Hello,

* ACCA is one of the most prestigious and recognized accountancy qualifications in the world. With it you can operate within 179 countries and can be earning 100k and over, within 5 years of qualifying.

* But with so many possibilities, where do you start? To help give you an idea of what paths you may follow, here are some ideas:

Work in industry:

• Although the world has gone through a tumultuous time, and technology continues to evolve, the demand for accountancy and finance professionals remains high.
• You could work in near enough any industry, as long as the company is big enough to need accounting services. Be that, IT, Insurance, Sport, Business, Retail, Hospitality or any other. Your chosen profession is in demand.
• Within these sectors, here are some roles you could move into - once you decide where to specialize. These are :-

- Management Accountant

- Financial Accountant

- Finance Manager

- Fund Accountant

- Finance director

- Chief financial officer (CFO)

- Forensic Accountant

- Treasury

- Assistant accountant/trainee accountant

- Auditor

Join an Accounting firm:

• Another popular option would be to join an accounting firm.
• Accounting firms help identify the best solutions for clients in all sorts of industries, so you get the benefit of using your skills across a broad range of businesses, giving great variety to your career. They often specialise in services such as: tax, management consulting, mergers and acquisitions and forensic accounting. It can be varied and high-pressured, but it’s a rewarding career.

Continue studying:

• ACCA opens many doors for you even in terms of further education. It’s a great foundation for many advanced specialisms within professional services. Here are a couple of options.

(1) MBA (Master of Business Administration) - One common option is to go for an MBA Post Graduation degree. MBAs offer an overview of key business practices and are highly valued by top employers. It’s normally expected that you would follow this path after at least a couple of years of practical experience, however.

(2) CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) - CFA is another popular post graduate course many study after completing ACCA, and it can definitely boost your finance career. This qualification is usually a requirement if you are looking to get a finance role with a large organisation (such as the ‘Big Four’).

The CFA program is the gold standard in finance credentials, designed for aspirational and experienced finance professionals who want to take their career to the next level.

Convert to Law:

• Many who complete ACCA decide that they are attracted to the area of Law.
• The Law module in the ACCA qualification gives you a solid grounding in corporate and business law, so there are some crossovers, and this could account for why some seek to progress in this direction.
• However, if you want to practice law after becoming an ACCA member, you need to look into studying for a law degree.

Start your Own Business:

• For the budding entrepreneurs, an ACCA qualification can give you a good foundation to start your own business in the field of finance or accountancy.
• You could, for instance, start your own consulting company, work as a freelance accountant or as an Independent Financial Advisor to small and medium sized businesses. Don’t forget, there is also the chance to work overseas.

* ACCA is a qualification that is most recognized in all the developed countries across the globe. Thus countries like UK, Australia, Canada, and many others recognize ACCA as a professional qualification and you find job openings in these countries related to the certification.

* Other professional degrees which is beneficial for ACCA member (accounting and finance) in Canada for Indian immigrants are :

• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Company Secretary (CS)
• Cost Accountant Management (CMA)
• MBA in Banking & Finance
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Others

* Hope this information helps !!

* Good Luck !!