Who is a Chartered Accountant? Definition, Qualifications And Skills

25 January,2023  |  By Brainwonders

Who is a Chartered Accountant?

A Chartered Accountant is a professional who specializes in providing financial guidance and advice. They are experts in areas such as taxation, auditing, corporate finance, business strategy and more. As a result, they serve as trusted advisors to individuals, corporations, and other organizations. 
 Chartered Accountants must meet stringent qualifications and adhere to strict ethical standards in order to practice in their chosen field. In addition, they must maintain a high level of professional competence through ongoing training and continuing education. 

As professionals who provide critical services to businesses and individuals, Chartered Accountants have a responsibility to their clients to ensure accuracy and integrity in all financial matters. With the support of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Chartered Accountants play a vital role in promoting financial stability and sustainability in global markets.

The implementation of strategic money planning on the part of their clients is one of the primary focuses of their services, with the end goal of helping their customers increase their profits. In some companies, a Chartered Accountant is in charge of all accounting needs. In others, they control a more specific aspect, such as the management of taxes or the auditing of financial statements. Depending on the area of accounting that they choose to specialize in, they might hold various positions, such as Auditor, Cost Accountant, Tax Accountant, Financial Controller, or Financial Officer, among other titles.

TYPICAL DAY AT WORK

What does a Chartered Accountant Do?

In the realms of business and finance and the stock market, a Chartered Accountant is always there. The primary focus of a chartered accountant's work is on financial issues. This may include working on the financial matters of a company or firm, auditing all of their financial problems, managing all of their paperwork, and portraying the company based on its economic fair treatment and security.

In addition to being responsible for the company's overall management to ensure that it is operating efficiently, they are also involved in the process of taxation and processing the company's returns. Nevertheless, control for a chartered accountant also involves dealing with finances, such as budgeting and the paperwork associated with it.

Responsibility of a Chartered Accountant:

• Ensure that your financial statements are accurate by subjecting them to rigorous internal and external audits.
• Analyze the potential financial risks, and make recommendations for mitigating those risks.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of the employer's accounts, financial transactions, and investments.
• Determine where there are gaps in the financial records, look for signs of fraudulent activity, and take corrective action.
• Help the employer with tax planning, calculating tax amounts, preparing tax returns, and filing them on their behalf.
• Examine the company's financial statements as well as the costs.
• Direct financial decisions concerning long-term financial management strategies and business practices, including acquisitions and mergers.
• Create monthly reports of financial activity and budgets and annual reports.
• Ensure that the financial management methods are by the laws of the state and the nation.
• You will be responsible for managing and supervising the accounting and finance team.

ABILITIES & APTITUDE NEEDED

Skills required

What abilities, skills, and personality traits are necessary to become a Chartered Accountant?

To carry out this duty efficiently, a Chartered Accountant needs to have several essential skills. They should be people who are careful, diligent, and self-motivated, and they should have a natural talent for mathematics and numbers. To effectively guide their clients through making financial decisions, a knowledgeable Chartered Accountant needs to be meticulous in their attention to detail and demonstrate extraordinary analytical abilities.

Obtaining a traineeship with an employer who has been permitted to do so by one of the institutions is one of the most challenging steps to becoming a chartered accountant. It is also one of the most critical steps on the path. You will need to be well-versed in mathematics and have demonstrated proficiency in it to be chosen because your numeracy abilities will be evaluated as part of the selection process. In addition, given that their employers will entrust them with the management of essential financial resources, they must exhibit a high level of honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic.

It will be essential for the Chartered Accountant to have good organizational skills and expert knowledge of accounting software and tools for them to easily keep track of numerical data and perform other jobs related to accounting. It is necessary to have excellent oral and written communication skills to link with stakeholders, report on significant decision, and manage the finance team. In addition to this, these professionals must have a comprehensive understanding of all legislation concerning taxes and finances that is applicable on a national, geographic, and municipal level. Your success as a Chartered Accountant depends on your ability to keep up with the most recent trends and developments in the business and financial worlds.

COURSES

Candidates who successfully complete all three levels of the Chartered Accountant training programme are awarded certification as certified Chartered Accountants by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which is in charge of administering the Chartered Accountant exams. 

During the course of the Chartered Accountancy qualification, candidates will be expected to pass the following examinations: 

• This refers to the CA Foundation Exam (earlier known as Common Proficiency Test or CPT) Exam 
• The CA Intermediate Level (also known as the Integrated Professional Competence Exam)
• Exam for the CA Final Level

 The Common Proficiency Test, which is often referred to as the Foundation exam, is the first level of testing for the CA course. The Common Proficiency Test is followed by the Intermediate exam and then the Final exam. 

In May and November of each year, candidates can take the CA Foundation Examination, the Intermediate Professional Competence Examination, and the Final Examination. 

In addition to these exams, a student is required to participate in practical training for a period of three years, which is also referred to as an "Articleship."

COLLEGES

1) International School for Financial Studies,

2) FINPLAN,

3) Arihant Institute of Commerce and Management,

4) ATM-GBS, IIKMFEE Financial Education.

INTERNSHIP

Are there any opportunities for Chartered Accountants to gain experience through internships?

Make the most of the opportunity to gain experience in the field by working for a professional firm or working under the supervision of a practising certified public accountant. In addition to providing you with contacts for future reference, it will make it possible for you to gain practical experience in finance, taxation, and auditing.

INDUSTRIES

Which sectors of the economy offer opportunities for Chartered Accountants?

• Manager of Auditing Operations in a Company
• The Banking Industry
• Finance Line- function.
• taxation (including people advisory, corporate tax, and direct-and-indirect taxation)
• Risk Advice or Internal Auditing may also be an option.
• Assurance, or an Audit Required by Law
• SAP Executive (IT Management)
• Foreign Jobs

CAREER OUTLOOK

What kind of a trajectory does the profession of Chartered Accountant have ahead of it?

Opportunities for employment as Chartered Accountants are available in nearly every company and organisation, regardless of the company's sector, because financial management is necessary for all. Chartered Accountants typically find employment in business organisations, financial institutions, investment companies, consulting firms, stockbroking firms, banks, and legal firms, to name a few possible settings. Their work is in high demand in various locations, including the private sector, the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations.

Because entering this profession requires extensive education and training, those who do so are rewarded with a high level of respect and security and a generous salary. While most Chartered Accountants are employed full-time, other highly skilled CAs choose to work independently, either on a freelance basis or as consultants hired on a contract basis. As the number of businesses and startups continues to rise, so will the opportunities for certified public accountants (CPAs). The number of hours that a Chartered Accountant works each week may change depending on the company for which they work. However, it is pretty typical for them to work additional hours in the evening or on the weekends to meet deadlines. This is particularly true during tax season.

CONCLUSION

Pursuing higher education in the relevant discipline is the initial step toward a career. You can get the training you need to do what you want to do at some of the best educational institutions in the world. 

So, tell me, what exactly are you anticipating?

Get in touch with our team of knowledgeable Educational counsellors at Brainwonders to learn more about becoming a Chartered Accountant and schedule a no-cost consultation appointment right away. 

Frequently Asked Question

Q.1 What do Chartered Accountant do?

Ans: Chartered Accountants handle financial matters, including auditing, taxation, accounting, and financial reporting for individuals, organizations, and businesses1.

Q.2 What is CA qualification?

Answer: CA qualification is achieved by completing the Chartered Accountancy course, which involves education, exams, practical training, and certification1.

Q.3 How many years is a CA course?

Answer: The CA course typically takes around three years to complete, including practical training2.

Q.4 What is a salary of CA in India?

Answer: The salary of a Chartered Accountant in India varies based on experience, ranging from around INR 2.5 LPA to 12 LPA, with potential to increase over time3.

Q.5 How many papers in CA?

Answer: The CA exams consist of two groups of the CA Intermediate exams and include multiple papers2.