How to become a Chartered Accountant

Businesses and individuals employ accountants to help them track their expenses and income and prepare tax returns. To become an accountant, you must complete education, training, and develop specific abilities such as math competency and communication. These are the procedures that you need to follow in order to become a chartered accountant.

What is a Chartered Accountant?

A chartered accountant: what is it? The most respected accounting credentials are held by certified accountants who are chartered accountants (CAs). These professionals have accounting and financial expertise and often have several years of industry experience working for corporations or individuals. Chartered accountants often work at the highest levels of an organization's financial departments.

How to become a Chartered Accountant

A Chartered Accountant (CA) monitors financial records, conduct audits, provide tax advice, and advise organizations on financial matters, assuring compliance and solid financial practices. CA exams comprise the CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. All CA exams are conducted by the ICAI, or Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Students who pass all three levels of the CA Exam become Chartered Accountants.

CA Foundation exams are conducted twice a year. CA Foundation Entrance Exam is conducted in May and November. Every year, the CA intermediate exam is conducted in December. CA Final Exam also takes place once a year December.

What does a CA do?

A chartered accountant can pick from four specializations: financial accounting and reporting, management accounting, applied finance, and taxation. They can be in charge of the whole accounting department of the business, or each CA can concentrate on one specific department.

These are the functions performed by a CA:-

  • Chartered accountants operate as trusted advisers who manage the firm by providing a strategic financial direction.
  • They produce yearly and monthly financial statements, which are very helpful when evaluating the performance of the business.
  • In the company and industry, they also hold roles as corporate executives, sales managers, business analysts, and management accountants. Chartered accountants in the public sector play an important role in managing public spending through strategic monitoring and resource allocation.

Why Become a Chartered Accountant?

The principal motivation for pursuing a career in chartered accountancy is its high salary and employment security. Every business needs someone to handle its finances, help with tax filing, and perform audits because money is the basis of everything in the world. As a chartered accountant, the prospects for employment are limitless. Regardless of business, every organization need financial management, and chartered accountants are the right choice.

How to become a Chartered Accountant

Accountancy offers a wide range of prospects as you advance in your profession. Take your career to new heights, chartered accountants work for 96 of the world's top 100 brands. Because accounting firms operate internationally, the nature of the profession allows you to either work with clients internationally or relocate to other international offices. Salaries as a chartered accountant can be very high, depending on your talents and competence, and they will continue to rise as you gain additional skills or specialize in specific areas.

ICAI Exam

ICAI stands for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The ICAI Exam is taken twice a year. ICAI conducts examinations for CA courses at three levels: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final.

The ICAI was created on July 1, 1949, following the passage of a bill in India's Parliament. The ICAI regulates all CA institutes in India. ICAI is the world's second-largest financial organization.

Admission into CA course

There are two ways through which someone can take admission into CA course:-

  1. Foundation course
  2. Direct Entry

1. Through Foundation Course

There are four stages under Foundation course-:

  • CA Foundation
  • CA Intermediate
  • Articleship Training
  • CA Final

CA Foundation

A candidate who has taken the class 12 examination is qualified for CA Foundation registration and can only sit for tests after passing the class 12. Candidates who wish to become a CA after 12th grade must register with the ICAI Board of Studies (BoS) and then complete a four-month study term to be eligible to take the CA Foundation exams in the following session. To participate in each session, one must fill out the CA Foundation exam form ahead of time. The registration for the Foundation course is valid for three years.

To qualify for the Foundation course, one must pass the following four subjects:

  • Principles and Practice of Accounting
  • Business laws, correspondence, and recording
  • Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics
  • Business Economics, Business and Commercial Knowledge.

Candidates must score at least 40% in every subject and 50% in the aggregate to pass. Anyone who does not meet the required score must retake all four subjects on their next try.

CA Intermediate

Once the candidate qualifies CA Foundation, the next step is CA Intermediate in which the candidate has to complete 8 months of study course. Following that, a candidate must fill out the CA Intermediate exam form and specify which group they want to appear for. CA Intermediate divides into two groups, each having four papers/subjects. Candidates can choose to appear for one group at a time or for both groups simultaneously.

The 8 subjects of CA intermediate are:-

Group 1-:

  • Accounting
  • Corporate and Other Laws
  • Cost and Management Accounting
  • Taxation

Group 2-:

  • Advanced Accounting
  • Auditing and Assurance
  • Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management
  • Financial Management & Economics for Finance

The passing criteria require candidates to pass each individual topic with 40% or more and an overall score of more than 50%. There is also an exemption provision for CA Intermediate students who achieve a score of more than 60% in any subject. Applicants who took part in group 1 and passed two of the topics with scores higher than 60 but failed the other two may request an exemption for the subjects in which they received 60 or higher. With this, he will be able to take the remaining two courses as well as the other CA Intermediate group in the upcoming exam session.

Articleship Training

Candidates enrolled in the Chartered Accountancy course must complete three years of practical training otherwise, the course is incomplete. This practical training is called Articleship Training. A candidate may register for articleship training after passing one or both sets of CA Intermediate, as applicable. Prior to sitting for the CA Final examinations, candidates must finish the Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) during their final two years of study. However, the training lasts three years, and candidates can take the CA Final exams during the final six months of the training course.

CA Final

Those who passed both CA Intermediate exams are qualified to register for the CA final exam. The CA Final exam form may be filled and tests can be taken by those who have passed AICITSS and are in the last stages of their articleship training. There are two groups in CA Final, each with four papers, making a total of eight subjects at the final level. Here too like CA Intermediate, the candidates can appear for only one category at a time.

The 8 subjects of CA Final are:-

Group 1 -:

  • Financial Reporting
  • Strategic Financial Management
  • Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics
  • Corporate and Allied Laws

Group 2-:

  • Advanced Management Accounting
  • Information Systems Control and Audit
  • Direct Tax Laws
  • Indirect Tax Laws

To pass the CA Final, a candidate must score at least 40% in each topic and have an overall aggregate of 50% or above. The exemption clause also applies here, allowing a candidate who has achieved more than 60% in a subject to ask for an exemption in that subject. They are therefore released from the necessity to frequently appear in all the subjects. The exemption will be valid for next three terms of exams.

Apply for ICAI Membership

A candidate who has completed articleship training and passed both groups of the CA Final exam is eligible to apply for membership in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

2. Through Direct Entry

The ICAI has given students the opportunity to be excluded from the CA Foundation course based on particular qualifications. The following categories of individuals are eligible for direct entry into the CA Intermediate program:-

  • Graduates/ Post- Graduates of Commerce stream with minimum 55% marks
  • Graduates/ Post- Graduates of streams other than Commerce with minimum 60% marks
  • Candidates who have passed the CS Executive exams conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
  • Candidates who have passed CMA Intermediate exams conducted by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI)

Those who choose to become a CA after graduating or obtaining another degree and are admitted to the CA Intermediate course via direct entrance must complete a mandatory 9-month practical training program following CA Intermediate registration. After completing this training time, students can fill out the CA Intermediate exam form and appear for the exam session that follows.

Further procedures include the following processes, which have been discussed in details above.

  • Pass one or both groups of CA Intermediate
  • Enroll into Articleship Training
  • Pass both groups of CA Intermediate
  • Register into CA Final course
  • Complete 3 years of Articleship Training
  • Pass both the groups of CA Final
  • Apply for ICAI membership

Duration of CA course

It is well known by the students as well as everyone else in the society that it takes years to become a Chartered Accountant.

The minimum duration of Chartered Accountancy is -:

  • Around 5 years for candidates who enter through Foundation course
  • Around 4 years for candidates who enter through direct entry.

Scope of Chartered Accountant

How to become a Chartered Accountant

There are numerous career opportunities for students doing a Chartered Accountancy course. The CA plays a vital role in the organization, performing tasks such as auditing and assurance, tax consultation, accounting services, accountant and finance outsourcing, and financial reporting. Every registered corporation or organization under the Company Act has a CA who supervises a variety of tasks such as Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, Financial Advisers, and Directors, as well as audits their accounts. After pursuing a career in CA, there are numerous opportunities for employment.

Job opportunities in India

With the expansion of the Indian economy, the opportunities for CA professionals are also growing. Simultaneously with increasing career options for CAs, the economic growth is creating new challenges for CAs to improve their knowledge and skills in certain fields of work.

Specialized fields for CAs-:

  • Auditor
  • Financial Reporting
  • Management & Corporate Consultancy
  • Tax Advisor
  • Management Accounting
  • Cost Accountant
  • Company Liquidator
  • GST Expert
  • Corporate Financing

Job Opportunities in Government Sector

  • General Manager in Finance Department
  • Auditor of Governmental works
  • Assistant Administrative Officers.
  • A professional in credit management department
  • Specialist in Rural Regional Banks and the Public

Salary Package for CAs in India

How to become a Chartered Accountant

Although a Chartered Accountant's income is determined by the individual's experience and talents, the average CA salary in India ranges between 6-7 lakhs and 30 lakhs.

When it comes to the salary packages offered by foreign corporations, the average salary rises to 75 lakhs. It should be pointed out that rank holders and single-attempt qualifiers have priority over multiple-attempt qualifiers.

However, many CAs develop skills and experience by working in an organisation before launching their own business. In such cases, there are no restrictions on their financial and professional progress. They may end up closing down their own small company owing to intense competition, and occasionally they grow into large corporations to provide professional accounting services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, embarking on the journey to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) is a challenging yet rewarding path that requires dedication, perseverance, and a passion for numbers. The comprehensive process involves a combination of academic rigor, practical training, and professional examinations.

To begin this path, prospective CAs must first obtain a bachelor's degree in commerce or a similar course, which acts as the base for the specialized knowledge required in the profession of accounting. As a result, enrolling in a recognized CA program, such as those offered by professional organizations such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), is essential. This program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes topics such as auditing, taxation, financial accounting, and company law.

Practical experience through an articleship or internship is an essential component of becoming a CA. Future accountants can apply their academic understanding to real-world business scenarios thanks to this practical experience. Furthermore, regular self-study and preparation for demanding examinations are required, as passing these assessments is an essential first step on the path to CA certification.

Throughout this difficult process, establishing excellent communication and analytical abilities is essential. A certified public accountant is more than just a numbers expert. They are also a company planner. Thus, improving these soft skills will set apart a successful CA in the competitive professional world.

To summarize, the path to becoming a CA is difficult, but it promises a rewarding career filled with financial expertise, professional advancement, and the ability to have a big impact on the financial well-being of organizations and individuals alike. An individual can become an extremely successful chartered accountant with dedication and hard effort.






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