THERE S BECOMING AN ACCOUNTANT AND THEN THERE S BECOMING A CA.

Transcription

1 THERE S BECOMING AN ACCOUNTANT AND THEN THERE S BECOMING A CA.

2 What is ICAS? What is a CA? How do I become a CA? The university route to becoming a CA The vocational route to becoming a CA Contact us

3 what IS ICAS? ICAS is a professional body for over 19,000 world class business men and women who work in the UK and in more than 100 countries around the world. Our members have all achieved the internationally recognised and respected CA (Chartered Accountant) qualification. We are an educator, examiner, regulator, and thought leader. Almost two thirds of our working membership are in business, many leading some of the UK s and the world s great companies. The others work in accountancy practices ranging from the Big Four professional service multinationals to small and medium sized firms. We currently have over 3,000 students training to become the next generation of CAs with support from our expert lecturers and authorised employers. We represent our members on a wide range of issues in accountancy, finance and business and seek to influence policy in Europe and the UK, always striving to act in the public interest. ICAS is the first professional body for accountants and was created by Royal Charter in

4 WHAT IS A CA? Forget what you think you know about being an accountant. In today s competitive business world, accountancy involves much more than spreadsheets and number crunching. It s a business career that offers prestige, respect, great prospects and excellent financial rewards. Qualifying as a CA is the perfect place to start your career. Chartered accountants can be found working in every type of business from accountancy firms to industry and commerce and the public sector. A CA is someone who has studied and passed the professional qualification with ICAS whilst also gaining relevant work experience. They have not only acquired accounting knowledge but have developed all-round business skills and an ability to tackle financial problems head on whilst creating effective business solutions. This carries weight and influence the world over, and can unlock the door to working abroad. Training as a CA could put you on the fast track to some of the most powerful positions in business, with the ability and opportunity to explore many different areas of the accountancy profession, business and industry. For an idea of the different sectors CAs work in, please visit our website at icas.org.uk/whatacadoes 2

5 Profile Laura always wanted to work in business and saw accountancy as the most sensible route into the business world. She studied Finance and Accounting at the University of Strathclyde and went on to train with PwC in both Glasgow and London. Shortly after qualifying Laura went to work for EMI Music. I was looking for a business qualification that would give me exposure to a wide variety of industries and enable me to travel the world. I chose the CA qualification as it was widely recognised as the top accountancy qualification and therefore I felt it would give me the most opportunities. During my training contract I was able to work in a variety of media companies which ultimately helped me get a role with EMI. In today s very competitive job market it is important that your CV is as strong as possible to give you an edge over other candidates. Most recruiters that I know realise that within finance you would not consider someone unless they were a CA, as it more or less guarantees a certain level of experience, commitment and financial acumen. For the first four and a half years at EMI, I worked in internal audit and spent my time visiting EMI offices all over the world to learn the business from the roots up and to satisfy my desire to travel. I currently run the Investments team at EMI Music and as such I am responsible for reviewing the business and financial rationale for all potential investment opportunities (including new artist deals) and the fit with EMI s long-term strategy. Laura Strain CA Director of Investments EMI Music London 3

6 HOW DO I BECOME A CA? HOW DO I BECOME A CA? To study for the CA qualification you enter into a training contract with an ICAS authorised employer. This contract is in addition to your terms and conditions of employment and is a contract between you, ICAS and your employer. It acknowledges the commitment of your employer to support your training and requires your commitment to contribute to the work of the employer. The CA training programme combines classroom-based study and exams, with supervised work-based training in employer offices across the UK. You can train either within a public practice accountancy firm ranging from small practices to large multinational firms, or within one of our employers based in industry and commerce or the public sector. There are various routes into CA training. You can choose the university or the vocational routes and direct entry. We ve highlighted these routes in the diagram opposite: 4

7 Accountancy degree An accountancy degree which has been accredited by ICAS may gain exemption from the first level of exams at Test of Competence (TC) Any degree subject ICAS direct entry route Begin working towards the CA qualifcation without a degree with an ICAS authorised employer Test of Competence 5 subjects with exams Test of Professional Skills 4 subjects with exams Work Experience Achieve work experience and training contract requirements with an ICAS authorised employer Business Ethics (BE) 1 subject with assessment Test of Professional Expertise 1 subject with a multi disciplinary case study Congratulations you are now a CA 5

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9 PROFILES Heather Goldsworthy Heather initially studied law at the University of Aberdeen and although she enjoyed her legal training, felt that there were not enough numbers involved. She decided to become a CA as it would allow her to use her analytical skills and still be able to work in a professional environment dealing with commercial clients. Heather is currently in the second year of her training contract with Johnston Carmichael. I was attracted to becoming a CA by the challenge and the reputation of the CA qualification. The CA is a well regarded professional qualification as it shows that the candidate is intelligent, motivated and reliable, and can apply knowledge learned from studying in practice. I work in the audit department so am often out visiting clients. While out at a client premises, I perform tests on the accounting systems of the company and on the figures in the financial statements. This allows me to meet lots of new people and enhance my knowledge of different accounting systems and different business areas. Heather Goldsworthy Johnston Carmichael CA student, Aberdeen Iain OPRAY Becoming an accountant was a natural choice for Iain. He wanted an exciting and dynamic career, which played to his interests in problem solving. Iain s interest in accountancy initially stemmed from school and as a consequence he chose to study an ICAS accredited degree at the University of Strathclyde which meant he was fully exempt from the five subjects in Test of Competence (TC). After successfully completing a summer placement with Standard Life he secured a training contract with them. It was apparent to me that a career in accountancy doesn t necessarily limit you to working in a narrow field of business. The CA qualification is recognised globally for the quality of its graduates and for the significant commercial contributions its graduates make to the business environment. On a personal level, the CA community is thriving and I ve met some fantastic friends who have gone through the CA journey with me. The opportunities which open up once you gain the CA qualification are many, of huge variety and can take you all over the world. To me, CA stands for knowledge, experience and skills, all of which are transferable to any role that you choose on qualification. Iain Opray Standard Life Newly qualified CA, Edinburgh The CA qualification is well recognised and highly regarded within the UK and abroad. The syllabus covered over the three stages of the qualification will give me a well rounded and solid foundation for me to build upon. Charlotte Bosley CA student, Crowe Clark Whitehill, London 7

10 UNIVERSITY ROUTE The majority of CA students start training through the graduate entry route. Students are recruited straight from university, and have a variety of degrees ranging from history and geography, to arts and languages, to science and forensics, to law or accountancy. Check out our website for further information about the university route, and a list of university degrees which can give exemptions, at icas.org.uk/becomeaca THE ERNST & YOUNG DEGREE at lancaster UNIVERSITY ICAS, in partnership with Ernst & Young (EY) and the Lancaster University Management School offers an exciting, relevant and rigorous degree programme which provides undergraduates an unrivalled opportunity to fast-track the CA qualification after graduation. The EY Degree combines the best of student life with challenging and practical opportunities in the workplace. As well as earning an internationally recognised BSc (Hons) degree, you ll get 18 months paid work experience and exemptions from a number of ICAS exams and depending on your results, a graduate job offer. For more information contact Lancaster University Management School online at lums.lancs.ac.uk The KPMG Degree The KPMG school leaver s scheme offers you the chance to fast-track your career through a six year programme which includes work experience, a relevant honours degree and completing the CA qualification. You will have all your tuition fees and university accommodation paid for by KPMG. After successful completion of the degree, you ll have only two ICAS TPS exams remaining and have the ICAS TPE & BE exam to pass to become a CA. You can choose to study at one of two leading UK universities: University of Birmingham Your degree with Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham closely mirrors their popular core accounting programme. For more information on the programme visit business.bham.ac.uk University of Exeter The University of Exeter Business School is a leading, dynamic and innovative school with a strong professional focus. The programme runs alongside the highly sought after BA Accounting and Finance and BA Business and Accounting, giving you an intensive and fully integrated University experience at one of the top Universities in the UK. For more information on the programme visit business-school.exeter.ac.uk 8

11 UNIVERSITY ROUTE FAQS What subjects should I be taking at school? University entrance requirements vary and you should check this through individual university prospectuses. You don t have to be taking accountancy as a subject at school. Will I need an accountancy degree to become a CA? Graduates with any degree subject can apply. In fact more than half of our CA students are non-accountancy graduates. However, depending on the degree subject taken, graduates may be exempt from some or all of the five subjects at Test of Competence (TC) level. Will I need an Honours degree? Each employer will specify their own minimum entry requirements. While most employers only recruit Honours students, others may consider Ordinary degrees. When do I need to apply for a training contract? Some employers recruit on a year round basis, but many have deadlines as early as the autumn of the year preceding their student intake. How do I apply for CA training? Graduates can apply online at icas.org.uk/applyforatrainingcontract How do I apply for an employer sponsored degree? Applications for the Ernst & Young Degree at Lancaster University need to be made via UCAS. For more information on the degree programme visit lums.lancs.ac.uk Applications for the KPMG Degrees need to be made via their website kpmgcareers.co.uk The high standard that sets ICAS apart means the CA qualification will rate as one of my greatest achievements, which coupled with the variety and depth of the programme has given me the building blocks to support my career. Rob Waddelow CA, Head of Finance Sports Rights, IMG, London The EY degree presented a great opportunity to study the subject I was interested in whilst being able to secure placements at a prestigious firm alongside studying for professional exams. Dominic Maier CA, Executive Valuation & Business Modelling, Ernst & Young London The CA qualification is a great start to anyone s career, whether you plan to stay long term in practice, work in the finance industry or run your own business. Grant Roger CA, Senior Manager Audit and Advisory Group, PwC Canada 9

12 vocational ROUTE Direct Entry Route Students now have the option to complete the CA qualification through the direct entry route where TC, TPS, BE and TPE subjects are completed over a five year training contract with an ICAS authorised employer. This allows you to work towards the CA qualification without a degree. For more information on this route visit icas.org.uk/becomeaca Deloitte BrightStart Programme Deloitte in partnership with ICAS have introduced the BrightStart school leavers programme in Scotland, in recognition that a University education may not always be the preferred choice or option for a number of ambitious school leavers. The BrightStart programme combines study towards the CA qualification with work experience allowing students to make an early start to their professional career. For more information on the scheme visit deloitte.co.uk/graduates/brightstart Direct entry ROUTE FAQs What are the entry requirements? Students who wish to follow the direct entry route will need to meet the entry requirements of the ICAS authorised employers. Students will need to check these with individual employers. How do I find an employer who will support me through this route? Students can find details of employers offering direct entry at icas.org.uk/routestomembership 10

13 PROFILE Malcolm started out as a professional footballer with Aberdeen FC while studying Accountancy and Management at the University of Aberdeen. He went on to train with KPMG. After initially training in audit, he was seconded to their Sydney office then transferred to join the Corporate Finance team, specialising in Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets Advisory. He returned to the UK to join the venture capital arm/growth equity team at the Bank of Scotland where he spent two years before setting up an investment firm, Panoramic Growth Equity. I chose the CA qualification as it is recognised globally as a strong business qualification and the breadth of subjects studied offered a comprehensive overview of both accountancy and finance. Being a CA is automatic recognition of a high level of competence and professionalism. The qualification offers international opportunities, a great base for anyone with an interest in finance and opens up many career opportunities. As a founding partner of an independent investment firm based in Scotland, I am involved in all aspects of deal flow, including sourcing, evaluation, investment, management and ultimately exit from all investments. I sit as a non executive director on boards and work with the management teams to assist growth in the business during our period of investment. We invest up to 3.5m in businesses across a range of sectors and throughout the UK, actively working with management teams to create additional value in their businesses. Malcolm Kpedekpo CA Investment Partner Panoramic Growth Equity Glasgow 11

14 PKF has trained CAs for many years because the CA qualification provides students with such a thorough grounding in the skills which will form the basis of their subsequent careers as accountants. John Watkins, Director of Learning and Development, PKF (UK) LLP, London The CA qualification is a fantastic way of building and developing an understanding of the business world, no matter where you decide to specialise, or what your end goals may be. Angus Chapman CA student Grant Thornton, Glasgow ICAS training offers a combination of practical work experience and professional studies equipping me for success as a CA in a challenging environment. Wei Cheng Saik CA student, Deloitte, Aberdeen CAs are recognised as highly skilled, highly motivated and highly capable professionals, and I want to be counted among that class. Lauren Byrne CA student, Baker Tilly, Edinburgh 12

15 contact us +44 (0) icas.org.uk/becomeaca facebook.com/icasbecomeaca 13

16 CA House 21 Haymarket Yards Edinburgh EH12 5BH +44 (0) icas.org.uk/becomeaca