Mark&Jo

Just wanted to know if the ACCA and CPA were comparable and does ACCA membership give direct membership of CPA (barring Austalian Tax and Law additions).
The ACCA have said Part 2 is equivalent of a UK Bachelors degree and part 3 is the same level as a Masters. Is this enough for CPA membership?

Also is ACCA recognised in the workplace or only CPA?

Cheers
Mark

GinaUK

The short answer is "no" (ACCA m'ship does not give you direct m'ship of CPA). If you want to know how to become a CPA, have a look on their website:
http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au
Look under the "Admission and Education" tab at the top. It's all explained in that section.
As I said above: No.
JAJ has written on here previously and said that Australian employers do no know/understand UK qualifications such as ACCA or CIMA. However, all the larger recruitment agencies get to see plenty of UK resumes and hence know a bit more about UK qualifications. But you won't get a job just based on your quals: experience and references matter.

Gina

JAJ

If you decide you want to get an Australian qualification, then Australian CA makes more sense than CPA because it's more prestigious (and better recognised in many other countries, such as New Zealand, should you move on).
http://www.icaa.org.au

Alternatively, NIA upgraded the PNA to the same academic standard as CA/CPA in early 2005. PNA is not nearly as well recognised as CA/CPA but this will probably change over the next 10-15 years. In the meantime, ACCA is recognised to get PNA status. http://www.nia.org.au

Mark&Jo

Thanks for the info - partic. on the PNA as I had not thought of that route.
Unfortunately it looks like more studying is required.

JAJ

Another option is to become an English CA through direct entry if you qualify:
http://www.icaew.co.uk/index.cfm?route=125720

Getting ACA through direct entry won't help you get Australian CA (mutual recognition does not apply to direct entrants to ICAEW), however the English CA designation is probably better recognised in Australia compared to ACCA.