How To Start ACCA After CA? (A Career Guide)

Once you complete your Chartered Accountancy (CA), if you aim to grow your professional life across the world, then obtaining the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certification could be a prudent move. ACCA is highly recognized all over the world and opens new doors in multinational firms, finance institutions, and also advisory firms worldwide. The positive aspect is that the majority of CA qualified individuals can claim exemptions on certain of the ACCA exams, so the process is quicker and more effective. This article is intended to assist you in comprehending the advantages, exemptions, and procedure of how to start  ACCA after CA so that you will be able to make a professional decision.

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Why Pursue ACCA After CA?

Taking the ACCA after CA is a strategic step towards international career development by professionals. CA is greatly prized, but the recognition is limited to one country in most of the scenarios, whereas ACCA is recognized in more than 180 countries across the globe, like in the UK, Canada, and the UAE. It provides opportunities of global employment and careers with multinational organizations. Various exemptions are also given by CA professionals in ACCA so that they can finish the qualification sooner. ACCA also offers an international view of standards of financial reporting, which proves to be valuable for employment across various careers in accounting and finance. With higher career prospects, better pay potential, and higher flexibility, ACCA is an excellent addition to a CA’s qualifications.

Benefits Of Taking ACCA after CA

Post-CA, going for ACCA provides many advantages such as global acceptance, quicker qualification, and greater career prospects. As ACCA is accepted in more than 180 countries, it gives Chartered Accountants a passport to practice in multinational corporations, banks, and consultancy firms anywhere in the globe. CA professionals also benefit from a range of exemptions from exams that shorten the duration and effort to attain ACCA. Apart from this, ACCA also encompasses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), from which it is easy to switch to international career opportunities. Specialists with this double qualification can increase career prospects, expand their compensation scale, and move to senior positions like CFO, financial advisor, or audit expert in foreign markets.

• Global Recognition – ACCA opens doors to international job opportunities.
• Faster Qualification – CA professionals get multiple exam exemptions, reducing the time required to complete ACCA.
• Higher Earning Potential – Many global employers value ACCA, leading to better salary prospects.
• Diverse Career Paths – With ACCA, you can explore careers in financial consulting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting.

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Exemptions for CA Professionals in ACCA

One of the largest benefits of studying ACCA after CA is the exemption policy. Being a qualified Chartered Accountant, ACCA exempts you from most papers and you only need to take the rest of them.

Exemptions for ICAI (Indian CA) Members:
As a complete CA, you are exempted from:

• Business & Technology (BT)
• Management Accounting (MA)
•  Financial Accounting (FA)
• Corporate & Business Law (LW)
• Performance Management (PM)
• Taxation (TX)
•  Financial Reporting (FR)
•  Audit & Assurance (AA)
•  Financial Management (FM)

I.e., you need to attend:

•  Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
• Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
• One Optional Paper (e.g., Advanced Financial Management, Advanced Performance Management,
• Advanced Taxation, or Advanced Audit & Assurance)
• Ethics & Professional Skills Module

These exemptions reduce the effort and time needed to obtain your ACCA qualification significantly!

How To Start ACCA After CA?

Here is a step by step guide to start ACCA after CA.

1. ACCA Registration

• Go to the website of ACCA (www.accaglobal.com) and register yourself.
• Fill your CA qualification information to claim exemption.

2. Exemption & Registration Fees

• Exemption fees on each of the exempted papers will be charged by ACCA.
• The cost will differ based on the amount of exemptions that are awarded.

3. Prepare for the Rest of the ACCA Papers

• Since you have to clear only SBL, SBR, and one optional paper, you may choose professional guidance or self-learning.
• Study using ACCA-approved study texts from BPP, Kaplan, or Becker.

4. Take the Ethics & Professional Skills Module

• It is an online module that is compulsory and assists in building ethical decision-making skills.

 5. Practical Experience

• ACCA has a requirement of 36 months of work experience in accounting, finance, or audit.
• If you have already got experience as a CA, you can utilize it for this requirement.

6.  Pass the Exams and become an ACCA Member

• After completing all the mandatory exams and fulfilling the work experience requirement, you are eligible to become a member of ACCA.

Career Opportunities After CA + ACCA

Having CA and ACCA listed on your CV opens up fantastic career opportunities, including:

• Global Accounting & Finance roles in multinationals
•  Senior Financial Analyst / Consultant positions
•  Audit & Assurance Specialist in Big 4 companies
•  Risk Management & Compliance Specialist
• CFO or Finance Director in multinational corporations

CONCLUSION

After CA, taking ACCA is an excellent career option if you desire worldwide recognition and more options to earn further jobs. ACCA with exemption of other bodies, speedy entrance, and widespread career options is an advantage in your professional certificate. Thus, if you would like to brighten your accountancy career, begin the journey of ACCA now!

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