What is CPD for accountants and why is it important?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the learning accountants need to do throughout their careers to stay qualified, relevant, and competent.

Whether you’re with ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA, or another professional body, CPD is a requirement — though the details may vary. Some specify a set number of hours; others highlight key topics. Either way, the responsibility is yours to stay on top of it every year.

Why CPD matters

The accounting world doesn’t stand still — and neither can your skills. CPD helps you stay sharp, trusted, and up to date with the latest developments. Sure, it can be hard to prioritise learning when things get busy, but the requirement helps push it higher on your list. Plus, with so many flexible, online CPD options available now, fitting it in is easier than ever.

How to make CPD work for you

CPD doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a bit of planning, you can shape your learning around your career goals, preferences, and time. Online CPD in particular gives you the freedom to learn at your own pace — when and where it suits you.

To help you get started, ask yourself:

• Do you prefer reading through a course or watching a webinar?
• Would you rather follow a structured learning pathway or mix and match different courses?
• How much time can you realistically set aside — and what formats fit best?
• Would you prefer online learning or in-person events?

And if your main challenge isn’t doing CPD, but remembering what you’ve done — centralising your records is a game-changer. Having all your CPD activity in one place makes your annual declaration far easier (and less panic-inducing).

Choosing the right CPD topics

CPD is most useful when it actually interests you. The more relevant the topic, the more likely you are to engage with it — and benefit from it. Whether you’re looking to brush up on technical skills or develop soft skills like communication and resilience, there’s a course out there that fits.

Start by considering:

• Where are your current skill gaps?
• What new knowledge would help you do your job better?
• Which topics would support your long-term career goals?

Still stuck? Here are some popular CPD areas for this year:

• Excel and data skills
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Sustainable thinking and ESG
• Building resilience
• Technology and digital innovation
• Ethics and professionalism
• Regulatory and technical updates
• Improving profitability and business performance