Career in Chartered Accountant

With a constant development in the Indian economy, careers in finance and accounts have gained vast popularity and the most prestigious career option in this field is that of Chartered Accountant. It is a dynamic, challenging and rewarding profession. Major countries have their own Accountancy Association which regulates the quality and quantity of the professionals in this field.

Chartered Accountancy is a challenging and rewarding profession. The course involves a combination of theoretical education and practical training which gives a student knowledge, ability, skills and other qualities required of a professional accountant.

A Chartered accountant is one who is specialized in accounting, auditing and taxation. The task of chartered accountant is to ensure that the financial transactions of an organization are maintained according to the law, they also keep track of cost of management of the company and manage tax matters.

Enrol with the Institute for Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after passing Class 10 examination.
Appear CPT examination after appearing in the HSC (10+2) exam and after completion of specified period (i.e. 60 days) from the date of registration for CPT prior to the first day of the month in which examination to be held with the Board of Studies.
Join Professional Competence Course (PCC), articled training and register for 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT) after passing CPT and HSC exam.
Appear in Professional Competence Examination (PCE) if :
Worked for not less than fifteen months as an articled assistant or equivalent period as an audit assistant or partly as an articled assistant and partly as an audit assistant, three months prior to the first day of the month in which examination is held and
Completed 100 hours ITT.
Join CA Final course along with
General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) Course while undergoing Final course
Articled training of 3½ years.
Appear in final examination on completion of the practical training.
Pass Final examination and complete GMCS
Enrol for membership.

A Candidate who has passed the 10th examination can register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) of the CA programme. One can appear the CPT after passing the HSC (10+2).

Commerce graduates with 50% marks, non-commerce graduates with subjects other than Mathematics with an aggregate of 55% marks and non-commerce graduates with Maths with an aggregate of 60% marks are exempted from the Competency Professional Test (CPT) and are permitted to register directly for Professional Competency Course (PCC).

Candidates who have passed the Final Examination conducted by the Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) or the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) can register for Professional Competency Course.

 Sound reasoning abilities
 Numerical abilities
 Well organized and systematic approach towards work
 Practical approach
 Ability to deal with numbers

A Chartered Accountant can specialise in Accounting, Auditing, Corporate Finance, Corporate Laws or Taxation.

In an economically developing nation like India importance of trade and industry is growing along with the rapid growth of capital and money markets and this has increased the importance of Chartered Accountants to a very large extent. A qualified Chartered Accountant can join the Government Service, Public Sector undertakings. They can also have their own consultancy or private practice which could be more lucrative and satisfying. Companies registered under the Companies Act, are required to get their accounts audited only by practicing Chartered Accountants.

Chartered Accountancy is a well-paid profession, be it Government Service, private firms or own consultancy. Most multi-national firms provide numerous perks besides the salary such as medical benefits, house allowance and so on. Monthly earnings range between Articleship Rs. 2,500 - Rs.3,000, Fresh CA's Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 6,500, Accounts Managers Rs. 6,500 - Rs.8,500, Financial Controllers Rs. 8,500 - Rs. 15,000, Directors Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 25,000 and an experienced CA's may get monthly earnings more than Rs. 50,000 in India and 5,00000 in abroad, according to the company they work for or depending upon the cities they are working in.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Anveshak Building, P B No 6081 Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005
Website: www.icai.org
log on to the website to find out regional offices and their contact details.