Introduction
Chartered Accountant (CA) is a prestigious career in India which offers great opportunities. As per law every organization required to keep some financial records and carry financial audits every year. Chartered Accountants (CA) deal with it. They are experts in financial matters. So it shows the importance of Chartered Accountant for an organization.
Who is a Chartered Accountant (CA)?
Chartered Accountant are registered as members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). They manages money and provide professional financial advice to the organization. A CA is a specialized professional in accountancy, auditing and taxation.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Chartered Accountant (CA)
The role of chartered accountant is depends on the place he is working. If they work as private practice, the work role and range will be depends upon the city of practice. They are doing financial auditing required as per the requirement of law.
If they are working in an organization, then also the work role will depend on the size of the organization. Big organizations will have individual specializations in accounts and roles. Smaller organizations have less specialization in roles and a CA has to handle more roles of financial management.
Generally the role of a chartered accountant are financial accounting, auditing cost accounting, tax management, management accounting, and consultancy.
Educational Qualification Required
To become a chartered accountant, one has to register as members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. This can be done if they pass CA final exam and complete practical training as prescribed.
Skills and Knowledge Required
A chartered accountant must have some specific skills. A thorough knowledge of subject and regular update of knowledge is also a must as the laws of tax and other are changing regularly. A CA must possess good numerical ability, logical and methodological approach, ability to deal and manage different types of people, analytical skills, etc. He / She must be a person with good communication skills, ability to take stress, hardworking nature, clear business acumen etc.
How to become a Chartered Accountant (CA)?
CA program is a professional course which has three sections namely, Common Proficiency Test (CPT), Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) and Final Course. One can register for CPT and IPCC throughout the year. The exams will be conducted twice in a year. One can become a chartered accountant (CA) as follows.
A person passed 10th or equivalent exam can register for CPT exam. But they can write the examination only after passing 10 + 2 exam or waiting for the 10 + 2 exam result.
A commerce graduate with 50% marks, non-commerce graduate with subjects other than mathematics with an aggregate of 55% marks and non-commerce graduate with mathematics with an aggregate of 60% marks are exempted from the Common Proficiency Test (CPT). They can register for Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC)
After passing IPCC one can register for Articled Clerk / Audit Clerk for Chartered Accountancy. A candidate after obtaining necessary practical knowledge can go for Final Examination. After passing final examination, one can register as member in ICAI (Official website of ICAI is https://www.icai.org/).
Where do I get the Job?
There are plenty of job opportunities available for a chartered accountant. They can practice independently or start a chartered accountants firm of consultancy firm. A CA will get a job in all type of organizations as all organizations required proper maintenance of accounts and records.
Job opportunities are available in capital market services, consultancy firms, chartered accountant firms, financial institutions, organizations and institutions, etc.
A chartered accountant can work as Auditor, CFO, Finance Managers, Finance Controllers, Financial Advisers, Tax Consultant etc.