Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

Hi Everybody,

After a very long time deciding myself and my partner are planning to move to Australia in approximately 5 years. I have finished my AAT and did plan on moving onto ACCA, is this the best qualification to do to gain access to Australia or would CIMA or ACA be better?

Thanks.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

CA

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

well if you want a qualification that many Australian recruiters are looking for, go for CA (ICAEW) which has reciprocal recognition with Australian CA.

I understand others are passionate about their ACCA qualification but you could sort of 'discriminated' if you do not hold either CA or CPA - although I would personally prefer the CA as it has more mutual recognition agreements internationally e.g. ICAEW, AICPA(US) CICA(Canada).

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

CA cos its harder in theory, but depends how CPA keep marketing themself.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

is there a Aust. CPA-fully recognised qualification in the UK he can study with no major bridging courses?

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

Does not matter how you market CPA the fundamentals are different.

Starting point as you outline its harder so distracts weaker contenders.

These contenders flood easier options, which flows out into the workplace.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

CA, no brainer.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

Well without going into the long debate about which accountancy qualification is best I would recommend CIMA as they have a reciprocal agreement with CPA. I don't think ACCA have one although I may be wrong!

Also when I was in Australia I found CIMA to be highly regarded both in Adelaide and Melbourne and I certainly did not need to have an Australian equivalent as CIMA is a global qualification. However if I do go back to Australia I would probably register for CPA membership just in case if not having it would be a barrier to getting a role.

If you would like to ask any questions about it then feel free to ask/message me.

All the best.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

If OP is currently in the UK and about to embark upon accountancy studies then the ICAEW is a clear winner.

I would not chose CIMA just because of a reciprocal arrangement with a not very highly regarded Australian qualification.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

Is CPA not highly regarded in Australia?

I'll throw in another factor to consider such as whether the OP is looking to work in practice or industry.

Personally I have found many more benefits to CIMA than the one reciprocal agreement such as it being a good all round qualification. I just thought I'd mention it as the question was about getting into Aus and CIMA allows a positive assessment from CPA. I think the full answer should be it really doesn't matter which qualification you get as long as it gets a positive skills assessment.

I'm intrigued now why do you say the ICAEW is the clear winner?

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

CPA is not highly regarded in Australia, by all employers. With ICAEW the OP becomes automatically a member of ICAA. It matters which qualification you have, at least when you are starting out.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

OP is not in Australia, they are in UK and will be for another five years. Maybe they will never go to Australia. They need to make a career decision now and I think it is clear to anyone that opens their eyes that ICAEW is more prestigious than the other UK accountancy qualifications. I am providing career advice, not advice about passing skills assessment.

It is not my view that ICAEW t is better / harder than CIMA or ACCA, they are all deemed equal by regulatory bodies, but it is more prestigious and I think generally better recognised and better regarded by employers. It also transfers better across international borders.

I have nothing against CIMA or ACCA and am ACCA myself, but I had no choice at that stage in my career as my employer picked it and graduate positions were think on the ground in 1992 when I graduated.

No CPA is not necessarily well regarded by Australian employers. Unlike CIMA / ACCA versus ICAEW in UK, the CPA is clearly an easier set of exams, a lower standard of qualification and this is well known. I am in a senior finance position in Australia and 100% sure I would be able to identify a CPA from a CA by the quality of their work. Even amongst my Australian colleagues, the ones who have been more successful will be CA.

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

That's really interesting I'll certainly keep an eye out for it perhaps its just something I've not noticed before as I've only encountered one accountant with ICAEW but it sounds like good advice certainly in terms of the long term career view.

Where abouts in Australia are you if you dont't mind me asking? Do you see a big difference in standards between the UK and Australia in terms of working within finance?

Re: Best Accountancy Qualification to study
 

I spent the majority of my UK career in London in financial services and now am in Sydney in financial services.

Probably not a massive difference, it was easy to fit in. Although I think that in London expectations are different, you won't find many "jobbers" in financial services in London, you need to be career focused to survive. In Sydney there are large numbers that will do the bare minimum (well there is in my workplace). Of course they won't progress, the people that will make progress are the hard working ones.

Arguably it is easier to shine here, as a female particularly so.