Insolvency Practitioners

Insolvency is a regulated profession

In the United Kingdom, only an authorised or licensed Insolvency Practitioner (usually abbreviated to IP) may be appointed in relation to formal insolvency procedures. In the UK Insolvency Practitioners advise on, and undertake appointments in, all formal insolvency procedures. In the UK Insolvency Practitioners are subject to oversight and inspection by the DTI Insolvency Service acting for the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry and the DETI Insolvency Service acting for the Secretary of State.

Quite often IPs have an accountancy background. A few active practitioners are lawyers, but it is not necessary to be qualified as either, as since 1986 there has been a direct entry route to the profession.

Insolvency is a regulated profession under the Insolvency Act 1986 and anyone who wishes to practise as an IP needs to pass the three examination papers set by the Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB) and meet the authorising body's insolvency experience requirements.

Licences are issued by the following recognised professional bodies:

• Insolvency Practitioners Association
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland
• The Law Society
• Law Society of Northern Ireland
• The Law Society of Scotland
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

The purpose of recognised professional bodies is to develop professional standards; creating insolvency qualifications; widening access to insolvency knowledge, Create understanding, and encouraging those involved in insolvency case administration and insolvency-related work to acquire and maintain appropriate levels of competence and skills.

As a "competent authority" under the Insolvency Act 1986, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) - and, for Northern Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment - also authorises IPs. The Insolvency Service , an executive agency of BERR, oversees insolvency regulation in Great Britain and each authorising body is represented on the Joint Insolvency Committee, which aims to develop and maintain insolvency standards and best practice guidance, largely by means of Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs).

There are currently around 1,500 Licensed Insolvency Practitioners in the United Kingdom, not all of whom take appointments – various lawyers hold licences but rarely use them to take appointments, preferring to advise other practitioners.

Procedures requiring an Insolvency Practitioner

Under UK law, unless the Official Receiver already holds office, the following types of formal insolvency procedure must be dealt with by a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner:

• Bankruptcy
• Liquidations
• IVA
• Company Voluntary Arrangements
• Administrations
• Administrative Receiverships
• Trust Deeds (only available in Scotland)

If you would like any further information and advice regarding insolvency practitioners the methods they use, please contact Money Advice Direct insolvecy advice team on 0800 074 6918.

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