02-26-2008, 10:30 PM
Salam to all of you
I enjoyed the debate, however I came up with some intersting observations as well. As Mr. Kamran mentioned a long list of skills (specifically of sectors) which our ACA's learn in 'jabri mashaqat', I would like to know how many CA firms in Pakistan train their trainees to acquire most of these sector specific skills (offcourse not all of them). According to my knowledge there are more than 250 firms in Pakistan beside big 4 or top 10. So what about the quality of ACA coming out of a small firm as compare to ACA of big 4. Offcourse a huge difference they dont have same level of skill and competency. So pointing the ACCA regarding skill and competency is not appropriate.
The world is moving towards specialisation and ACA and ACCA are not exemption, many people are making in career in auditing, tax, consultancy etc. Even in big firms here in London the partners are specialised in different sectors.
On the other hand if we talk about financial sector in UK, there are dozen of institutes offering dozen of qualifications and they never compare each other. They simply focus on their strength. For e.g Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. The ICAS has 6hours case study paper as compare to 4hours of ICAEW because they are of the view that the importance of the subject requrie more comprehnesive knowledge and its production in exam. I have never seen students of these bodies arguing with each other.
Beside that there are many other reasons which requrie both time and patience for consturctive debate.
When I was in Pakistan I proposed that medium and small firm should form a consortium and exchange the skills and knowledge by having combined training for their trainees as they cannot afford to conduct at their own. It will provide a good experience to trainees of small and medium firms and will also increase their level. However you people know that politics is everywhere in Pakistan even in professionals.......
I got the opportunity to teach the students of ICAP an ACCA (some of them are qualifed now as ACA and ACCA)and I found that ACCA text is more conceptual. On the other hand ICAP even dont have official text and they provide a long list of books in which different authors are discussing same thing in their own style, confusing the student. I must say that studying for ACA is not difficult but has been made difficult by not providing adequate guidance.
Some of my friends who are qualified as ACA and ACCA and working outside Pakistan are of opinion that ACCA and ACCA studies has helped them a lot to stay in International scene, otherwise it would have been difficult (not impossible).
I would appreciate if students and professionals of both institutions work with each other in harmony as world is becoming global and everyone has something different to offer.
Many Thanks
Kind Regards
I enjoyed the debate, however I came up with some intersting observations as well. As Mr. Kamran mentioned a long list of skills (specifically of sectors) which our ACA's learn in 'jabri mashaqat', I would like to know how many CA firms in Pakistan train their trainees to acquire most of these sector specific skills (offcourse not all of them). According to my knowledge there are more than 250 firms in Pakistan beside big 4 or top 10. So what about the quality of ACA coming out of a small firm as compare to ACA of big 4. Offcourse a huge difference they dont have same level of skill and competency. So pointing the ACCA regarding skill and competency is not appropriate.
The world is moving towards specialisation and ACA and ACCA are not exemption, many people are making in career in auditing, tax, consultancy etc. Even in big firms here in London the partners are specialised in different sectors.
On the other hand if we talk about financial sector in UK, there are dozen of institutes offering dozen of qualifications and they never compare each other. They simply focus on their strength. For e.g Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. The ICAS has 6hours case study paper as compare to 4hours of ICAEW because they are of the view that the importance of the subject requrie more comprehnesive knowledge and its production in exam. I have never seen students of these bodies arguing with each other.
Beside that there are many other reasons which requrie both time and patience for consturctive debate.
When I was in Pakistan I proposed that medium and small firm should form a consortium and exchange the skills and knowledge by having combined training for their trainees as they cannot afford to conduct at their own. It will provide a good experience to trainees of small and medium firms and will also increase their level. However you people know that politics is everywhere in Pakistan even in professionals.......
I got the opportunity to teach the students of ICAP an ACCA (some of them are qualifed now as ACA and ACCA)and I found that ACCA text is more conceptual. On the other hand ICAP even dont have official text and they provide a long list of books in which different authors are discussing same thing in their own style, confusing the student. I must say that studying for ACA is not difficult but has been made difficult by not providing adequate guidance.
Some of my friends who are qualified as ACA and ACCA and working outside Pakistan are of opinion that ACCA and ACCA studies has helped them a lot to stay in International scene, otherwise it would have been difficult (not impossible).
I would appreciate if students and professionals of both institutions work with each other in harmony as world is becoming global and everyone has something different to offer.
Many Thanks
Kind Regards
