The ICAEW Chartered Accountant qualification, the ACA, is one of the most prestigious professional credentials you can obtain as an accountant. It certifies that you have the requisite technical knowledge and a set of highly-regarded skills that allows you to work for almost any financial institution or industry across the globe.
The rigorous programme, with 15 exam modules and 450 days of work experience, ensures that ICAEW Chartered Accountants have mastered a range of topics covering financial management, law, assurance, and business strategy in addition to gaining invaluable real-world insights. To help budding accountants decide, we’ve listed down 7 reasons why you should choose ICAEW’s ACA qualification.
1) Recognised Qualification
78% of FTSE 100 companies have an ICAEW Chartered Accountant sitting on their Board and 6,000 employers worldwide and currently training ACA students to add to their workforce. All 100 of the global leading brands count Chartered Accountants among their staff.
The numbers speak for themselves. The ACA qualification is highly sought after and internationally recognised by companies both big and small. As a budding accountant, you can be rest assured that by studying for and receiving the ACA designation, your skills will always be in demand.
2) All-Rounded Reputable Training
The ACA is meant to train chartered accountants to have in-depth expertise in handling the multitude of different scenarios they will face over the course of their careers. Mastery of the various ICAEW ACA modules is required alongside completion of at least three years of on-the-job training.
Such high standards are put in place to assure potential employers that our certified Chartered Accountants are able to apply their specialised theoretical financial knowledge and accountancy skills to practical real-world scenarios.
3) Stand Out From The Crowd
A resume that contains the phrase “ICAEW Chartered Accountant” is bound to grab any potential employer or hiring manager’s attention. For the career-minded budding accountants who are looking to have a long successful career in the financial industry, getting your ACA qualification is a sure-fire way to stand out from the rest of the crowd.
4) Higher Salary
One of the biggest draws of completing your ACA qualification is the potential for better lifetime earnings. Chartered Accountants earn significantly more than accountants who don’t possess similar qualifications and the average annual salary of an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in business is around £134,000.
5) Greater Flexibility
ICAEW as an organisation is constantly growing and adapting to new landscapes. Our authorised training providers around the world have recognised the growing need for flexible lessons that can fit your schedule and availability.
With both face-to-face and online learning sessions, alongside weekend or evening classes, the ACA qualification is accessible for anyone who’s willing to put in the time and effort. The modular approach to exams means that you can study for the qualification in any order you prefer.
6) Mentorship And Support
As a professional body connected to a network of over 195,300 members and students worldwide, we understand the benefits of teamwork and mentorship. As part of your ACA training, your employer will provide you with a mentor to help you through the process and you will receive support from your colleagues as well.
7) High Pass Rate
The prospect of taking on the challenge of completing your ACA qualification can seem daunting. However it can be useful to consider the high pass rates of others who have taken the ACA exams previously. Certificate level first-time pass rates can range from 73% to as high as 92% for certain modules.
This can certainly be attributed to our well-structured, highly-flexible learning programme which is complemented by our mentorship support and our array of tools and resources at your disposal. Some of these tools include the ICAEW app, a dedicated students support team, and access to the Students Insights hub.
The ICAEW ACA qualification is a professional accreditation that enhances your resume, earning potential, and provides you with the skills you need to work in a challenging and rewarding industry.
By choosing to pursue the ACA, not only will you eventually gain the career benefits of working as a Chartered Accountant, you will also receive support from a globally prestigious body with a longstanding reputation for quality, trustworthiness, and professionalism.
Have a question for us, or looking to start your journey as a certified Chartered Accountant? Contact us today with your details and queries and our support team will respond.