02-27-2010, 02:10 PM
Hi Nabeel,
What I understand from your described situation is that you need to diversify your knowledge base and enhance your skills. I am sure that you want to do that to be more acceptable in the job market and for a promising career.
If you go for ICAEW, as Dard pointed out, you are not diversifying your knowledge base since you are doing another specialization in financial accounting. It will enhance your knowledge greatly and add a few more letters after your name.
If you go for CFA, it is a great certification that will open new doors for you in investment, insurance, mortgage, banking, real state etc companies. It is really and widely demanded and rewarding certification that would require you great deal of efforts; minimum 600 hours hard work with devotion and dedication. The negative part of the certification is that it has limited number of industries where you can use this certification.
Since we all do everything to get on a rewarding career and we want to be more acceptable in the job market as I stated earlier. For this purpose, we must understand that what qualities employers look for in potential CFOs. A study conducted by Stanford University reveals that employer look for a CFO that has in depth understanding of IT (Technology) in addition to diverse knowledge in human resource, and management. The trends of accounting have drastically changed in matured economies of the world (America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and Japan) and accounting is treated beyond conventional GAAP/IFRS concepts. These days IT is the flip side of the coin. Software customization (Not development), web applications, Electronic Product Coding (EPC), FTP management, Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT), etc specializations are good combination with an accounting certification. Mostly CPAs go for Certified Information System Auditor (CISA ) to diversify their knowledge base.
Another emerging field is MBA in Assurance. As far as I know, Ryerson University of Canada is the only university in the world that is offering this degree. MIT and Stanford are also taking initiative in this regards. I donât have further information on this so I would advise you to explore this option too.
I hope that this will help you taking your decision according to your choice, attitude, and circumstances.
Regards,
GREAT KHANS
What I understand from your described situation is that you need to diversify your knowledge base and enhance your skills. I am sure that you want to do that to be more acceptable in the job market and for a promising career.
If you go for ICAEW, as Dard pointed out, you are not diversifying your knowledge base since you are doing another specialization in financial accounting. It will enhance your knowledge greatly and add a few more letters after your name.
If you go for CFA, it is a great certification that will open new doors for you in investment, insurance, mortgage, banking, real state etc companies. It is really and widely demanded and rewarding certification that would require you great deal of efforts; minimum 600 hours hard work with devotion and dedication. The negative part of the certification is that it has limited number of industries where you can use this certification.
Since we all do everything to get on a rewarding career and we want to be more acceptable in the job market as I stated earlier. For this purpose, we must understand that what qualities employers look for in potential CFOs. A study conducted by Stanford University reveals that employer look for a CFO that has in depth understanding of IT (Technology) in addition to diverse knowledge in human resource, and management. The trends of accounting have drastically changed in matured economies of the world (America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and Japan) and accounting is treated beyond conventional GAAP/IFRS concepts. These days IT is the flip side of the coin. Software customization (Not development), web applications, Electronic Product Coding (EPC), FTP management, Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT), etc specializations are good combination with an accounting certification. Mostly CPAs go for Certified Information System Auditor (CISA ) to diversify their knowledge base.
Another emerging field is MBA in Assurance. As far as I know, Ryerson University of Canada is the only university in the world that is offering this degree. MIT and Stanford are also taking initiative in this regards. I donât have further information on this so I would advise you to explore this option too.
I hope that this will help you taking your decision according to your choice, attitude, and circumstances.
Regards,
GREAT KHANS
