The major mistake I’ve seen candidates make here is that they assume that the choice of ACCA vs CFA is the one they are making. That is completely incorrect! The choice is primarily of whether they want to understand finance, accounting and business (ACCA) or specialize in finance (CFA). And unfortunately, most choices are made based on either which course they’ve heard is better, or what most friends are doing.
ACCA Vs CFA
Let me help clear the confusion.
BOTH the courses are brilliant in their own stand
BOTH have international recognition and exposure
BOTH have scope in India (yes, ACCA and CFA have growing scope in India)
BOTH are similar in duration (24–36 months)
BOTH are similar in their cost/ fee structure (2–4 lacs, depending on number of attempts)
BOTH can have fresher salaries ranging from INR 4–8 lacs p.a. (a lot of our students at Zell are pursuing both simultaneously!)
What is different about the courses are the following:
ACCA courseteaches us essentially what CAs learn – accounting, financial management, costing, auditing, tax and has a very powerful business paper now. Most candidates pursue ACCA due to its flexibility in duration and the high value its garnering in India
CFA teaches us everything to do with investments, financial markets – equity, debt, derivatives, etc., portfolio management, wealth management, hedging and trading techniques
As an ACCA, you can see your future in fields such as Accounting Advisory (IFRS), Risk Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, Internal Audit, Assurance, International Taxation, Transfer Pricing, Forensic Auditing, Financial Reporting, etc.
As a CFA, you can see yourself as a Portfolio Manager, Wealth Manager, Investment Banker (may need an MBA for this as well), Equity Research Analyst, Trader/ Dealer in Derivates and Currency Markets, etc.
You can appear for ACCA almost as soon as you’re out of school! We have students pursuing it in their 11th grade and every grade from thereon! No eligibility criteria as such in terms of accounting background, marks, age, etc. (thanks to the FIA route)
You can appear for CFA if you are in your final year of graduation or thereafter, and must possess an international passport
ACCA and CFA both cost ₹3.5 to 4 lacs depending on the USD and GBP rate including training fees, exam fees, registration, study material, etc.
To summarise, if you’re confused between the two, I suggest ask for people around you who would be working in the profiles I mentioned earlier, and speak to them. Take a call based on that.
The Chartered Financial Analyst is a globally recognised qualification in the field of finance and investment. If you have recently completed your graduation or are appearing for your final semester, you may be eligible to become a CFA. Interested? We highly recommend checking out our Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) course.
Partham Barot is an ACCA-certified professional. showcasing his expertise in finance and accountancy. he’s revolutionising education by focusing on practical, real-world skills. Partham’s achievements underscore his commitment to elevating educational standards and empowering the next generation of professionals.
The most common question asked at the time of choosing the qualification is, ‘Should I pursue CA or ACCA? What is the difference between CA vs ACCA?
Is ACCA better than CA?
Is ACCA more difficult than CA?’
The most common question asked at the time of choosing a qualification is, ‘Should I pursue ACCA vs CAin India? What is the difference between ACCA and CA? Is ACCA better than CA? What is the ACCA vs CA difficulty like?’ It’s time to find answers to all the ACCA and CA differences regarding salary, fees, difficulty, and duration are mentioned below as a summary, with the details of the differences mentioned further below:
The ACCA and CA difference
If becoming a Chartered Accountant is what you’ve been aiming for, with these two courses you can fulfill your dream, as they both allow you to practice Chartered Accountancy in India and overseas. Additionally, these two courses hold immense prestige in the world of accountancy. Professionals with this degree are welcomed into the corporate world with interesting job opportunities and impressive salary packages. However, to know more about the differences between these two accounting courses, here’s a detailed differentiation betweenCA vs ACCA.
What is ACCA Course
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course is a globally recognised with over 200,000 members and 600,000 students across 180+ countries. The ACCA qualification is considered the largest professional accounting qualification in the world. ACCA course is one of the most prestigious certifications in accounting and is preferred by many students who want to build a successful career abroad. This course is relevant in more than 180 countries.That’s 92 percent of the world! The ACCA body also brings in more than 7,400 Approved Employers and 80 accountancy partnerships worldwide. In India, ACCA is said to be equivalent to CA and ACCA professionals are hired at the same salary in most companies such as PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, and BDO.
Signing Authority
Chartered Accountants (CA) have signing authority in India, with ICAIhaving the sole signing authority. ACCAs have signing authority in 90+ countries including UK, Dubai, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
ACCA vs CA: Difficulty level
If you consider the number of papers and the time taken to prepare for the exam CA seems like a tough option but that doesn’t mean that ACCA is easy and can be done easily. Just on the basis of passing percentage ACCA has a better passing rate than CA. But ACCA is recognized in 180 Countries, which gives you a wider and better career prospect and help you get global job opportunities.
It is no surprise that the CA course is commonly considered to be harder than ACCA, considering the number of years, the number of papers, course levels and versatility of both courses. But, this is a completely subjective topic, and the results can differ from case to case.
The flexibility in terms of tests and papers is one of the reasons why ACCA is slightly easier to handle than CA. Subjects are grouped together in CA. So, you will have to rewrite all the subjects in that group again if you fail a subject in that group. On the other hand, in ACCA, you will only have to retake the specific subject if you fail an exam and attempt as per your convenience.
ACCA vs CA Syllabus
Most of the subjects of CA and ACCA overlap, such as:
Accounting (IFRS vs Ind-AS)
Financial Management
Costing (called Performance Management in ACCA)
Audit & Assurance (International Standards vs Indian Standards)
The primary difference between ACCA and CA is the Taxation subject – CA covers Indian tax and ACCA covers taxation of countries such as UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. We always suggest our students to opt for UK taxation as it is the closest to Indian taxation.
ACCA vs CA: Exams Structure
The primary difference between CA and ACCA exists in the exam structure.
1. Group System
ICAI insists we appear for exams in groups at the CA Foundation, IPCC and Final CA level. Most of these exams are split into Group 1 and Group 2, each comprising 4 exams. ACCA on the other hand enforces no such mandate. Students are allowed to appear for 1 exam at a time, upto 4 exams at a time – as per the student’s discretion.
2. Aggregate System
The reason why CA pass rates are so low compared to ACCA (40% globally) is due to the aggregate system. If a student fails any exam in CA by even 1 mark, the entire group is considered failed. The student has to re-appear for the entire group again. This makes it extremely difficult for CAs to clear the qualification.
ACCAs have no such rule. If a student appears for 3 exams and fails 1, he is considered passed for the other 2. He can re-appear for the 1 he failed in with the next 2 papers. This allows students to pass these exams much faster.
Frequency of attempts
CA examinations are held bi-annually in May and November. ACCA examinations are held quarterly in March, June, September and December.
Internship/ Articleship
CAs have to complete their articleship period of 3 years after passing IPCC Group 1 and have to complete their articleship before appearing for their Final CA exam. They have to work in a CA firm for most of their articleship.
ACCAs can start their 3 year work experience before, during or after their exams. The start and end date is left upto the discretion of the students. ACCA students also do not have to mandatorily work in a CA firm, although we always suggest students to follow this. We also suggest that the student should ideally work under a CA or an ACCA (this is not mandatory again). We recommend students to start working towards the end of their Skill Level, but this is completely optional.
After the 36 months work experience, students must complete their Performance Objectives and Ethics Module to achieve holistic experience as per the ACCA rules.
ACCA vs CA Duration
ACCA students on an average take 2-3 years to complete the qualification. Students clearing the exams along with the 3 year work experience complete ACCA within 3-4 years.
CA students on an average take 6-8 years to complete the qualification. Students clearing the exam in their first attempt take 5 years including articleship.
Exemptions
ICAI provides no exemptions to students pursuing CA. ACCA provides many exemptions, such as:
Graduation: 4 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
IPCC passed + Graduate: 6 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
CA qualified: 9 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
You can calculate exemptions you would receive based on your academic background using the ACCA exemptions calculator.
Companies Hiring for ACCA vs CA
ACCA vs CA earn the same salary packages in companies that hire both qualifications. Qualified members earn salaries between ₹6 to 8 lacs per annum as freshers.
While CAs are definitely hired in all companies across India, ACCAs are hired more in MNCs such as the Big 4 (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY), Grant Thornton, BDO, etc. ACCAs are also hired in companies such as Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, Maersk, ICICI Securities, Abans, etc.
ACCAs are hired in profiles such as Accounting Advisory that deals with IFRS, Risk Advisory, Internal Audit, Statutory Audit, Forensic Audit, Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, etc.
ACCA vs CA: Salary and Jobs
While ACCA has a wider global reach as compared to CA, the salary one can achieve as an ACCA has more growth. CA on the other hand, has a great demand in India. Here is a glimpse into the average salary of ACCA and CIMA in India.
CA would cost ₹2 to 2.5 lacs over the span of the course. And ACCA would cost ₹3.5 to 4.5 lacs depending on the GBP rate and exemptions you would be entitled to. However, their ROI is what you should be taking into consideration.
ACCA with CA
A lot of students that have completed CA or even partially completed CA (passed IPCC) can complete ACCA without wasting much time.
IPCC complete + Graduate: 6 exemptions of 13 exams in ACCA
Final CA complete: 9 exemptions of 13 exams in ACCA
This would make it extremely easy for students to complete ACCA along with CA!
IPCC students can complete 7 ACCA exams in 1 to 1.5 years along with their articleship.
CA qualified members can complete 4 ACCA exams in 6 months along with their job and earn themselves an international and global certification with CA.
The ACCA qualification is recognized in over 180 countries including Canada, Singapore, and Australia. If you’ve made the decision to become a global CA and are contemplating your next move, we can help you take a step forward. Check out Zell Education’s Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course to learn more.
FAQ
Is ACCA or CA better?
In terms of global scope and wider opportunities, ACCA is a better course to consider as it makes you a global CA.
Which is harder, ACCA or CA?
While both the courses are difficult to clear, the ACCA body is more flexible in terms of examinations, exemptions and mandatory work experience.
Is ACCA equal to CA?
Yes, in the accounting world, ACCA equals CA. However, ACCA is a more widely accepted course as compared to CA.
Anant Bengani, brings expertise as a Chartered Accountant and a leading figure in finance and accounting education. He’s dedicated to empowering learners with the finest financial knowledge and skills.
Shared his perspective and said, National Education Policy is a big leap for India and it completely changes the paradigm of Indian education for all stake holders. The NEP emphasis on creating a strong digital infrastructure which will help to improve education delivery and accountability. The focus is on the learning outcome along with a changed perspective on the examination system. It shall bring a most awaited change in the mindset around the rat-race to just get marks. Additionally, encouraging more universities to launch online degrees has also been a long-awaited demand and this will now further improve opportunities in the ecosystem. However, the government needs to demonstrate its intentions and execute them – the gap between India’s potential and reality is not a god-gift but a result of the gap between intentions and execution. In the current situation, the NEP largely revolves around traditional learners. Whereas lifelong learning has become a reality, the government will also need to think about the needs of the employed learner. Some of the vital things that they will have to consider are – creating customized courses, modular size courses, allowing stackable credentials, permitting round-the-year admission, online on-demand assessments, the inclusion of on-job training, capstone projects, etc. This will help to create the right ecosystem for learning.
The ACCA qualification is recognized in over 180 countries including Canada, Singapore, and Australia. If you’ve made the decision to become a global CA and are contemplating your next move, we can help you take a step forward. Check out our Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course to learn more.
If you’re an Indian or a cricket enthusiast, you have probably heard of BCCI. BCCI is the world’s richest cricket board. It is also India’s richest sporting body. But it may come as surprise to you to know that BCCI does not depend on the Government of India for its revenues. BCCI has 3 revenue streams – ICC income share, media rights, and sponsorship rights. Media rights form a lion’s share of the revenue and no one needs a financial management course to understand that most of it basically comes from one place – the IPL! The Indian Premier League or ‘IPL’ is widely considered as the cash cow of the BCCI, and for good reason.
Brand values of the teams involved in the IPL and the value of the IPL franchise itself are a much-debated topic in the country. As per the latest Duff and Phelps report, IPL’s brand value has increased to Rs.47,500 crores from Rs.41,800 crores in the last season (2018 to 2019). This translates to roughly $6 billion – higher than some of our stock market listed MNCs! The top valued team however was Mumbai Indians, valued at a whopping Rs.809 crores followed closely by Chennai Super Kings, valued at Rs.732 crores.
The Mumbai Indians franchise is owned by IndiaWin Sports Private Limited – which is owned by Reliance Industries. The team has had a stellar track record in the IPL – winning the tournament 4 times, and the Champions’ League – which they’ve won twice. They have signed or retained big names in cricket like Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma year after year, making them the invincible team that they are today.
But let’s back up for a bit and understand why and how cricket teams are valued. Now in its 12th season, IPL has delivered financially for all of its stakeholders from players, franchisees to sponsors from across the world, and this prompts a desire to appropriately value it. As for the how, the team value is calculated using the Relief from Royalty method (RRM) combined with the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method, with the final value of the entire ecosystem being calculated using a sum-of-the-parts method by adding up the values of the different teams, media rights, income shares, etc.
For an IPL team, revenue comes from advertising, among other things. The continued support from advertisers, broadcasters, sponsors, affiliates, partners and the viewing public’s interest are all financing sources for the franchise. For DCF, revenues from these are projected over a period of time and then discounted back to present to arrive at the value of the team. Similarly for RRM, the estimated royalty rate from the intangible assets are projected over the useful life of the asset and then discounted. The resulting present value from these methods is then added up. For an approximation of how much is spent on brand advertising, take a look at the average spending by corporates on IPL below:
Average 10-second ad slot rates for television and digital advertising: between Rs.8-10 lacs
Average spend on team sponsorship’s: Rs.30-50 crores
On-field advertising (ground painting): greater than Rs.1 crore
Stadium advertising: greater than Rs.50 lacs
The team spent a staggering Rs.80 crores on its players which is one of its biggest cost centers. However, MI boasts a glittering roster of sponsors and advertisers ranging from Marriott to Samsung to Adidas who are willing to advertise with them, literally at all costs. So it is little wonder that the team was valued at Rs.809 crores in 2019. This year, the franchise added 6 new players to the team, paying Rs. 8 crores for Nathan Coulter-Nile (one of the highest amounts paid for a player this year). In comparison, CSK is worth Rs.732 crore and rivals MI in almost all aspects. It boasts of a solid team that delivers on the ground and brands lining up to buy advertising space. The recent player auction where it paid Rs.12.25 crore for 2 players seems to suggest it’s betting big on this tournament. The only thing explaining the valuation gap seems to be its success in tournaments, which seconds only that of MI, but its upcoming stock market listing looks set to change all of that.
Valuing cricket teams can seem like a pretty daunting task for novices or beginners in stock market. However, some finance courses or training in the right direction will make you realise how important correct valuations are – especially when there’s so much money at stake. This is why this year, Duff & Phelps said that the IPL stands to lose almost 5% of its valuation if it cancels the tournament or plays a truncated version of it. Like all major sporting brands across the world, it is imperative for the franchises to keep engaging the fans to be able to monetize their brand more effectively.
The ACCA qualification is recognized in over 180 countries including Canada, Singapore, and Australia. If you’ve made the decision to become a global CA and are contemplating your next move, we can help you take a step forward. Check out our Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course to learn more.
Gone are the days when commerce was just something one picked due to low percentages in 10th or 12th standard. With the steady rise and ever growing expansion of Financial Markets, commerce graduates and people with specialization certifications in the Finance sector are highly sought after. These certifications from the internationally recognized bodies include ACCA or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or, CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst.
If you are new to this field, one very simple course from Zell Education, Introduction to Financial Markets can be of great help. Through this course, one can learn all about financial markets, investments, sources of funds, primary and secondary markets, fundamental and technical analysis, mutual funds, and other investment avenues. The best thing is since this is an introductory course; there are no set eligibility criteria. If you are curious about the glamorous, high paid, and fast-paced world of finance, then you can enroll immediately. This course will help you travel in the right direction of your career path, and you can make an informed decision about selecting either ACCA or the CA or the CFA course.
One can start with their ACCA examinations while they are completing their B.Com graduation. The ACCA certificationis recognized worldwide and serves as an international alternative for CA in India. If you have passed the 10 + 2 exams with an aggregate of 65% in Mathematics or accounts and English, and 50% aggregate in rest of the subjects, you are eligible to register for this course. Consisting of 13 subject exams (divided into 3 levels), this certification can be received after clearing all the exams and completing 3 years of work experience. After completing the course by successfully passing all the papers, you can start working at world renowned companies in accounting, auditing, taxation, costing, etc.
Companies such as the Big 4 – KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, EY, and other MNCs such as Grant Thornton, BDO, etc. are all hiring workers with successful ACCA certificates. Most of these companies consider ACCA as equivalent to CA in terms of profile, salary, designation, etc.
Offering the best ACCA Classes in Mumbai, Zell Education is the biggest ACCA institute in West India. We offer courses for young aspirants in the finance field. We are certified by the International ACCA body and have received the status of Gold approved learning partner.
One can enroll in a CFA course after they have completed their graduation. If you are a B.Com graduate with a hungry mind, you can start with this course. CFA or Chartered Finance Analysts work in sectors such as Wealth management, investments, portfolio management, among others. A graduate from any recognized university or college with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent can enroll in this course. If you are in the last year of your degree program, you can enroll for Level 1 registration and can complete the Level 2 registration after completing your degree
The US CPA qualification is recognised worldwide and can open doors to opportunities in Europe, Asia and North America. If you are an accounting professional looking to boost your career or just curious to learn about the course, we suggest you check out our Certified Public Accountant (CPA) courseto learn more.
Partham Barot is an ACCA-certified professional. showcasing his expertise in finance and accountancy. he’s revolutionising education by focusing on practical, real-world skills. Partham’s achievements underscore his commitment to elevating educational standards and empowering the next generation of professionals.
