Re: ..
Yes I'm ACCA, after a long hard struggle
ACCA is Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
The difference between ACCA & Chartered is that you don't have to sign a contract with anyone. In terms of exam content they are pretty similar. Chartered used to have more "snob" value but thats all changed now. I don't know why the Big 4 recruit for "chartered". One advantage of training in the Big 4 is that you would probably have a better chance of getting a job in a multi-national company.
ACCA is similar in structure to CIMA in that you can study while your working at something else, and gain your 3 years experience before,during or after you pass all your exams. You can choose whether to work in practise or industry. The only thing being its easy to move from practise to industry but not the other way around..
The difference between CIMA & ACCA is that ACCA exams include auditing whereas CIMA doesn't. So a Chartered or Certified Accountant can work in either practise or industry whereas a CIMA accountant is effectivly limiting the options to industry.
I haven't a clue how much you'd get if you sat all the exams first. Again I can only suggest that you contact a few of the agencies.
Personally I'd choose ACCA. Reasons being
1. its the same qualification as Chartered
2. freedom to move jobs that signing a contract doesn't allow
3. it doesn't limit the options like CIMA
4. You sit your exams twice a year enabling you to get past the finishing post a lot sooner than Chartered.
I moved jobs many times during my training, while its not something I'd recommend (lost me many an interview) its better than being stuck in the same job for 3.5 years and hating it. I started out in practise, moved to industry, hated every minute and then moved back to practise.
I'd be more likely to try & get a job before spending 2/3 years studying for a qualification then hating the work.
Any other questions, just ask