With all the argueing between ACA and ACCA I though I'd give the CPA a mention
Irrespective of snobbery on par with ACCA even if they won't admit it
You also have the freedom to train in practice or industry
I am a trained CPA but was given ACCA by applying for it and sitting an interview (throgh a reciprical agreement between the institues)
Just to give a quick run down of my career path
I started a IATI course after the leaving cert and after 2 years of this post elaving cert couse started CPA with exemptions from the first year and half of the second
There is not a necessity to go to university or college to become an accountant
After all most studying will be done through night course depending on which designation you decide to with
I trained in two small practice in Ireland with a short stint in the tax office between both
I moved to London when qualified and workled there for two years in, by Irish standards, a medium sized practice, with some pretty large clients
After that I went to Barbados for two years working for a Big 4 firm
When I came back to Ireland got a job as a financial controller part-time and got my own practicing cert
Now run my own small (but growing) practice
The Big 4 experience is valuable (in some ways) but the small practice experience is what is relevant to what I am doing now
If I had not got that and trained in a Big 4 firm I would not have enough knowledge to go out on my own, I believe
But unless you see yourself running your own practice I'd say stay away from training in practice as you will probably get better paid in industry and defiently will in financial services
Hope that helps
stuart@buyingtolet.ie