Career in CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY

Chartered Accountancy is a dynamic, challenging and rewarding profession. With the rapid growth in economy, careers in finance and accounts have gained tremendous popularity and demand. Chartered Accountancy Course is a professional course in Accounting, with the enactment of the Chartered Accountants Act in 1949 and in the same year The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was formed. The Institute is both an examining and a licensing body which is responsible to conduct the Chartered accountancy (CA) Course and issue of licence to the pass-outs. The course involves both theoretical education and practical training which run simultaneously for a period of three years which equips a student with knowledge, ability, skills and other qualities required of a professional accountant.

A Chartered accountant is one who is specialised in accounting, auditing and taxation. He also serves as a management and corporate caretaker. In recent times, accountancy has become popular as a profession. The services of a CA is required in money matters even in a small business . Moreover according to the Company Act only CA's in professional practice are allowed to be appointed as auditors of companies in India. A chartered accountant is a person who is accepted as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) after having passed the Final examination of the Chartered accountancy course conducted by the institute. 

CA programme is a professional course which has three sections namely, Common Proficiency Test (CPT); Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) and Final Course. The registration for CPT and IPCC is open throughout the year. A student may register at any time during the year. However, as the examinations will be held twice a year in May and November, it is necessary that a student must register at least ten months before the examinations. After passing the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) candidates are eligible for registration as articled clerks/ audit clerks for practical training. Computer Training Programme, i.e. 100 hours Information Technology is compulsory for the candidates who wish to register themselves as auditor clerk. Students can undergo this programme while pursuing CPT or IPCC. Articled clerk is a trainee attached to a practicing chartered accountant under a Deed of Articles for the duration three years. During this period the articled clerk will also need to continue studies for the CA exam. An audit clerk is a person who has served as a salaried employee for a minimum period of one year under a practicing chartered accountant. During the training period, candidates would be required to work in different areas learning the basics of auditing and taxation. This training enables them to learn the technical details of the job as well as to get an idea of the working environment of the profession.

The scope for this lucrative career is bright in an economically developing nation like ours and as such the career can be termed as challenging and rewarding for competent professionals in the field.