Accountancy often begins at what is often referred to as the secondary school level, for students making progress towards their GCSE’s. At this level students would be provided with a decent grounding in basic accountancy principles, which will remain useful to them throughout their lives. Students can elect to take ACCA courses. Beyond the primary and secondary school level, most universities do offer an undergraduate degree in Accountancy, and some offer a postgraduate education in accountancy. However, Beyond the Graduate degree level, the Student continuing on the University path via postgraduate education would be tending towards an academic rather than professional career in accountancy. Accountants who wish to pursue a professional rather than academic career would Study ACCA – The Different Options to pursue professional qualification obtained by attaining membership of one of the certifying accountancy associations.
Accountancy professionals are required in absolutely every industry and by virtually any human organization. It’s useful to divide this broad expanse of possibilities into three main categories.
Accountants in public practice. Accountants working in firms of accountants, provide services to clients from every sector. Accountants in public practice are generally required to remain independent from their clients. Generally, only accountants in public practice can provide statutory audit services.
Accountants in industry. Work for companies or non-incorporated businesses as employees or business principals. Professional independence would be impracticable in these circumstances and the focus of the accountant here is the performance of the business rather than financial reporting.
Accountants in Government service. Accountant is an employee of HMG. In government service, financial control and reporting is generally guided by quality and delivery standards that are appropriate for measuring the performance of a government organization. These standards must differ from the standards applied to profit making organizations.
ACCA courses in the UK is largely self synchronized, with the majority regulatory action being enforced by a number of professional associations such as, the acca, icaew , cipfa, cima, icas, icai. These associations conduct qualifying exams for their members, and observe their members throughout their professional working lives. In the UK, the term “qualified accountant” generally refers to an accountant who has attained full membership of one off these accounting bodies. Its important for the aspiring student accountant to realize that the accountancy profession is constantly evolving and that this article gives a very general overview of the routes into the profession plus an even more general overview of the nature of the profession.
Furthermore, these overviews are primarily appropriate to the United Kingdom and things can change rather quickly. The thing is that you must check. Find out exactly what is required at that time and that place you’re considering an accountancy career.
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