CA Course Details

What is Chartered Accountancy?

Chartered accountant refers to professional accountants who are qualified to take on some specific activities within the spectrum of accountancy. Such activities include auditing financial statements, the filing of corporate tax returns and financial advising. In the United States, the similar position is known as a certified public accountant (CPA).
There are four fields in which these accountancy professionals work - taxation, financial accounting and reporting, applied finance and management accounting. Chartered accountants can wear many hats. They can manage a corporation or a business's entire accountancy needs. They can also have a more linear function such as being in charge of just one aspect of a business like auditing or taxes. Some of the highly skilled workers can go out on their own as freelancers.
Nowadays many business, corporation and individuals want to hire a chartered accountant because many financial and accounting matters are quite sensitive and they require someone incredibly knowledgeable to tackle them. Business people want to feel ensured that their economic issues are being competently handled, without worry of legal consequences or errors that could cost them money. Due to this reason, a chartered accountant can earn a high salary, gain respect within the industry and can also work under their own set conditions.

Chartered accountant qualification

Candidates who have passed 10th class or any course equivalent to that must apply for the Common Proficiency Course (CPC) first. After qualifying for the 10+2 exam, they have to get qualified for the CPT exam. After the CPT IPCC, they have to do a 3-year training or successful article-ship under an officially practising C.A. Then comes the CA Final.
But before taking the Integrated Professional Competence Examination, the candidates must pass CPT. Candidates must have a minimum of 55% score in graduates/ postgraduates in commerce and 60% in other graduates or postgraduates to apply for CA. Candidates also need to register 9 months before the exam and then finish 100 hours of Information Technology Training.

Chartered Accountant Jobs

The core of all the business, CAs are the custodian of accounting. They handle auditing, cost accounting, management accounting, tax management and other financial related works in the industry. They play an essential role in building-up processes in any industry. Some of the highest level CA careers include Chief Accountant, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Manager - Internal Audits, Chief Manager (System), Advisor to the Government and more.

CA Syllabus

CA course takes 5 years to complete, and it has three level examination with a vast syllabus.

• First is the Common Proficiency Test (CPT): CA CPT syllabus include Economics, IT, Mathematics, Law, General Management, statistics and more. It firmly deals with accounting, quantitative aptitude test, mercantile laws and general economics.
• Second is the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC): The Intermediate level course has two groups with 7 core subjects - Accounting, Business Law, Ethics and communication, Cost accounting and Financial Management, Taxation, Advanced Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, Information Technology and Strategic Management. Candidates are given a choice to appear for one group alone or combined as per their ability.
• The third is CA Final: The third level course covers financial reporting, management accounting, strategic financial management, professional ethics, information systems control and advanced auditing.

After clearing the IPCC exam, candidates will undergo "Articleship"- It is an on-job training period of 3 years with an account or audit firm. During this 3 years, candidates will prepare for the final CA as it will take place soon after the end of it.