. This underscores ACCA’s role in opening broader professional horizons and enhancing career mobility.

A Long-Term Commitment to the Egyptian Market

ACCA stated: “Egypt represents a strategically important market for ACCA. This expansion reflects our long-term commitment to supporting the accountancy and finance profession through academic partnerships, institutional collaboration, and enhanced employer engagement. Our objective is to develop clear pathways, strengthen professional recognition, and contribute to building a sustainable professional ecosystem aligned with international standards.”

In line with this direction, ACCA has also launched its official social media group in Egypt for the first time, aiming to provide a trusted source of official information and strengthen direct engagement with professionals, students, and members within the finance and accountancy community, contributing to unified messaging and enhanced transparency.

These integrated initiatives reaffirm ACCA’s forward-looking vision to strengthen the finance and accountancy sector in Egypt, support national economic growth, and empower professional talent to achieve their ambitions locally and internationally.