Five Reasons Why ACCA, CPA & CFA Are the Future of Finance Careers

Courses like ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CPA (Certified Public Accountant), and CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) provide students with an edge over others.

In today’s day and age, a career in finance is considered as one of the most lucrative, future-proof options - all thanks to the financial systems evolving at a lightning speed. With innovation, digitization and regulatory shifts transforming the landscape, finance professionals are in high demand by all the MNCs, government agencies and fintech disruptors.

These sectors also play a pivotal role in driving growth in India’s economy along with providing exciting career opportunities.

However, one needs to choose the right courses to actually stand out. Courses like ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CPA (Certified Public Accountant), and CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) provide students with an edge over others. According to Pratham Barot, CEO & Co-Founder, Zell Education: “These courses are also great in boosting employability, build critical thinking, improve technical expertise and develop global business acumen that can align with the dynamic financial landscape of today. Moreover, in a globally interconnected economy, these courses offer international mobility which is a great career advantage.”

So, here’s how these three qualifications are redefining the future of careers in the financial sector:

1. Provides Global Recognition & Mobility

The biggest reason why students choose these courses is because they provide universal recognition without any need for requalification unlike region-specific degrees or courses.

Here’s a course-wise breakdown:

-              ACCA: ACCA is recognised in over 180 countries, has partnerships with local accountancy bodies, ensuring mutual recognition in key countries like UK, Canada, and Malaysia. It also offers flexibility in career paths and can relocate to financial hubs like London, Dubai & Singapore.

-              CPA: CPA is recognised in several countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

-              CFA: CFA designation is globally recognised with formal recognition in over 28 countries such as Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, US, and the UK to name a few.

2. Higher Pay Package

Earning any of these certifications will certainly trigger a bump in your existing salary bracket, depending on the role and the size of the company you work with. For instance, as an entry-level candidate with ACCA certification, you can expect a 4+ LPA and senior professionals can expect 16+ LPA package. Earning potential continues to rise as you advance through Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Employers acknowledge the discipline involved in attaining these credentials and thus it does come with compensation benefits.

3. Constantly Evolving & Revised Curriculum

The curriculum of these courses are always updated as per market standards. One can find global financial reporting standards, sustainability and digital finance in ACCA, while business analytics, emerging technologies and cybersecurity risk management is now included in CPA exam. Even CFA has expanded its curriculum and include topics such as machine learning, decentralized finance and impact investing. These updated curricula help the candidates to seamlessly integrate their acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios.

4. Versatile Across Industries

These courses are not limited to just traditional roles such as auditing or investment management. One can also strive to become corporate controllers, CFOs as well as ESG analysts with an ACCA degree. CPA holders can also enjoy the privilege of making a mark in risk management, taxation and regulatory compliance in sectors such as healthcare, tech and energy. While people with a CFA credential can fancy a job in fintech firms, venture capital or even sustainability-focused funds. The courses offer cross-functional applicability across sectors and unmatched career flexibility.

5. An Edge Over Others By Employers

Skills-based hiring is nowadays gaining prominence with employers increasingly prioritizing practical skills and competencies over traditional academic degrees but this shift also emphasizes the value of industry-recognized certifications as a tangible demonstration of a candidate's abilities. Hence, most recruiters and top firms prefer certified candidates which makes these credentials high in demand and a somewhat non-negotiable requirement. These courses also instill confidence among employers as these accreditations signal a high level of professionalism, commitment and integrity.

Conclusion

In a world where adaptability and expertise are given utmost importance, these credentials offer the perfect blend of both. The financial landscape of our country now demands a deep understanding of global standards, regulatory shifts, data interpretations and tech integration all while upholding ethical standards. Courses like ACCA, CPA and CFA offer professionals an opportunity to lead the changing and ever-evolving landscape of India’s economy. These credentials stand out as future-proof assets and can guarantee a successful long-term career in the financial sector.