ACCA vs CA Which Course is Better ?

Should I pursue CA or ACCA? is the most frequently asked question at the time of picking the qualification. What distinguishes the ACCA from the CA?

Is ACCA superior to CA?

Is ACCA more challenging than CA?

Should I pursue ACCA vs. CA in India? is the most frequently posed query while deciding on a qualification. What distinguishes the ACCA from the CA? Is ACCA superior to CA? How difficult is the ACCA vs CA exam? The differences between the ACCA and CA in terms of pay, costs, difficulty, and duration are summarised here, with more information on the specifics of the distinctions provided below:

If becoming a Chartered Accountant is the objective you’ve been working towards, these two courses will help you realise your goal because they both give you the opportunity to practise in India and abroad. Furthermore, these two courses enjoy tremendous prestige in the accounting community. The corporate sector welcomes professionals with this degree with intriguing career prospects and competitive wage packages. Here is a full comparison of the CA and ACCA accounting programmes, though, if you want to learn more about the distinctions between them.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which has more than 200,000 members and 600,000 students in 180+ countries, is a programme that is widely regarded. The largest professional accounting qualification in the world is thought to be the ACCA designation. One of the most esteemed certificates in accounting, the ACCA course is favoured by many students who desire to launch a lucrative career overseas. More than 180 countries could benefit from this course.That’s 92% of the entire planet!  More than 7,400 approved employers and 80 accountancy partnerships are also affiliated with the ACCA organisation. According to legend, ACCA is the equal of CA in India, and most firms like PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, and BDO hire ACCA experts at the same pay rate.

The quantity of papers and amount of time required to prepare for the exam make CA appear like a difficult alternative, but that doesn’t mean that ACCA is simple or simple to complete. ACCA has a higher passing rate than CA simply based on the passing percentage. But since this is entirely a matter of opinion, the results may differ from instance to case. Given the number of years, the number of papers, the course levels, and the variety of both courses, it should come as no surprise that the CA course is frequently regarded as being more difficult than ACCA. However, as this is a wholly subjective matter, the outcomes may vary from case to case.

One of the reasons why ACCA is a little bit simpler to manage than CA is the flexibility in terms of examinations and papers. In CA, topics are categorised together. If a topic in that group fails, you must retake every subject in that group. In contrast, ACCA allows you to take exams whenever it suits you and only requires you to retake a course if you fail it.

The majority of the subjects covered by CA and ACCA are comparable, such as:

• Accounting (IFRS vs Ind-AS)
• Financial Management
• Costing (called Performance Management in ACCA)
• Audit & Assurance (International Standards vs Indian Standards)

The main distinction between ACCA and CA is in the area of taxation; whereas CA focuses on Indian tax, ACCA also addresses the taxation of other nations, such the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. Since UK taxes are the most similar to Indian taxation, we always advise our students to choose it.

1. Group System 

At the CA Foundation, IPCC, and Final CA levels, the ICAI demands that we take the exams in groups. Most of these tests are divided into Group 1 and Group 2, each of which consists of four tests. On the other hand, ACCA does not impose such a requirement. According to their judgement, students may take up to 4 tests at once, but only one exam at a time.

2. Aggregate System 

The collective system is to blame for the comparably low pass rates for CA and ACCA (40% internationally). Every student in a group is deemed to have failed any exam in CA if they miss the mark by even one. The kid must show up again in front of the entire class. Because of this, it is quite challenging for CAs to earn the qualification.

ACCAs don’t follow this rule. A student who takes three tests and fails one is nevertheless deemed to have passed the other two. With the NEXT 2 papers, he can retake the one exam he failed. This enables kids to pass these tests far more quickly.

The average time it takes an ACCA student to earn their degree is two to three years. Students who pass the exams and have three years of work experience finish the ACCA in three to four years.

On average, CA students take 6 to 8 years to earn their degree. It takes 5 years, including articleship, for students to pass the exam on their first try.

Companies Hiring for ACCA vs CA

Companies that recruit both qualifications pay the same salaries to those with ACCA and CA. As freshmen, qualified members can expect to make between $6 and $8 lacs annually.

While CAs are undoubtedly hired by all businesses in India, MNCs like the Big 4 (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and EY), Grant Thornton, BDO, and others are more likely to hire ACCAs. Also included are businesses like Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, Maersk, ICICI Securities, Abans, etc.

IFRS-related Accounting Advisory, Risk Advisory, Internal Audit, Statutory Audit, Forensic Audit, Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, etc. are some of the profiles where ACCAs are employed.

Although ACCA has a greater global reach than CA, the pay an ACCA may expect to earn is growing faster. Contrarily, CA is in high demand in India. Here is a look at the ACCA and CIMA average salaries in India.

Over the length of the programme, CA would cost between 2 and 2.5 lacs. Additionally, the cost of ACCA would range from 3.5 to 4.5 lacs, depending on the GBP rate and any applicable exemptions. You should, however, focus on their return on investment.

Many students who have successfully completed CA or even half completed CA (passed IPCC) can finish ACCA quickly.

IPCC complete + Graduate: 6 of 13 ACCA examinations were exempt.

Final CA completed with 9 exemptions out of 13 ACCA examinations

This would make finishing ACCA in addition to CA incredibly simple for students!

In one to one and a half years, IPCC students can complete their articleship and seven ACCA exams.

Members who are qualified by CA can pass 4 ACCA tests in 6 months while maintaining their employment and obtaining an international and worldwide certification with CA.

Over 180 countries, including Canada, Singapore, and Australia, recognise the ACCA qualification. We can assist you in moving forward if you’ve decided to become a worldwide CA and are considering your next step. For additional information, see our Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course.