ACCA vs CFA vs CA

Last Updated On -20 Jan 2025

ACCA, CFA, or CA, are these some of the courses that intrigue you and you do not know where to seek the knowledge from?

After completing their 12th grade or graduating, students are presented with a wide range of possibilities. Choosing a course can be challenging because there are so many options available, especially because most of them demand a significant time and financial commitment. Among the industries with the fastest growth are finance and accountancy.

One can deal with investments, the financial markets (equity, derivatives, and debts), and the management of portfolios with courses like the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. However, ACCA gives you the ability to work in financial management, taxation, auditing, accounting, and other related fields. To learn more about ACCA vs CFA vs CA, continue reading this blog.

What Does ACCA Stand For?

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or ACCA course is an accounting body based in London, United Kingdom. It authorizes professional accountants all over the world and grants one of the leading accountancy credentials to finance professionals.

Students with the ACCA credential gain comprehensive accounting skills and knowledge; from financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation to business ethics and auditing. Passing the professional examinations and concluding the ACCA program, authorizes one to be a Chartered Certified Accountant.

What is CA?

The Chartered Accountant or CA course plays a pivotal role in the accountancy industry. An organization cannot be successful without good accounting skills. It is a fundamental process that helps in arranging, recording, and analyzing the financial activities of an enterprise. A qualified accountant or CA (Chartered Accountant) is a competent financial expert who provides various services to individuals as well as businesses such as preparing finance reports, and giving strategic directions based on the finances among others while ensuring they comply with laws and regulations.

What is CFA?

CFA course is a professional qualification that emphasizes investment research and portfolio management. The CFA Institute, a membership association established in the United States, bestows this honor. CFA has three levels of tests, each with a particular focus and format. The tests are paper-based and administered once a year in June. The exams include a variety of subjects, including ethics, financial analysis and reporting, corporate finance, investing in equity, fixed income, derivatives, investment alternatives, and portfolio management.

What is the difference between ACCA, CFA, and CA?

While three of these courses provide a lot of career options and knowledge, in order to understand which one will suit your profile the best, you need to understand the differences between them.

The table given below compares CA vs ACCA vs CFA. It will give you an idea of the key differences between these three qualifications:

Features	CFA	ACCA	CA
Administering Body	CFA Institute	Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)	The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Recognition	Global	Global (over 180 countries)	Primarily India, Middle East, England, Wales and Australia
Course Duration	3 years	6-24 months	5 years
Course Structure	3 Levels (sequential exams)	13 exams divided into 3 levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional.	3 Levels: Foundation, Intermediate, Final
Eligibility	Graduation (students in their final year can also appear)	Should have completed your 10+2 with a 65% average score in Math and a 50% average in English	For a candidate’s eligibility into the CA foundation course at entry level, they must have completed their 10th and 12th examination successfully with a minimum of 50% aggregate in the latter.
Job Roles	Investment Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst, Risk Analyst	Accountant, Auditor, Management Accountant, Financial Analyst, Tax Consultant	Statutory Auditor, Internal Auditor, Tax Advisor, Cost Accountant, Financial Analyst

ACCA vs CFA

The ACCA course teaches us essentially what CAs learn: accounting, auditing, financial management, taxation, and costing. It also includes a very effective business paper. Most candidates pursue ACCA because of its flexible duration and the great value it garners in India.

CFA teaches us everything about investments, wealth management, financial markets (debt, equity, derivatives), portfolio management, hedging, and trading tactics.
Both courses are amazing in their own right and enjoy international recognition and exposure. Both ACCA and CFA have an increasing reach in India. And comparable durations (24-36 months) and similar cost/fee structures (₹2-4 Lakhs, depending on the amount of attempts).

ACCA vs CA

When you consider the number of papers and the time required to prepare for the exam, CA appears to be a difficult option; however, this does not imply that ACCA is simple or easy to complete. Just in terms of passing percentage, ACCA outperforms CA. Plus ACCA is recognized in 180 countries, providing you with a wider and better career possibility as well as global job chances.

CA course is widely regarded as more difficult than the ACCA course, given the number of years, papers, course levels, and diversity of both courses. However, this is a purely subjective topic, and the results may vary from case to case.
One of the reasons why ACCA is slightly easier to handle than CA is its test and paper flexibility. Subjects are grouped in CA. So, if you fail one of the subjects in that group, you will have to retake them all. In contrast, in ACCA, you will only be required to retake the specific paper if you fail in it and may attempt as many times as you want.cco

Conclusion

Ultimately, in the ACCA vs CFA vs CA debate, the "best" qualification is determined by your career goals and the exact roles you seek. Consider the industry you want to work in, your long-term career objectives, and the skills and information you want to acquire. It's also worth exploring the job market and consulting with experts who have these qualifications to learn more about the potential career possibilities each certification can open up.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )

Which course, ACCA or CA, is more popular globally?

ACCA is more popular worldwide because it is recognized in over 180 countries.

Which course pays better, ACCA or CFA?

A CFA's initial salary is more than that of an ACCA, ranging between 15 and 18 LPA. However, this is heavily dependent on your career, region, and the organization you choose to work for.

Is CFA with CA a viable option?

Having both the CA and CFA designations can lead to a variety of job prospects in the accounting and finance industries. CA offers a solid foundation in accounting and financial reporting, whereas CFA concentrates on investment research and portfolio management.