The ultimate qualification within the accountancy profession is that of a Chartered Accountant (CA). Chartered Accountants are very analytical, systematic and logical, have the ability to work quickly and accurately with numbers and are team players with leadership abilities.
They are entrusted with highly confidential information and their personal integrity and honesty must be beyond question.
High grades in mathematics are very important and accountancy can be studied at degree level. A degree is not essential but it will get you exemptions from some of the exams. If you manage to join one of the big auditing companies, you'll generally be sponsored to take your exams and have time off to revise as well as getting paid for the privelege.
The first part though is to choose which accounting body you wish to study towards and what type of accountant you want to be.
There are three main accounting bodies - The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Which one you follow is dependent on where you wish to end up in life. ICAEW and ACCAs are allowed to sign off audited accounts so if you want to go into practice then these are for you. The ICAEW is always the preferred option and they have a higher standing.
CIMA folks cannot sign off audited accounts and people studying for this generally target commerce (i.e. A Finance Director in a company) but many people who are qualified for the others end up as Finance Directors as well.
To achieve the ACA qualification you must complete a training contract that runs between three and five years and pass the professional and advanced state of the examinations. Additionally you must complete work experience requirements.
The ACA qualification is widely recognised globally as the accounting standard and 70 per cent of FTSE 100 CEOs, FDs and company secretaries are ACAs.
They are entrusted with highly confidential information and their personal integrity and honesty must be beyond question.
High grades in mathematics are very important and accountancy can be studied at degree level. A degree is not essential but it will get you exemptions from some of the exams. If you manage to join one of the big auditing companies, you'll generally be sponsored to take your exams and have time off to revise as well as getting paid for the privelege.
The first part though is to choose which accounting body you wish to study towards and what type of accountant you want to be.
There are three main accounting bodies - The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Which one you follow is dependent on where you wish to end up in life. ICAEW and ACCAs are allowed to sign off audited accounts so if you want to go into practice then these are for you. The ICAEW is always the preferred option and they have a higher standing.
CIMA folks cannot sign off audited accounts and people studying for this generally target commerce (i.e. A Finance Director in a company) but many people who are qualified for the others end up as Finance Directors as well.
To achieve the ACA qualification you must complete a training contract that runs between three and five years and pass the professional and advanced state of the examinations. Additionally you must complete work experience requirements.
The ACA qualification is widely recognised globally as the accounting standard and 70 per cent of FTSE 100 CEOs, FDs and company secretaries are ACAs.
