Accountancy exams

[audi321]

Hi all, does anyone know of the most 'acknowledged' accountancy exams? i.e. ACCA, etc, and what the fastest route to becoming qualified is?

Friend at work is thinking about taking a career change and was asking me (as I work in Finance, but have no experience of this).

Thanks in advance!

[uknick]

ACCA most respected.

But I would say that as I'm ACCA.

I think they are all pretty much the same in difficulty and respect. Only major difference is if you want to do audits you must be ACCA or ICAEW.

[CaptainSlow]

Yes ACCA or ICAEW. Anything else is, well, a bit Mickey Mouse.

[audi321]

Cheers guys, ACCA it is then. What's the fastest way to get qualified? How long is it going to take him (full time)

[blippo1984]

I Fundamentally disagree.

The ICAEW ACA qualification is by far the most respected in the UK. You need only look at the number of FTSE 100 MDs and FDs with ACA vs all other qualifucations. The top accountancy firms almost all train the ACA. It is also significantly more expensive to train ACA students both in time and financial cost demanded from the ICAEW. Under an ACA training comtract your training costs will be fully provided for by the firm, including college.

ICAS is, broadly, the ICAEW of Scotland.

CIMA is not mickey mouse. It is, however, focused on management accounting. CIPFA for public sector.


There is some truth in the fact that the ACCA is more well known internationally due to a larger member base. However local quakifucations often carry more weight - fir example in the USA it is CPA or nothing. The ACCA is more commonly offered to accountants who work in industry as it is believed to be more relevant. More importantly, non accoutancy firms must br accredited by the ICAEW to provide an ACA route and only a few organisations have applied and met the requirements - for example American Express.

Without understanding what job you wish todo and what opportunities are available to you at present it is hard to advise. However if you had an offer and they hadasked you if you preferred ACCA or ACA, the ACA should be your absolute choice.

I am an ACA and please understand I do not seek to disparage other qualifications - I have tried to keep this as balanced as possible. No qualification is 'mickey mouse' listed above. At the same time I have to offer you my honest advice as abovd which is that all are certainly not equal.

Please do PM me as it is an important area and Im happy to discuss in more detail by phone or email.



Please to PM me if you want to discuss in more detail as

[blippo1984]

Have re-read and noted it is for a friend. Still happy to discuss.

[audi321]

Thanks Blippo, that gives another side. I will ask him later which route he intends to go down for a job, but I think it is just standard personal accountancy (i.e. individuals) to start off with.

Thanks again.

[blippo1984]

The fastest route - which will typically take 3 years - is to either persuade current employer to put you through exams or find a job with a training contract attached.

These can be found on the websites of the accountancy bodies

[Eric Mc]

Very few people pass their exams in the quickest time possible. The exams are not easy - whether you are going down ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS or CIMA route.


And Blippo84, you ommitted ICAI, the Institue of Chartered Accounts of Ireland, which is fully recognised in the UK - as it covers Northern Ireland.

[blippo1984]

Eric MC my mistake.

[Eric Mc]

Poor old Ireland always gets left out

[uknick]

OP, this may be over egging the answers, but whatever route one takes it does involve a lot of work, especially in your own time.

I have advised a number of people in the past who were thinking qualifying was an "easy" way to get more money etc. But when I pointed out how much time was required to study each week in addition to the classroom based stuff, they soon seemed to lose interest.

And it can be expensive, if you can't find an employer to sponsor you.