Bankruptcy & Criminal Convictions

Bankruptcy, arrangements with creditors, or criminal convictions may affect your eligibility to become a member of ICB. Persons applying for either student registration or membership must make a full declaration.

 

Applying to ICB with Past Financial or Legal Matters

At ICB, we’re committed to maintaining high professional standards and protecting the integrity of the bookkeeping profession. That means we need to carefully assess each application to make sure new members are suitable and ready to meet those standards.

If you're applying for student registration or membership and have ever been bankrupt, entered into a formal agreement with creditors (like an IVA), or have any unspent criminal convictions, you’ll need to let us know when you apply by making a full and honest declaration.

Don’t worry — having a past financial or legal issue doesn’t automatically mean you won’t be accepted. We take every application on a case-by-case basis and aim to make fair and balanced decisions based on all the information you provide.

Please read the guidance below carefully and be sure to include all relevant details when submitting your application. If we don’t have the full picture, we may not be able to move your application forward.

Bankruptcy

If you've been declared bankrupt, you’ll only be eligible for membership once you’ve been formally discharged. Please provide:

  1. The date you were declared bankrupt

  2. The date your bankruptcy was discharged

  3. A step-by-step account of how the debt occurred, including who was owed and how much

  4. What actions you’ve taken (or plan to take) to prevent future financial difficulty

  5. A copy of your bankruptcy order and discharge notice

  6. Any other details that might help us understand your circumstances

Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs)

Please provide:

  1. The date your arrangement began

  2. The date it ended (if applicable)

  3. A full explanation of how the debt occurred, including creditors and amounts

  4. Confirmation of any payment plan and whether it’s complete

  5. Any other supporting information

County Court Judgments (CCJs)

Please provide:

  1. The date of the judgment

  2. Details of what led to the CCJ, including amounts owed and to whom

  3. A full explanation of the circumstances

  4. Any other supporting information

Criminal Convictions

Please list any unspent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. You’ll need to provide:

  1. The date of the conviction

  2. The court where it took place

  3. Details of the offence and sentence or fine

  4. A step-by-step account of the events leading to the conviction

  5. A copy of the Certificate of Conviction

  6. Any other information that may help us make a fair assessment

If you’d prefer to speak to someone in confidence before applying, please contact the Manager of our Membership team. They’ll be happy to talk things through with you.

Please note, final decisions are made by our Admissions Panel once we’ve received all required documentation. We’re here to help you through the process and treat all applications with care and respect.

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