AABA has now learnt that during his term in office, ACCA President Peter Langard was accompanied on his overseas travels by a Ms Norma Matchett. An 'insider' told AABA that, allegedly, Norma is not the name of the person Peter Langard is legally married to and that the cost of her travel has been charged to the Association. Ms Matchett is not an ACCA member. There have been no disclosures in the ACCA accounts. It is understood that previously Austin Mitchell MP has asked the Association to make a statement on the matter but the Association has declined.

Each year ACCA officeholders go on world-wide travels. They also take their friends and spouses with them and charge the resulting costs to the Associations. There are no bye-laws which permit them to do this. Other professional bodies (e.g. the Law Society, CIPFA) specifically forbid their officeholders from charging the spouse travel costs to the professional bodies. But at the Association anything goes.

The spouses and friends are not ACCA members and are not elected by anyone. They are not ACCA officials or employees. There is no direct benefit  of their travel to ACCA members.

Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 8 on 'related party disclosures' recommends that the expenses, such travel costs, are disclosed but the Association ignores the standard. In any case, the need for disclosures arises independently of any justification for taking spouses and friends on world travels. Does the Association not believe in transparency? In the interest of accountability and transparency AABA  invites Peter Langard and the ACCA Council to make a statement and full disclosures.