I am doing my A Levels. I have chosen accounting but I am facing certain problems relating to its recognition in the UAE. How can I become a chartered accountant (CA)? Could you tell me what problems students face if they pursue this field and want to move to another country? -- Mohammad Ashraf
Accountants are the financial gatekeepers of the world. They prepare and analyse financial reports that furnish current information for businesses, government agencies and other organisations. The field offers stimulating and challenging work that is constantly evolving. Since accounting professionals spend considerable time analysing business operations, accounting is often referred to as the “language of business”.
Licensing bodies
Accountants may be licensed by a variety of organisations such as the British qualified accountancy bodies including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA). They are recognised by titles such as Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA or FCCA) and Chartered Accountant (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Pakistan, South Africa), Certified Public Accountant (Ireland, Japan, US, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines), Certified Management Accountant (Canada, US), Certified General Accountant (Canada), or Certified Practising Accountant (Australia).
Websites that provide more information
- Certified Management Accountant: www.cma-canada.org/
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of India: www.icai.org
- Chartered Certified Accountant: www.accaglobal.com/
- Certified Practising Accountant: www.cpaaustralia.com.au/
Equivalence
In a globalised world, most accounting qualifications recognise others through an equivalence programme. This allows accounting professionals from different parts of the world to work in an integrated manner.
Most qualifications have a similar course; they differ usually under the taxation laws. Thus if you are qualified as an accountant through a standard accountancy body, you can move seamlessly to different parts of the world.
Chartered Accountant
A chartered accountant (CA) is a person who is accepted as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) after having passed the final examination of the chartered accountancy course conducted by the institute.
Accounting is all about numbers, so maths is very important. The CA exams have undergone major revisions in the recent past. For more details about the ICAI, visit www.icai.org
The ICAI office in Dubai
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India,
Office G - 18, Block 2B,
Dubai Knowledge Village,
Dubai, UAE
Email: icai@dubaiinternetcity.net
- The writer is the director of Meccademia, a UAE-based educational institute catering to students in the 14-17 age group. For more information visit www.meccademia.com or email subramanian.krishnamoorthy@gmail.com
