ACCA vs CA which is better?

Both the courses have their own characteristics that makes them one of the most sought out professional course in the arena of finance & accounting. However, they differ for opportunities in terms of career in India or abroad. CA is well-suited for India as it makes you well versed with India's accounting system. However, ACCA is globally recognised and hence it is for someone who is willing to settle abroad.

• 1. For ACCA, you can pursue articleship while appearing for exams which makes it easier for you to complete the course in 3-4 years. In case of CA, you can pursue articleship only after you complete both the groups of IPCC.
• 2. Average starting salary for CA is Rs.8 Lakhs p.a. and for ACCA it is approximately Rs.5.6 Lakhs p.a.
• 3. ACCA course takes shorter span to complete with regards to CA.
• 4. ACCA is a globally certified degree whereas CA holds an Indian monopoly as it specialises in Indian Tax & Accounting system.
• 5. In terms of costing ACCA is more costly as it is UK based.
• 6. With regards to level of difficulty CA is considered to be toughest.

Both CA vs ACCA are very in-depth courses and include almost everything which is required by finance professionals. The professionals can cater to the retail public, Individual, Government bodies, non-profit making organizations, and business houses. The fields across which they cater are taxation, accounting, auditing, finance, financial analysis etc. Thus, to make sure the organization works smoothly CA vs ACCA courses come into the picture.

Commonly the CA course is considered to be harder than ACCA, considering the number of years, the number of papers, course levels and versatility of both courses. Finplan ACCA institute makes it easier to clear ACCA examination, over 1000+ ACCA students clear their examination with good marks.

The Average salary of Chartered Accountants lies between 6-7 lakhs. The Average earnings of ACCA have been 4 to 10 lakhs. Indian Companies prefer CA's as they are aware of Indian Laws and related terms. Multinational companies who are handling the work of overseas clients or companies outside India prefer ACCA.

As ACCA is globally recognised it is considered above CA. CA deals with India Accounting, finance and taxation systems which makes it great fit for India but not ideal for someone who wants to settle abroad.

Yes, it definitely gives you an upper hand if you do ACCA after or along with CA. ACCA Stands for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. If you pursue ACCA , after completing CA you will get 9 papers exemptions and you have to give exams of only 4 papers of Strategic Level.

Pursuing the ACCA course to become a global chartered accountant has many advantages. Among them, salary is one such advantage. Starting salary for an ACCA affiliate in India can be in the range of 4 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs per annum. Once you become an ACCA member the salary increases over 10 to 15 Lakhs annually. The ACCA salary in India has become on par with CA’s salary in several roles because of the similarity of skill sets in both qualifications.

If you are willing to do both CA and ACCA simultaneously, you have to choose the most best way to complete them. But honestly it is all about your way of looking at it and how you compliment your decision with the best available learning resources. Initially, you can begin with the CA, finish until IPCC and then simultaneously take up the ACCA course.

This is possible because ACCA is flexible when compared to the CA levels and there is no grouping involved in the levels. Once you finish the IPCC level, you will have a time frame of 2 years to do articles before you begin with the CA final and that is when you can start preparing for the ACCA.

You will have some of the papers in common and that is only going to help you perform even better. But ACCA on a larger note is vast and inclusive of both finance and accounting and you also get to know a lot about managerial aspects of a business. It is you who have to ensure you do justice to both the papers and since you can learn the ACCA course online from industry experts like Grant Thornton, you will be in safe hands.

If you complete your IPCC, it will ease you from the fundamentals of ACCA and similarly, the professional level of ACCA will help you attempt CA final with more confidence. It is easier said than done and make sure you can give your fullest to both CA and ACCA. What is more important here is how strong and determined you are to take up both CA and ACCA is what is going to fetch you the results.

After your ACCA professional, you can take up the CA final and for both the qualification, three years of work experience can be counted, you are there at your final leap. Positive mindset and good mental health are essential to help you attain your dream. Keep your passion and desire strong and in the meanwhile never forget, consistency is the key to success.

Check out Finplan’s ACCA Student Journey.