What Is ACCA? A Better Option Than CA in 2025? | Full Course Guide

Summary

This video breaks down alternative career options to traditional commerce paths like CA, focusing on ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). The speaker explains ACCA’s global recognition, eligibility, exam structure, fees, and duration. It highlights the flexibility of ACCA exams, its high pass rate, and career opportunities both in India and abroad, including potential salaries. The comparison between CA and ACCA emphasizes ACCA’s broader global recognition and higher pass rates. Additionally, the speaker introduces a free counseling session to help students choose the right career path in finance and accounting.

Takeaways

• 😀 ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a globally recognized accounting qualification, often compared to CA (Chartered Accountant) in the UK.
• 😀 ACCA offers career opportunities worldwide, with over 2 lakh members and 5 lakh students, including 50,000+ students from India.
• 😀 The ACCA exam is divided into three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. The exams consist of 13 papers in total, some of which are objective and others subjective.
• 😀 One of ACCA's advantages over CA is that you can pass each exam individually without needing to retake all papers if you fail one, unlike CA where the entire group might need to be reattempted.
• 😀 The eligibility for ACCA starts as early as 10th grade, with Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) for students who don't want to complete 11th or 12th. Students completing 12th need a minimum of 65% in accounts and English to be eligible.
• 😀 If you've cleared CA Intermediate but failed CA Final, you can join ACCA with exemptions for seven papers, reducing your workload significantly.
• 😀 The total cost of completing ACCA ranges from ₹3 to ₹4.5 lakh, including coaching fees. This is considered high, but there are ways to offset costs through employer support.
• 😀 Employers in firms like KPMG, Deloitte, PWC, and EY offer financial support for ACCA students in exchange for a commitment to work for them for two years.
• 😀 After completing ACCA, you can find jobs as a Financial Analyst, Auditor, Tax Executive, or Risk Analyst, with roles available in both Indian and global companies.
• 😀 The salary for ACCA professionals can range from ₹5 to ₹50 lakh annually in India and even higher abroad, depending on experience. With 6+ years of experience, salaries can reach ₹40 lakh in India and even higher abroad.
• 😀 ACCA is globally recognized, offering international job opportunities, especially in countries like the UAE, UK, Singapore, and Canada. It is a viable option for those seeking a career outside India while still offering strong domestic prospects.

Q & A

What are the common career options after studying commerce?

The most common career options after commerce are CA (Chartered Accountant), BBA, and BCom. However, there are many more options that students may not be aware of.

What is the purpose of the speaker’s channel?

The purpose of the speaker's channel is to create a balance between students who are unaware of career options and those who are overwhelmed by the many choices available. The channel aims to help students make informed decisions about their career paths.

How does ACCA compare to CA?

ACCA is considered the CA of the UK and is recognized in over 180 countries. Unlike CA, which is India-centric, ACCA offers global recognition and opportunities. The exam structure in ACCA allows students to take individual papers, unlike CA, where exams are grouped together.

What is the eligibility criteria for pursuing ACCA?

ACCA eligibility starts from the 10th standard. After completing 10th, students can pursue a Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) course, while after 12th, students need a minimum of 65% in accounts/maths and 50% in other subjects. CA Inter students can also get exemptions from some ACCA papers.

How much does it cost to complete the ACCA course?

The total cost of completing the ACCA course is around ₹3 to ₹3.5 lakh without coaching and ₹4 to ₹4.5 lakh with coaching. The costs include registration, annual fees, and exam fees, which vary depending on the level of the course.

How long does it take to complete ACCA?

The time to complete the ACCA course depends on the entry level. For students starting after 10th, it may take longer due to the FIA course, while students starting after 12th may complete the course in about 2-3 years, depending on exemptions.

What are the salary expectations after completing ACCA?

For freshers in India, the salary after completing ACCA is typically ₹5 to ₹9 lakh per annum. With 5 years of experience, the salary can increase to ₹20 to ₹30 lakh in India, and internationally, it can go up to ₹60 lakh or more.

What are the career opportunities available after completing ACCA?

After completing ACCA, students can pursue roles such as Financial Analyst, IFRS Reporting Specialist, Internal Auditor, Risk & Compliance Analyst, Tax Executive, and Business Consultant. Companies like KPMG, Deloitte, PWC, and EY offer job opportunities for ACCA professionals.

How does the ACCA exam structure differ from the CA exam structure?

In ACCA, exams are divided into individual papers that can be taken one at a time, offering flexibility. In CA, students must clear all papers in a group, which may require retaking all papers if any are failed. This makes ACCA more flexible and less stressful in terms of exam structure.

What are the main benefits of pursuing ACCA over CA?

The main benefits of pursuing ACCA over CA include global recognition, the ability to work abroad, a higher pass rate (45-50% for ACCA vs 9-11% for CA), and a more flexible exam structure where students can take exams individually. Additionally, ACCA allows students to balance studies with work or college life.