ACCA Vs CA- The Hard Truth that no one tells

Last updated on November 20th, 2025 at 11:48 am

Investment Banker & finance

ALLEN ARAVINDAN,CFA

I have typically found these questions from students, who by default are frustrated with CA asking me ACCA vs CA.

Trying to find some hope, somewhere to satisfy their fear, looking for some ray of hope in an answer that they already have fixed it be “Easy”.

I am going to answer this in the most truthful, blunt, and easy-understanding way so that you don’t have to do any soul-searching henceforth. Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaway

• CA has signing authority, ACCA doesn’t
• You can work only in MNC-based companies with ACCA
• CA is more difficult than ACCA at any level
• ACCA is more costly than CA
• CA will always be in more demand than ACCA
• CA candidates get lot of exemptions in ACCA,but claiming them can be costly
• A good combination with CA, Is dip IFRS provided by ACCA

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What is CA?

CA (Chartered Accountancy) is India’s most respected professional qualification in accounting and finance, governed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
It’s ideal for students who want to build a strong career in accounting, taxation, auditing, or finance within India.

The most sought-after professional qualification in the field of accounting, auditing, and taxation.The qualification is a standard in India for accounting careers,  and are the only persons who can actually audit financial statements and have the requisite signing authority for it.CA-qualified professionals can not only make careers in the regular accounting-related industry but also in investment banking, financial planning, and credit rating careers.

Due to the high competition and very low passing rates, CA-qualified candidates tend to get immense opportunities, not only in Indian firms but also in MNCs.

Anyone can pursue CA, after 12^th or HSC, also there is no specific timeline or limit on the age to become a CA. In fact there are a lot of candidates who clear CA, very later in their age.

The CA program is authorized by the law, in the Chartered Accountants Act 1949, also the reason why everyone wants to become a CA.

The average salary of a fresher CA in India is around: INR 6.98 Lacs, which is pretty high compared to other competitive qualifications and can go up to INR 40 Lacs in some cases.

Around 17000 CA’s enter the job market every year which is a fraction passing percentage, compared to the amount of applicants.

Key Highlights:

Duration: 4.5 to 5 years
Regulating Body: ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India)
Levels: Foundation → Intermediate → Final
Eligibility: After Class 12 (Commerce preferred)
Passing Percentage: ~8–12% (highly competitive)

Skills You Gain:

Financial and Corporate Accounting
Taxation and Auditing
Business Laws and Ethics
Costing and Strategic Financial Management

Career Roles After CA:

Chartered Accountant (CA)
Tax Consultant
Forensic Auditor
Finance Controller
Internal Auditor
CFO or Finance Head

Best For:

Students who aim to build a stable, high-reputation accounting career in India with deep knowledge of Indian tax laws and financial regulations.

Mercantile Law and Financial Management in CA Curriculum

The CA curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including mercantile law and financial management. These subjects are part of the CA Intermediate course and are crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of business laws and financial strategies. Successfully completing the CA course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for a rewarding career in various financial sectors.

What is ACCA?

ACCA is a globally recognised accounting qualification awarded by the Association of Chartered Accountants, U.K.

The qualification has gained prominence and is available in more than 180 countries and was set up initially in 1904.

One must understand that ACCA is not enabled or supported by any act like CA. In fact, in the UK itself, the main qualification for accounting is  ICAEW ( Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). 

Having said that ACCA has more than 4 Lac students globally, focussing on the knowledge of GAAP and IFRS.

Why ACCA?

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a UK-based global accounting qualification recognized in 180+ countries.
It is designed for students who want international exposure and global career opportunities in finance, audit, and consulting.

Key Highlights:

Duration: 2.5 to 3 years
Regulating Body: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK)
Levels: Applied Knowledge → Applied Skills → Strategic Professional
Eligibility: After Class 12 (Commerce or equivalent)
Passing Percentage: ~40–50% globally

Skills You Gain:

International Financial Reporting (IFRS)
Auditing, Management Accounting, Taxation
Financial Analysis and Strategic Decision-Making

Career Roles After ACCA:

Global Accountant / Auditor
Financial Analyst

Tax Specialist
Risk Manager
Finance Manager
Corporate Finance Consultant

 Best For:

Students looking for international accounting exposure, mobility, and Big 4 opportunities in India or abroad.

ACCA vs CA Difficulty Level (Exam Pattern Comparison)

Step-by-Step Exam Roadmap

CA Pathway

12th (Commerce Stream)
→ CA Foundation (Entry-level)
→ CA Intermediate (8 Papers)
→ 3 Years of Articleship
→ CA Final (8 Papers)
Earn “Chartered Accountant (CA)” title

ACCA Pathway

12th (Commerce Stream)
→ ACCA Knowledge Level (3 Papers)
→ ACCA Skill Level (6 Papers)
→ Strategic Professional Level (4 Papers)
→ 3 Years of Professional Experience
Earn “Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)” title

ACCA vs CA – Cost comparison

ACCA is significantly more expensive than CA, primarily due to its international registration fees, higher exam fees, and annual subscription costs.

• ACCA total cost ranges from ₹3.5–₹5 lakh, depending on coaching and exemptions.
• CA total cost averages ₹1.2–₹2 lakh, making it one of the most affordable professional qualifications in India.

If you’re choosing based on cost-efficiency, CA is the clear winner. If your goal is global mobility and IFRS-based careers, ACCA may justify the higher investment.

Jobs After ACCA

Now it may sound like ACCA is nothing but some educational qualification, but since India has been majorly a major destination for outsourcing accounting work.

The qualification may make sense for students who wish to forgo the legal benefit of doing CA.

ACCA students can work in

• Treasury
• Accounts receivable
• Budgeting Or Management Accounting

However the concern is always on the quality of jobs available after taking so much main of clearing the ACCA exams. On the right you can see one of the job postings for freshers, this job profile clearly doesn’t even require you to do ACCA. In fact even as a graduate you could enter this job profile.

The more alarming data is that on the ACCA portal itself, there are only 52 jobs posted for entry level and are basically not high quality jobs expected after completing the qualifications like ACCA.

ACCA vs CA job scope

CA vs ACCA global opportunities

CA (India): Recognized and regulated within India, though limited recognition abroad (except some mutual recognition agreements with a few countries).

ACCA (UK): Recognized in 180+ countries, including the UK, UAE, Singapore, Canada, and Australia providing international mobility and better salary potential.

Recruiter Insight (Case Study Quote)

“We often prefer candidates with ACCA qualification when hiring for global finance roles,”
says Rahul Mehta, Finance Director at KPMG India,
“because ACCA-trained professionals understand IFRS and global compliance standards better than region-specific qualifications.”

Jobs after CA

CA professionals have excellent job opportunities across India’s top financial and corporate hubs.

ACCA Vs CA salary in India

Now, let’s seal the deal and discussion by looking at the most important figure, salary. A CA earns on an average INR 9.5 Lacs compared to 4.4 Lacs for an ACCA. Which by the way we are talking in terms of inexperienced CA’s.

ACCA Vs CA- Which is better?

We compiled the main points of comparison between ACCA & CA, on practical aspects that any qualification should offer.

Pass Rate ACCA vs CA.

It may sound like pursuing CA is very difficult, because of a very low pass rate but you should understand that any legitimate qualification which is respected in the industry for employment will have a low pass rate. Let’s look at some examples

The pass rates usually tell us very little about the actual difficulty but the popularity of the qualification or degree.

All three of the above qualification are popular and hence has a huge following or volumes, making the focussed lot lower. Resulting in a low pass rate.

Why CA’s are in Demand and Will be?

Becoming a CA is more than just clearing exams, the students also have to go through the grueling article ships under a practicing chartered accountant.  

Ask any chartered accountant and they will share the hard work both physical as well as mental that the ICAI body makes you go through.

The result is that every candiate that manages to complete the ICAI program or becomes a chartered accountant is a filtered high quality resource.

That is the reason why CA’s are in demand, not just because of the exam or low pass rate.

How to do ACCA after CA?

There would be no real logic of combining ACCA with CA, because by 2022 when you are reading this Ind As has already been implemented, which is a deto of IFRS, so whatever benefit ACCA had over CA, related to the IFRS understanding is over.

However if you still decide to do ACCA after CA, then this is how it will workout

• You will be entitled to the following exemptions. F1-F9 – All Papers CA Final Student Qualified IPCC benefits + F5 (if cleared AMA), F7 (if cleared FR), F9 (if cleared SFM)
• You need to submit your qualification documents to ACCA
• You must also be aware that exemptions come at a cost and since CA gets a lot of exemptions. This can become a costly affair

Now in case you take my advice, then the combination below makes more sense than ACCA after CA.

A good combination though could be doing the following

• Dip IFRS as an additional certification
• CPA after completing CA ( Opens doors abroad )
• Financial modelling  ( Opens doors for investment banking )
• CFA ( Opens door towards all finance careers)

You can also read a detailed article on: Certifications along with CA here

ACCA vs CA: which is better?

The future of accounting is going to be more competitive than ever, with a lot of automation and technology use. This alone is going to be difficult for CA, let alone doing a sub standard wanna be qualification like ACCA. With all the due respect for ACCA, we cannot deny the data, that would be the wrong advice just to make things sugary and rosy.  Hope this article helped you, even if it didn’t excite you on a easy alternate to CA.

Choose ACCA → If you want global exposure, flexible exams, and work in MNCs/Big 4 worldwide.

Choose CA → If you want a premium Indian qualification, higher domestic salary, and long-term practice opportunities.

FAQ

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