[1]: 12 The CFA was established on 29 December 2000 in Beijing, in accordance with China's Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations.
It is governed by the General Meeting of its members and by a standing authority, the council, composed of 17 professional committees: as of early 2025, these are respectively on (1) Brokerage Business, (2) Asset Management, (3) Derivatives Traders, (4) International Business, (5) Information Technology, (6) Self-regulatory Supervision, (7) Appeals, (8) Dispute Resolution, (9) Talent Cultivation, (10) Investor Education & Protection, (11) Research & Development, (12) Financial Technology, (13) Law, (14) Social Responsibility, (15) Cultural Development, (16) Talents Cultivation Fund Management Committee, and (17) Investor Education Fund Management Committee.
[2] The CFA is led by its chairman, several vice chairmen, and the secretary general.
The organization has 11 functional departments: (1) General Office, (2) Discipline Inspection Office, (3) Membership I, (4) Membership II, (5) Self-regulatory Supervision, (6) Innovation Business, (7) Investor Education, (8) Examination and Certification, (9) Research, (10) Training, (11) Information Technology.
Affiliate members include local associations, banks, software developers, and technology service providers among others.