Essential Information
Accountants of all types are responsible for the financial efficiency of a business or organization. While having the same duties as other accountants, a chartered accountant (CA) has completed additional postgraduate education, and a period of mentored work experience. Although this position is only available outside of the United States, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) title in the U.S. is an approximate equivalent.
Career and Education Requirements
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree then 2 years of postgraduate classes |
| Degree Field(s) | Finance-related field |
| Licensure/Certification | Licensure varies by country |
| Experience | 3 years of mentored work under a certified accountant |
| Key Skills | Aptitude for numbers and attention to detail; accounting and communication skills |
| Job Outlook (2018-2028) | 6% growth |
| Annual Salary (2018) | $43,650-$122,840 (for most accountants and auditors) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
While all accounting positions typically require a bachelor's degree in a finance-related field for employment, a chartered accountant is an accountant distinguished from his or her peers by the successful completion an additional two years of postgraduate education, as well as three years of mentored work experience under an experienced CA. These positions are commonly held abroad, with licensing agencies in many countries including Ireland, Canada, Australia, India and the United Kingdom. In addition, a CA must belong to a Chartered Accountant Institute in order to earn licensure to legally hold the Chartered Accountant title.
Job Duties
Chartered accountants work in fields of accounting, including public, management and government accounting. While specific job duties vary greatly within specific positions, many duties shared between CAs include preparing financial reports and documents, maintaining records of investments, reviewing potential financial and providing professional opinions in regards to the fiscal decisions of the firm.
Salary and Job Growth Information
The salary of an accountant can be highly dependent on the size of the organization and the industry or nation of employment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't provide employment and salary information for international job titles, but it does have information for U.S. accountants and auditors. According to May 2018 BLS salary data, most accountants and auditors earned between $43,650 and $122,840.
Chartered accountants can work in all sectors of industry, including public, private and governmental agencies. While around half of all chartered accountants work in commerce, financial services and banking, common employers of chartered accountants include educational institutions, local government offices and private accounting firms. The BLS expects growth for accountants and auditors in the U.S. to be about average at 6% over the 2018-2028 decade. Due to the additional education and training requirements of a CA, job prospects for CAs should be better in comparison to their non-chartered counterparts.
