[quote=Murusundram,May 11 2010, 05:41 PM]
I think you misinterpreted what I have said.[/QUOTE] Mind you, I m a CPA too. Please read my comment posted on 7 May 10 on the last paragraph. Then only you come back & talk to me.

[/quote]

then too bad, as u r debating all the long way by just to slap ur own face...telling others that u've make a wrong choice and waste all the years taking a "poor certification..."

if got MBA then no need CPA Aust la..that shows CPA Aust inferior

CPA is a proffesional cert, MBA is an academic qualification, both gain their recognition in different perspective. No point to earn a proffesional cert but without an academic qualification, and vice versa. Since many people are fighthing for education image rather than real world experience, they should rather go for both lo. then can save the battle.

just my personal suggestion below:

if want to become a solid accountant/auditor----then better obtain an ACCA/ICAEW,CA,CPA USA,MICPA

if want to specialise the role in management accounting---then aim for CIMA

if want to become a CEO/financial analyst/business analyst/finance cum admin manager/accountant in SME---then work hard to get an MBA + CPA (Aus)

(**why do i suggest that? Because as suggested by many people, CPA Aus is easier to achieve, so why would u take a higher risk and wast so much of ur time and energy to sit for killer tough papers since u r not aiming to become a pure & solid accoutant? i believe a CPA Aus is definitely strong enough to grant u the knowledge and interpretation skills while analyse financial statements---at least for a CEO to adopt that level of knowledge in accounting)besides that, dun forget that MBA itself would take u more than two years at least to complete if you are working permanently, but the rewards is quite guarantee as you show the boss that u are putting enough effort to prepare >20000 words of dissertation in the end of the project!! "not inclusive of normal assignments and exams")--[[FONT=Times]size=1]surrender to this crazy cat....

This post has been edited by DAVID COPPERFIELD: May 2 2015, 01:38 AM

Hi all professional here,

I am an Internal Auditor with several years of working experience. Hold a Bachelor Commerce (Hons) Accounting from a local university. I am currently taking CIA and on target to complete by this year. Am thinking to earn a professional accounting qualification after this. Is CPA (A) appropriate?

Thanks for the advice in advance

This post has been edited by Russie: Apr 15 2020, 12:02 PM

It depends on what are you trying to achieve. The choice you makes MARGINAL difference and only when you are just starting out.

If prestige is what you are going for then by all means go for ICAEW if you can get a job from a recognized employer (Which are usually big corporates or Big 4s). If you want to show that you are technically savvy and you don't mind the heavy examination process then go for ACCA/CIMA. If you just want to get a professional accounting qualification and eventually obtain MIA membership, then an easier choice would be CPA (in terms of examination process).

Once you are in the door, it really doesn't matter anymore because it is your job performance that matters.

If I were you (that is, already having CIA and a undergraduate degree in accounting), I would go for CPA or anything that is easier for me to reach my destination assuming MIA is your ultimate goal. I would have included CAANZ (previously known as ICAA which is the Chartered Accountants of Australia before it merged with ICANZ) or US CPA if they were options because I think they are also easier compared to ACCA/CIMA/ICAEW/MICPA but assuming you are in Malaysia then it is not really practical. I have done ACCA and ICAA btw (those were my choices available back then) but I have many friends who did CPA Australia and yet being very successful in their career anyway.

Some may say CPA is less prestigious but let's be practical - why does it matter as long as you get the job done? As analogy, driving a Toyota may not look as prestigious as driving a Porche but in the end, a Toyota is a practical car that reaches the destination and it is far better than driving an expensive Porche but got stuck in the traffic jam anyway - all I am saying is the qualification is just a tool and what matters is how you use it and the uncontrollable circumstances that determine your career. I have seen too many people care too much about what other people think and took up examinations that is beyond their capabilities and not progressing, whereas those who go for something easier and resist criticism went on to become Partners/CFO. The qualification does not really matter in the long run seriously.

In fact, I don't think anyone these days still hold a strong opinion about CPA vs ICAEW or ACCA or whatever. Those who does definitely have an issue with their ego and don't see the big picture.

So long story short - go for whatever that is practical for your personal circumstances and look at the big picture.

As an internal auditor. Any certificates will do. Whatever you see yup there are just accounting certs. Expand your view and look into fraud examiner, IT audit and other industry standards. Your scope is wide enough to justify any sort of learning you want.

Hi Justin,

Really appreciate your valuable insights! And apologies for my late response.

Thanks again!

Hi Feydrax,

My first impression is that you are an experienced Audit professional in the industry? Really appreciate your precious advice!

Many thanks!

Just as an aside, do you foresee an or any advantage an Australian CPA might offer, in terms of your plans (if any) to relocate there? I know a fair few of my wife’s colleagues who did the CPA(A) solely for that purpose!

Not my current plan but who knows, the world is full of uncertainty and this getting harder to predict the next steps

Thanks for the insights!

this is awesome. i found my answer - that CPA (Aus) is the easiest accounting cert out there.

Is that a possible option for you too? Hehe

yeah, am looking into adding a certified accounting cert under my belt. It helps to open some doors. I find that in the FI sector today, whilst there is a push for more analytical skillet and industry knowledge, there is still a preference for Chartered Acc Cert as an added bonus for quite a few roles.

Of course, if just with that cert, it is pretty much useless. But if there are competitors for the role, some may prefer to go for more 'traditional' candidates that has some industry knowledge and an Acc cert than one with that checks all other boxes but without the cert.

i am surveying CPA or MIA (coz cheapest fees to pay) and also others professional cert. and checked the first page, which from 2008 that they were discussing is it the CPA sounds "easy and low grade"..
then i came to your comments here which quite recent (after 12 years since the first page this thread was opened) 。 i like the summary, it doesnt really matter how all these cert looks like, it is more on which one myself prefer.

for me, i will compare the cheapest vs easiest , maybe plus abit international regconition too. it seems like MIA fulfill the money part, but talking about i am a person who lazy doing alot study from A to Z, it seems like the CPA is more suitable to me..., i guess. even the price is very high.. i was graduate in degree in the 30 mids years old on last year.. planning to take a professional cert, maybe i really will go for CPA, not mistaken, 6 subjects to take... but no idea hows the exam really looks like, i just know ABCD, but is there any past year paper from online that able to search ?

oh ya. i am working in commercial line, and never want to switch or open an audit firm, so i guess CPA is quite suitable to me.. i guess lah..

This post has been edited by schoe: Nov 16 2021, 12:46 AM

I saw a lot useful info here , i want ask some question

I am about to graduate in August 2022 as a bachelor in accounting ( Honours ) and i am thinking whether to go take CPA or ACCA , i was told CPA is open book test so it is easy or something else ?

To those who take CPA, after u pay for the application fee and exam course , do they give u the study guide book ? it is enough to use the study guide book for the exam?

Plus with the recently new format, Malaysia taxiation which is a compulsory base on our qualification in malaysia does not recognize by the CPA Australia, it is stated that one must register with sunway TES and study their material and pass their exam , who had experience this before ? it is open book test or not ?

other than that , i admit that i am weak in accounting concept , between acca and cpa, which one is right for me in term of difficulty ?

thanks everyone.

Chartered is the gold standard for professional qualifications.

I would say the CPA test is quite convenient, the cons is there is only 2 seatings per year.

U will only receive the hardcopy study guides when the semester starts, its courier from Aus. There is also a guided online learning for self study, try googling "Knowledge Equity".
IMO, u can pass with self studying the study guide and go through all the guided learning online without workshop.

I am an ACCA grad.

Imagine the shock on her face (jawdrop - not even exaggerating) when a friend of mine (CPA Aust grad) found out that in ACCA we actually draft full set of consolidated accounts in the P2 paper (previously called, heard they changed name).

Spoke volumes of the competency needed to pass CPA Aust.

as mentioned by some of the forumers here, for sake of convenience and ease of passing, just go for CPA Aust, if you are able to secure sponsorship from your employer. ACCA is much more challenging and requires significant commitment in terms of time and focus, which is a huge task especially if you're studying part time.

ACCA is of course much cheaper than CPA Aus. Per ACCA paper at the professional level costs around 120-130 GBP if im not wrong, which works out to around RM600-700, whereas per CPA paper costs much more frm what i hear. Membership fees are also cheaper with ACCA.

I also heard ACCA is moving towards computer based exams but limited to the 4 sittings per year, whereas CPA you can sit for the exams at any time (i might be wrong).

So just weigh the pros and cons of CPA vs others, and do consider costs and ease of attempting exams.