The Company's Coat of Arms depicts a griffin, a form of heraldic monster half eagle and half lion, which is traditionally regarded as the guardian of treasure and hence is a suitable device for accountants. Sir Thomas Browne writing in 1645 says of griffins that they "defended the mines of gold", and so they are shown in a watchful position "regardant" and each issuing from a tower which is of masonry Argent and Gules, (white and red), the City colours, thus making a kind of checkerboard pattern. A cloth of this pattern was used in the Scacarium as a means of making early monetary calculations from which name the term "Exchequer" itself derives. Hence the cheeky appearance of the towers suggests calculation and computation as examples of those things for which accountants are responsible.

Each tower has a gateway with a portcullis, one is raised on the top, another is half-way and the last is closed, these positions denoting the various stages of account preparation from its beginning through to balancing the books and then the final closing of the same once the accounts have been completely and properly prepared.

The griffins and the towers are set against a background of Azure, (blue), symbolising the River Thames and hence London in general where most of the activities of the Company are carried out.

The crest device of a pair of scales is associated with the female figure representing Economy which is the main charge in the Arms of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The armed arm (which symbolises the protection from financial loss which the skill of Accountants secures for their clients) holding the scales is placed between a pair of dragon's wings in reference to the City of London, the Crest of which is one dragon's wing, and each wing is made cheeky of white and red, like the towers in the Shield, for the same symbolical reason.

The Company's name and style describing it as being "in England and Wales" is alluded to emblematically by the Supporters, the Lion for England and the Dragon for Wales, which are shown on each side of the Shield. The sword held by the Lion, in the same upright position as that taken by the Sword in the City's Shield of Arms, is meant to be a visual reminder that the Company of Chartered Accountants has been constituted as a Livery Company of the City of London, and functions as such, while the key that the Welsh dragon holds is an emblem of security signifying sage and sound methods of professional practice resulting in financial stability.

The Motto, "TRUE AND FAIR" expresses the tenets by which all Accountants govern themselves and says in words that which the pair of scales in the Crest emblematically portrays.