Accounting Professional Associations in Ukraine and Europe

Abstract

Today, the professional movement of accountants in Ukraine is characterized by a low influence on the profession's development and therefore needs improvement. The article aims to compare the activities of European and Ukrainian public organizations of accountants according to key characteristics to highlight the weaknesses of the Ukrainian accounting movement. The comparison method made it possible to compare the experience of 55 European public organizations and 6 Ukrainian ones, which, in combination with the methods of analysis and synthesis, led to the identification of nine key indicators of the effectiveness of public associations and the clarification of the weaknesses of the Ukrainian public movement of accountants. The application of the mathematical method made it possible to reveal the financial burden on members of organizations and establish a connection between it and the practical tools used by professional associations to achieve their goals. The values of European public organizations, the benefits of training contract participants, the requirements of foreign associations for professional certification and the weaknesses of the domestic accounting movement are illustrated with the help of a graphic method. The researchers found that the weaknesses of the accounting movement in Ukraine are: weak positioning, a limited list of practical tools, minimal influence on the regulation of the profession, simplified requirements for certification, insufficient budget for the implementation of the goal, insignificant promotion of successful employment of members, insufficient maturity of civil society, partial implementation of the International standards of education. The results of the study make it possible to form a holistic vision of further actions of representatives of the authorities, public organizations and their members to strengthen the status of the accountant as a guarantor of the economic security of the country, as well as the involvement of the accounting community in solving socially significant issues in the country.