Regarded as knowledgeable financial advisors and accounting specialists, CPAs help people identify their financial goals and develop strategies to ensure those aims become a reality. You’ll find CPAs in all levels of business, from start-ups to multinational corporations. Candidates are required to complete a specific period of practical training, usually under the guidance of a practicing CA. On average, candidates take around 18 months to 2 years to complete all four sections of the CPA exam.

CPA vs CA – Salary

If you are interested in working abroad or in a multinational company, then you should opt for a CPA. Alternatively, if you want to start your own audit practice in India, opt for CA. On the flipside is Australian National Maritime Museum CFO Frank Shapter, who is a qualified CPA. Shapter has held senior finance positions at Optus, Chubb, Kaplan Australia, and was the regional financial controller and general manager of ANZ business processes at Thomson Reuters. Qualified Chartered Accountant, Kris Black, is the group finance director at IRI-Aztec. After launching his career at professional services firm, KPMG, Black went on to become finance manager at BBC Worldwide and financial controller at IMG and Innocent Drinks.

Exam Difficulty

For example, check out the options provided by the ICAS to be eligible to get the CA credential. The CPA is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The CPA license is ideal if your career goal is working for an American company or a global corporation. If your ideal role would take you outside the United States to work for international companies which aren’t traded on US markets, you likely would find the Chartered Accountant certification more relevant. If you want to work in the US, you will most likely want to become a licensed CPA. There is enough overlap in these certificates that you will likely not need both.

FRM Practice Questions

The key question that arises is whether the CPA benefits my career path or CA. There is no clear winner because both qualifications will help to grow your technical skills, accountancy skills, and business management skills. Also, CPA and CA holders tend to be equally spread across commercial and public accounting – so each qualification provides maximum flexibility to work across the industry.

Salary Prospects

Ultimately, the future success of professionals in either pathway will depend largely on their ability to adapt to and integrate emerging technologies into their practice. While both the CPA and CA programs are challenging in their rights, the CA program is often considered more difficult due to its extensive syllabus, lower pass rates, and the longer commitment required. Both CPA and CA qualifications open doors to a range of global opportunities, but the CPA is more US-centric, while the CA is more versatile in Commonwealth and other countries adhering to IFRS. On the other hand, CAs enjoy recognition primarily in Commonwealth countries and are well-regarded for their versatility and adaptability in international financial environments.

• In terms of known and good-to-work-for companies hiring for the role of a CPA in India – All major accounting firms and brands are a good target to have (especially when they also operate in the U.S.).
• As is elsewhere in the world, CPAs in Australia have a wide range of accounting and finance skills and are involved in business management, financial planning, financial analysis and advice, and more.
• The Chartered Accountant (CA) course, widely recognized in the UK, India, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, is a prestigious path in the accounting profession.
• This CPA Canada designation was introduced when three previous designations were amalgamated into one – Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified General Accountant (CGA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
• Whether you’re a small business owner or plotting away at a side hustle, there are many online business courses to choose from to help you get in touch with your entrepreneurial side and launch your ideas off the ground.

The main difference between CAs and certified public accountants is that the CPA is a designation used in the United States, while CA is used in many other countries. The CPA abbreviation can refer to different types of accounting professionals in different parts of the world. For example, in Canada, a CPA is a chartered professional accountant; in Australia, a CPA is a certified practicing accountant.

If you seek a program that allows more flexibility in terms of scheduling exams and completing requirements, and if a shorter duration for qualification is important, consider the CPA. The CPA program, while also rigorous, is more modular and allows greater flexibility, focusing on American accounting and business practices. CPAs have a strong international presence, especially in the United States and in countries with US business interests, owing to their specialization in US GAAP. Their qualification is highly regarded in global finance and multinational corporations. Both designations have their own pros and cons, it is not an easy task to opt between CPA & CA as both have a successful career.

Professionals with these designations work in the public and private sector for corporations, individuals, governments, and organizations. They are responsible for filing taxes, applied finance, auditing and financial reporting, and management accounting. Demand for accountants is strong and steady, and there are several different career paths available for those interested in a career in this field, including becoming a chartered ca vs cpa accountant (CA). In general, their job responsibilities are similar to those of certified public accountants (CPAs) in the U.S. You can find work as a CA in the public or private sector, and they are employed by businesses, governments, individual taxpayers, and organizations around the world. A chartered accountant is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, a formally recognized institution of accountants.

For an employee looking to make the next step in their career, both Black and Shapter agree that any accountant with a CA or CPA have a competitive edge over those without one.