CPA versus ACCA

triplex

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Hello,

Am considering doing the CPA as the ACCA exams seem extremely hard - i know the CPA are tough too, but the failure rate in ACCA seems very high. Would anyone have any comments? especially people currently doing CPA, i'd be very interested in your opinions of CPA?

thanks,
 
Any CPA's out there who can confirm how much the joining fee / annual subscription is ?

(I have heard that they are relatively high)
 
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Hi,

I am currently studying for the ACCA exams. The annual subscription for the CPA is a few hundred a year (Approx €500-600) it is only seventy odd euro with the ACCA. Was in your predicament myself a couple of years ago but went with the ACCA after advice from numerous people. The CPA exams arent as easy as they are made out to be.

Good luck whatever you decide....
 
Have you considered CIMA, the qualificaion is more flexible and the exam more practical?
 
i am an AAC qualified 3 years now. basically there are three main practice options. ICAI, ACCA and CPA. there may be some other options but i will not mention them at this stage. Both the ICAI and CPA are exclusivley Irish while the ACCA is a global "brand" with an office in Dublin. As the ICAI and CPA are exclusivley Irish they offer a better service to Irish students. With ACCA you get your annual subscription in sterling and there are some matters that the dublin office cant deal with and you are then reffered to Glasgow which can be tedious.
In terms of the qualification been recognised there definatley is a perception in the marketplace that the CPA qualification is at the bottom of the scale. Even though in my opinion any CPA accountant i know is as good as any other and a lot depends on the person rather than the qualification. while studying for the ACCA i looked at the CPA exams and they did appear a lot easier, i dont know if they have changed over the years.
Best of luck with whatever you decide. It may be worth consulting a careers counsellor in your school/college or the ACCA or CPA direct.
 
I am studying ACCA myself but I know a few people on the CPA. Not much difference between the two. The main advantage to ACCA is it's portability ie, being internationallly recognised. CPA is exclusively for Ireland. Good luck in whatever you choose.
 
Everyone, thanks for your comments - just discovered that the CPA qualification is recognised across Europe - not just in Ireland. The directive mentioned below has been updated within the past 2 years...


'The CPA qualification is recognised as equivalent to those of other statutory bodies in the EU and the qualification is included in the EC Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications - the Mutual Recognition Directive (89/48/EEC).'
 
The CPA qualification is indeed very well recognised and it is highly regarded.
 
Everyone, thanks for your comments - just discovered that the CPA qualification is recognised across Europe - not just in Ireland. The directive mentioned below has been updated within the past 2 years...


'The CPA qualification is recognised as equivalent to those of other statutory bodies in the EU and the qualification is included in the EC Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications - the Mutual Recognition Directive (89/48/EEC).'


But ACCA is more established and a more recognisable "global brand" (for want of a better phrase).

The CPA qualification is indeed very well recognised and it is highly regarded.

I wouldn't agree that that is the perception amoung employers. Have a look at job ads for accountants in the press and on agency websites..they usually say ACA/ACCA/CIMA...
 
I wouldn't agree that that is the perception amoung employers. Have a look at job ads for accountants in the press and on agency websites..they usually say ACA/ACCA/CIMA...

But they also look for experience and post grad qualifications.

ACCA,CPA, CIMA & ACA are just brands.


ads for accountants
would not be my idea of a good borometer.

CPA is a better brand in the US and Canada. ACCA is probably better known in the UK.

Pepsi is strong in some markets, Coca Cola in others and Local Brands in others.

My advice would be to look into all bodies - I'd pick the most flexable one with regards doing exams.
 
ACCA has members, affiliates and students in 170 countires arround the world and it is the leading professional accountancy body in these countires.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a British chartered accountancy body with a global presence that offers the Chartered Certified Accountant (Designatory letters ACCA or FCCA) qualification worldwide. It is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing accountancy bodies with 122,426 members and 325,606 affiliates and students in 170 countries. The Institute's headquarters are in London with the principal administrative office being based in Glasgow. In addition the ACCA has a network of nearly 80 staffed offices and other centres around the world. "WIKIPEDIA"

ACCA's syllabus formed the basis of the United Nations' global accountancy curriculum titled Guideline on National Requirements for the Qualification of Professional Accountants published in 1999. ACCA was a participant in the consultative group, which devised this global Benchmark, and reference to ACCA's role is included throughout the publication. "WIKIPEDIA"
 
Hey,

CPA exams are much more difficult than ACCA exams.
Also do not forget that passing grade is 75 for CPA and 50 for ACCA. On CPA exams you are trying to be excellent, however on ACCA exams if you are average guy in the subject you will pass.
Best of luck on whatever you decided!
 
I heard an old saying in UCD once..."ACA" stands for "A Chartered Accountant", "ACCA" stands for "A Crap Chartered Accountant" and "CPA" stands for "Car Park Attendant".

The above isn't a comment on the relative merits of the three qualifications!
 
But ACCA is more established and a more recognisable "global brand" (for want of a better phrase).
..


That said CPA is a very strong barnd internationally.

ACA, ACCA, CIMA and CPA are all good qualififications.

Differances are like Coke v Pepsi
 
I've recruited Accountants for 10 years and in Ireland, there is a very real difference in CPA's vs ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Its absolutely not fair, but its absolutely there. A CPA qualified candidate will often be overlooked in favour of an ACA/ACCA/CIMA.
 
Becoming an Accountant

Hi there.
I'm 34 and am strongly considering becoming an Accountant. My primary degree is in Engineering which I completed in 1997. I've worked in various engineering roles and in recent years have been dealing with budgets, customer accounts etc.
I've been reading a number of articles on the merits of various qualifications and I'm leaning towards the ACCA.
Do larger companies, PWC, Accenture etc. consider mature candidates for their training programmes?
In these times are the places going to newly graduated candidates?
Are there other routes that I should consider??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
 
I'm sorry to burst all your bubbles but ACCA CANNOT be compared to CPA.

Indeed, ACCA is not a "British Chartered Accountancy body". This is a common misconception. People with ACCA qualifications are NOT considered Chartered Accountants anywhere and are referred to as Certified Accountants in the UK. The qualification is massively inferior to the ACA qualifications offered by the ICAEW and ICAS.

Those saying otherwise are thinking wishfully and kidding themselves. Absolute self-denial.

Interesting how these threads always seem to attract one-post-wonders, who specialise in resurrection... :rolleyes:

An illogical post as well, since you start by suggesting ACCA can't be compared to CPA, offering no explanation as to why this is the case... and then go on to talk about ICAEW & ICAS on an Irish forum - ICAI don't even merit a mention apparently...!
 
I'm sorry to burst all your bubbles but ACCA CANNOT be compared to CPA.

Indeed, ACCA is not a "British Chartered Accountancy body". This is a common misconception. People with ACCA qualifications are NOT considered Chartered Accountants anywhere and are referred to as Certified Accountants in the UK. The qualification is massively inferior to the ACA qualifications offered by the ICAEW and ICAS.

Those saying otherwise are thinking wishfully and kidding themselves. Absolute self-denial.

Complete and utter rubbish. I am ACA and it is not vastly superior to ACCA.
 
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