04-04-2007, 06:31 PM
Dears,
Irrespective of whatever ICEAW has allowed to ACCAs, it would be unfair to match the both qualifications. I know the details about the evolution of ACCA association in UK, the guys who were behind its establishment, their qualifications, and the need to form such an association in the presence of two institutes of chartered accountants at UK (England and wales as well as scotland)etc.
However, ACCA has grown to a great extent and has found general inclination from the students community.
If it is unknown to the members, I find this oppurtunity to point out that among all qualifications, accountancy field is considered the easiest at UK. This was not the situation when ICEAW was the substantial educator at UK in accountancy field. I dont have any doubts over the quality of the associations/institutes like ACCA or CIMA, but by the passage of time and due to emergence of such institutions, accountancy is losing its importance as a DIFFICULT / IMPORTANT AREA OF EDUCATION specially at UK.
As far as jobs are concerned, we all have so much misconceptions about it. It is a general view that ACCAs have so many jobs at UK. U all know that in Pakistan, ACCAs are not well entertained in industry as well as profession and we think that situation is substantialy different in UK.
Yes, ACCAs have a good job bank at UK. But these all are not the jobs of senior executive positions. Our problem is that we dont understand the culture and setup of other countries and make our assessments. So many jobs in a country do not substantiate that a particular qualification is so good. You all know that the most jobs in our industry are for commerce graduates. This does not result in a conclusion that commerce graduate would be comparable to MBA or M Com.
Still, despite so many jobs available for ACCAs at UK, the most senior and executive positions are always supposed to be held by the members of ICEAW. I have no doubt over it. If any one (ACCA) has such doubt, he should go to UK and pass through a phase of self realization. He will know what I am saying is correct.
Further, ACCAs are qualifying in such an abundance that the avialability of so many jobs is still not catering the inflow. We have so many misconceptions. A pakistani ACCA is very very difficult to be entertained for a good job at UK becoz the UK's own infow is enormous. I am not talking about the rare cases.
Therefore, let us conclude that by no means ACCAs are comparable to ACAs of ICAEW. If you guys have doubts, please check the details of UK market. I said, yes, there are so many jobs for ACCAs but those jobs are not comparable to ACAs. Just like in Pakistan you will see ACMAs seated on all governmental posts and they have very good jobs but they are by no means comparable to ACAs. Why governmental jobs are with ACMAs? Becoz CAs dont go on those jobs. It's very simple.
I know this can hurt so many guys. Whenever some ACCA student comes to me, I always ask him one question. You are in Pakistan, you have no plan to go to UK, then why dint u opt CA instead of ACCA?
Most of the times, I receive the reply, "CA is very difficult". Sometimes I get the answer, "I will do CA after doing ACCA." and sometimes, the reply is found to be very much disturbing, "I tried for CA but could not get through the first exam despite of so many attempts. Therefore, now I am doing ACCA".
I have a trainee who is a qualified ACCA and who started ACCA becoz he failed doing CA after so many times attempting.
I also have a CA student who is ACCA qualified and he qualified ACCA final in first attempt in the age of 20 years. But he is struggling in CA and succeeded in getting only 2 permanent credits in module E despite of two attempts.
What the hell is this? It is not understandable.
In my view, ACCAs should not get CA equivalence, at least in Pakistan, and they must have to undergo all the papers which for the time being are required to qualify by them for becoming an ACA.
Further, ACCAs should not be allowed to do the public practice in Pakistan as an audit firm / sole-proprietorship unless they, by any means, get CA equivalnce from the government.
Allowing public practice would be very illogical where on the other hand ICAP considers them only equal to C.A. Inter.
These are my views with greatest sorries from my ACCA friends.
I am ready for the criticism and would be pleased to see it.
Best regards,
Kamran.
Irrespective of whatever ICEAW has allowed to ACCAs, it would be unfair to match the both qualifications. I know the details about the evolution of ACCA association in UK, the guys who were behind its establishment, their qualifications, and the need to form such an association in the presence of two institutes of chartered accountants at UK (England and wales as well as scotland)etc.
However, ACCA has grown to a great extent and has found general inclination from the students community.
If it is unknown to the members, I find this oppurtunity to point out that among all qualifications, accountancy field is considered the easiest at UK. This was not the situation when ICEAW was the substantial educator at UK in accountancy field. I dont have any doubts over the quality of the associations/institutes like ACCA or CIMA, but by the passage of time and due to emergence of such institutions, accountancy is losing its importance as a DIFFICULT / IMPORTANT AREA OF EDUCATION specially at UK.
As far as jobs are concerned, we all have so much misconceptions about it. It is a general view that ACCAs have so many jobs at UK. U all know that in Pakistan, ACCAs are not well entertained in industry as well as profession and we think that situation is substantialy different in UK.
Yes, ACCAs have a good job bank at UK. But these all are not the jobs of senior executive positions. Our problem is that we dont understand the culture and setup of other countries and make our assessments. So many jobs in a country do not substantiate that a particular qualification is so good. You all know that the most jobs in our industry are for commerce graduates. This does not result in a conclusion that commerce graduate would be comparable to MBA or M Com.
Still, despite so many jobs available for ACCAs at UK, the most senior and executive positions are always supposed to be held by the members of ICEAW. I have no doubt over it. If any one (ACCA) has such doubt, he should go to UK and pass through a phase of self realization. He will know what I am saying is correct.
Further, ACCAs are qualifying in such an abundance that the avialability of so many jobs is still not catering the inflow. We have so many misconceptions. A pakistani ACCA is very very difficult to be entertained for a good job at UK becoz the UK's own infow is enormous. I am not talking about the rare cases.
Therefore, let us conclude that by no means ACCAs are comparable to ACAs of ICAEW. If you guys have doubts, please check the details of UK market. I said, yes, there are so many jobs for ACCAs but those jobs are not comparable to ACAs. Just like in Pakistan you will see ACMAs seated on all governmental posts and they have very good jobs but they are by no means comparable to ACAs. Why governmental jobs are with ACMAs? Becoz CAs dont go on those jobs. It's very simple.
I know this can hurt so many guys. Whenever some ACCA student comes to me, I always ask him one question. You are in Pakistan, you have no plan to go to UK, then why dint u opt CA instead of ACCA?
Most of the times, I receive the reply, "CA is very difficult". Sometimes I get the answer, "I will do CA after doing ACCA." and sometimes, the reply is found to be very much disturbing, "I tried for CA but could not get through the first exam despite of so many attempts. Therefore, now I am doing ACCA".
I have a trainee who is a qualified ACCA and who started ACCA becoz he failed doing CA after so many times attempting.
I also have a CA student who is ACCA qualified and he qualified ACCA final in first attempt in the age of 20 years. But he is struggling in CA and succeeded in getting only 2 permanent credits in module E despite of two attempts.
What the hell is this? It is not understandable.
In my view, ACCAs should not get CA equivalence, at least in Pakistan, and they must have to undergo all the papers which for the time being are required to qualify by them for becoming an ACA.
Further, ACCAs should not be allowed to do the public practice in Pakistan as an audit firm / sole-proprietorship unless they, by any means, get CA equivalnce from the government.
Allowing public practice would be very illogical where on the other hand ICAP considers them only equal to C.A. Inter.
These are my views with greatest sorries from my ACCA friends.
I am ready for the criticism and would be pleased to see it.
Best regards,
Kamran.
