Which accountancy qualification - ACA or ACCA?

[Baxter2003]

Hi Everyone,

I am in a bit of a dilemma, and was hoping someone could help. I am a recent University Graduate and would like to become an accountant. I have been seeking advise from all-over and it has all become very confusing.

Some people I have spoken to have said to do the ACA qualification. Some of these same people have warned me off from doing the ACCA qualification, saying it is a 'lesser' qualification than the ACA and that it will limit my career opportunities in the future working for bigger firms.

Others have told me that the ACCA is better than the ACA for a number of reasons: 1) It is more globally recognised  2) It is more flexible and 3)  because of my degree, I will get a few exemptions. These same people pointed out that in the past the ACA was possibly better then the ACCA but that nowadays the two qualifications are almost identical.

I am just not sure who or what to believe, and was hoping someone reading this would have the answer. I just do not want to suffer in my career in the future by making the wrong decision now. Help please!

[MissyA369]

My dad is an accountant and says that CIMA is better then ACCA and ACA as it is more in demand, so it might be worth looking at it as well.

[Rach4018]

Ok,

If you are going to work in a practice you will need to do ACCA or ACA if you go to one of the big ones they will probably want you to do ACA. ACA is preferred by practices. If you get a job in a practice discuss it with them, some of them realise people have a lot of exemptions from degrees so are happy for people to complete ACCA.

Difference between ACCA and ACA i think is that ACA is more intense you cover the same stuff as in ACCA but do fewer exams.

If you are going to work in industry then you will probably do either ACCA or CIMA, depends what you want to do ACCA is more financial accounting and CIMA is more management accounting. But saying that i'm a management accountant and i do ACCA. Basically in industry either or will do, just do the one that you will fine most interesting or get the most exemptions from.

I don't think you can make the wrong decision by doing any of them as they are all worth while and will all help you progress.

[Taxman1]

It is not a question of whichis better, but of how they are perceived by others.

ACA and ACCA cover the same course material. The question which may be more useful than the one currently being asked is 'how do I want my future to look'. If you want to work for a large firm, ACA, however there is stigma attached to the qualification insofar as Chartered accountnats are thought pretentious and expensive.

ACCA is looked down on by ACA qualified accountants, but not necessarily by employers who often see ACCA as the qualification that covers all things.

If you wish to have your own practise in the future, it is the kind of job you get, not the qualification - many ACAs qualify in large practise and do not have the mind set to do'bread and butter' work, which most of us slightly older accountants do. Auditting is largely a thing of the past,

Use your imagination - what do you want from a job.

Accountancy is a job, like being a plumber, except they earn more than us.

If you have flare and imagination, do not do either qualification, but follow another profession, but if you want accountancy, think what you want to do with it, then choose the exams to suit.