Why ACCA After CA Could Be a Game Changer for Your Career

In today’s competitive job market, it is highly appreciated to possess industry-required knowledge and skills by pursuing various certifications. However, possessing dual certifications not only sharpens your skills but also infuses a distinct edge, making you more adaptable and versatile in your career.

Likewise pursuing ACCA after CA is a smart move that broadens your expertise and opens up global opportunities. Doing ACCA course just after CA also helps in enhancing your professional credentials and marketability.

ACCA After CA: Is It Worth Doing?

The dual degree combination not only enables you to gain an edge over your peers but also makes you a suitable candidate for your potential employer. CA itself has already laid a strong foundation but ACCA will give you worldwide recognition. ACCA after CA is beneficial and in so many ways listed below. 

• Strong Global Recognition: While CA is highly valued in India, ACCA is a globally recognised qualification that can help CA professionals explore international career opportunities across industries.
• Additional Exemptions: CA-qualified candidates will receive up to 9 exemptions in ACCA, depending on their qualifications. This means they may need to clear only 4 ACCA exams to complete the qualification.
• Broader Career Opportunities: Adding ACCA qualification to your CA qualification can strengthen your skills in international accounting, financial reporting, taxation and finance.
• Better Global Mobility: ACCA can open opportunities within MNCs, BIG 4s, global consulting firms and organisations with international operations.
• Competitive Earning Potential: With the growing demand for globally skilled finance professionals, ACCA salary in India can be attractive across accounting, audit, consulting and financial services roles.
• Access to Global Employers: ACCA has a dedicated job portal featuring 7,300+ approved employers  and thousands of job opportunities across sectors such as banking, financial services, public practice, defence, digital, education and healthcare.
• Support for Career Growth: The ACCA job portal allows candidates to explore jobs and internships based on country, role and sector, making it easier to identify relevant career opportunities.

Overall, pursuing ACCA after CA can add an international dimension to your existing qualification and give you access to a wider range of career opportunities in India and abroad.

Is ACCA Difficult Than CA

No, CA is considered to be the toughest qualification to crack and ACCA also offers exemptions considering your prior knowledge and experience, so it becomes easy for you to gain the certification faster.

• CA is generally considered more difficult due to its rigorous syllabus and lower pass rates.
• ACCA is more flexible, with multiple exam sessions and a modular structure.
• CA is more India-focused, while ACCA has a stronger global focus.
• Both require consistent preparation and a good understanding of accounting and finance.

So, ACCA can be more manageable than CA, but it is still a challenging professional qualification.

ACCA Exemptions for CA Foundation Level Students

ACCA exempts CA students from studying repeated subjects to avoid wastage of students’ efforts. 

• CA Foundation:

  No ACCA exemptions. Students need to clear all 13 ACCA papers.

• CA Inter (IPCC):

  Get 6 exemptions:

  • Applied Knowledge: Business & Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Financial Accounting (FA)
  • Applied Skills: Corporate & Business Law (LW), Taxation (TX), Audit & Assurance (AA)
  • Remaining: 7 ACCA papers

• CA with Relevant Experience:

  Get 9 exemptions:

  • Applied Knowledge: BT, MA, FA
  • Applied Skills: LW, Financial Management (FM), Financial Reporting (FR), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Audit & Assurance (AA)
  • Remaining: 4 Strategic Professional papers

These exemptions help CA students avoid repeating subjects already covered during their CA studies and complete ACCA faster.

ACCA After CA Fees

The total ACCA cost after CA depends on the number of exemptions you receive and the remaining papers you need to clear. For example, a CA Inter-qualified student with 6 exemptions needs to complete 7 ACCA papers.

The coaching fee is not included, as it varies across multiple institutes and learning modes. From the tabular chart, a CA student can estimate the cost of their ACCA qualification by adding up the applicable exemption fees, exam fees, registration fee, annual subscription, Ethics and Professional Skills Module fee and coaching fees if you get yourself enrolled in any institute. Also, the actual ACCA charges may vary depending on the applicable fee schedule and registration timing.

ACCA After CA Salary

The demand for ACCA professionals has surged among the top MNCs in India as they offer consulting, taxation, audit, and advisory services. However, having a CA with an ACCA certification, not only opens wider horizons in the job market across countries but also leads to more job stability and eligibility for senior finance roles. 

Therefore, the average salary for professionals with both credentials is significantly higher compared to ACCA alone which typically is a 20–25% hike. Otherwise, this ACCA after CA salary prospect is influenced by various factors, including experience, job title, organization, industry, and location, which influence salary levels. To get a comprehensive understanding of the ACCA Salary in India, you can also read our detailed blog that explores the salary trends and what impacts them.

ACCA After CA Duration

The ACCA course duration after CA differs as per the number of exams exempted for the CA students. The ACCA exams are conducted at regular intervals within a year.

Applied Knowledge Level Exams can be taken anytime by the ACCA aspirants whereas the Applied Skill Level and Strategic Professional level exams are conducted once after every quarter in the months of March, June, September, and December.

So the ACCA course duration after CA differs as seen in the tabular chart below: 

Is ACCA Qualification and CA a Good Combination?

Having a dual degree is beneficial and combining ACCA with CA is definitely a good combination.

• Both of them are most respected professional certifications in finance and accountancy. 
• When you combine the two credentials, you build a powerful professional brand and acquire a marketable skill set that is well-rounded. 
• Moreover, it also depicts your strong commitment to learning.
• Pursuing ACCA improves your ongoing education and career prospects.

Consequently, an ACCA qualification combined with a CA helps you understand international accounting standards and practices. In return, making you more employable across borders, so doing ACCA after CA is a fantastic combination.

ACCA vs CA: Key Differences to Know Before Pursuing ACCA After CA 

Before pursuing ACCA after CA, it is important to understand how the two qualifications differ and what additional value ACCA can bring.

It is important to keep in mind that ACCA does not replace the value of CA. Instead, it complements your CA qualification by adding global recognition, international accounting knowledge and wider career mobility.

Conclusion

In the end, it can be said that pursuing ACCA after CA is a smart move because it lets you enhance your career prospects. Doing ACCA course after doing CA will improve your understanding of international accounting standards and financial management, increasing your chances of employability in the finance industry.  

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