Chartered Accountancy is a professional course for those people who want to make their career in accounting field. This field provides a candidate with an array of options to make a career from. It is a known fact that clearing the final exam of CA is tough. But tougher than that is the decision to choose the exact career after it. Each subject in the final year is a career choice in itself. For Audit there is Statutory Audit and Internal Audit, Taxation has Direct Taxes, Appeals, International Taxation, and Transfer Pricing and so on. Accountancy and Financial Management also offer a plethora of choices in the corporate sector and service sector.
There has been a rapid increase in the career opportunities in the field of chartered accountancy in India due to the liberalization of economy. As the country’s policies are becoming less stringent Chartered accountancy is fast becoming one of the most sought after career choice. It is one of the most challenging yet rewarding careers. All the companies which are registered under the companies act are required to appoint a CA to conduct audits. Even the big MNCs are foraying into this field.
Chartered Accountants can work in departments like Accountancy,Taxation, Auditing, Investigation, Consultancy, Budget Planning, Market Research etc. There are chartered accountants present in Government Sector, Public Sector undertakings, business houses and industry, Private Sector, Capital markets, etc. A CA is one of the most valued assets of its company and is provided posts like Finance Managers, Financial Controllers and Advisors, Director of Finance, directors, arbitrators, executors, Chief Executive, Head of the Department etc.
There are three levels to become a professional chartered accountant. The first level is the Foundation Course, then there is the Integrated Professional Competency Course (I.P.C.C) and lastly we have the Final Course .
The Common Professional Test or CA exam can be enrolled by candidates who have passed their Senior Secondary examination. Commerce student with a minimum of 50% or a Non-Commerce student without Math with at least 55% or Non-Commerce student with Math needs a minimum of 60% marks to apply directly to the I.P.C.C. Students who are yet to pass the Senior Secondary examination can also register with CPT but can write the exam only after passing 10+2 examination. Candidates can also apply for the I.P.C.C once they have passed the final examination held by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India or the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. After this it is mandatory for every candidate to register as Articled clerks for practical training of 100 hours and then apply for the Final Course. Exams for CA are conducted twice in a year in the month of June and December.
CPT is the entry level examination for students from class 10th. Graduates or candidates with a higher degree can apply for I.P.C.C and then the final exam can be taken.
For a chartered accountant the salary ranges from 3 lakhs per annum to 25 lakhs per annum. But as the job role progresses salaries may go up to even 60- 70 lakhs per annum or even higher.
Career options in Chartered Accountancy are innumerable. Once in it you will surely be spoilt for choice.