This argument is very petty

Let me try to close this once and for all

1) Education is like a bus ticket. Be it UPSR,PMR,SPM,STPM,Degree,CPA,ACCA,ICAEW,MIA,etc . It only gets you to the place you want to be next. Once you get there, you're on your own. I can safely say, a lot of people laugh at ACCA/ICAEW qualified people too because they aren't that smart either. Its always down to a good blend between book smart and street smart. Ticket rule - remember that

2) CPA is definitely easier than ACCA/ICAEW due to its MCQ nature. But should not be considered as a laughing stock. It is credible in other countries - means their bodies are strong enough to boost the publicity, or its credibility.

3) Anyone who took CPA, shouldn't be mocked upon, they in fact, probably are smart. took the easier way up to gain entry into MIA. ACCA/ICAEW people also enter into MIA, to practice Accounting in Malaysia, also depends on MIA. Bring an ACCA qualified person to Australia, people will still prefer CPA over ACCA. See where your career is headed, then take the RIGHT choice to reach your career goal.

Key - taking the right steps in life. If one day someone tells you, you can choose a new XYZ paper, to get into MIA, and XYZ is REALLY easy to get in, and CHEAP of course, but MIA recognizes it. Means what? its good to some level, and it still gets you into MIA.

Look at the bigger picture. Lets not get shallow guys and girls

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Added on September 29, 2010, 11:18 amDisagree

There are smart people in CPA too
The number is high due to a whole lot of students taking ACCA - compare the number of ACCA campus and CPA students
Put 10,000 students in ACCA, bound to get more strong people in quantum
Do your analysis in % per 1000, then you get the right conclusion - unless ACCA/ICAEW/ICAA/MICPA teaches you otherwise!
Again-experience,street smart prevails over book smart here.

How many people flop ICAEW? yes its a more prestigious paper, for people who can afford it.

Most of us take CPA/ACCA is due to the restrictions by the Big 4 audit. who says If u are aus grad, u go CPA, if u are UK grad, go ACCA, unless you appear (on special cases). Not all appeals go through mind you.

The argument maybe - SURE, ACCA people smarter, cheaper way to success, compare to cost of DEGREE + CPA.

Consider this, people who study ACCA have already known what they want to do since young, where-else, people who opt for degree, didnt really see themselves during that time at the age of 18. They probably just wanted to go for an accounting degree, and then if they work in public accounting firm, then good, partial sponsorship with 3 years bond. If they want to do other things, their accounting degree is still relevant and works very well in many commercial firms.



This post has been edited by jamesleong: Sep 29 2010, 11:18 AM

Disagree Def
It is how you carry yourself as an audit partner that carries credibility
You cannot just diss a big question mark over a practicing audit partner with CPA
MIA approves and recognizes CPA and even listed companies are audited and signed off by CPA partners. What's the big question mark? millions, billions of ringgit, are being given that "true and fair view" by CPAs. Problems? Don't see any...

Any CPA/ACCA?ICAEW or WHATEVER grad, you walk into a company, say a bank, you realize, a degree grad holder working there for a few years would probably knows more about banking than you do. We got to plant our feet firmly on the ground.

You will soon realize, the papers I took ain't gonna give me these knowledge that person has! I got to work for it!
Tell me, how many of you use 100% of what you studied at your work place? I can bet that none of you use 100% of your studies at work!
So what do you use at work? Isn't it your life's experience?

Allow me to leave you all with something to ponder:

Knowledge is a tree, you build and work on where you want to grow,
You plant your seed, you reap your sow. How high you want your tree to grow,
Now that's really up to you now isn't it?

I believe my earlier post will clear up this confusion to the TS
Lets try to work on getting TS a good solution, rather than barraging down everyone else
This, is something not thought in CPA, ACCA, ICAEW, or whatever accounting bodies

This post has been edited by jamesleong: Oct 1 2010, 04:51 PM

TS = Thread Starter



Unless you are a PLC BOD, I presume you do not have the right source to say that they do not have confidence to appoint CPA to chair their AC. Or, unless you have done proper research, and table your paper to MIA. I believe there are CPA's out there who are chairing their ACs of PLC. I believe the same goes for other qualifications.

Not doing sufficient research before you push the homework back to those who are supporting CPA's in this thread does not undermine the count of CPAs as AC chairman in PLC. The same question can be thrown back at you, name me the list of AC chairman of PLCs who are ACCA?ICAEW etc etc.

Being AC Chairman does not mean you are very successful in life don't forget. Unless, that is your level of success. Then good for you. This example is from a tunnel view, look at the bigger picture. Not everybody's dream is being an AC chairman. And, AC chairman does not mean you are the smartest.

Have you attended an AC meeting? how many have you attended? I've been to many where the AC Chairman are REALLY sharp, but there are some, who sits there, nod, nod nod - attends sufficient meeting and that's it. Mind you, that was an MICPA AC Chair (no insult to MICPA here, but that's the fact). Some AC Chairman are there, for names sake. put some datuk sitting up there, who happen to be qualified ages ago also is a common practice. I've seen them, and met them, and not even impressed by some of them. So you see, using AC Chair isn't really a proper yardstick

Don't forget, one man's food may be another man's poison

Again, MIA acknowledges CPA (so many times i have mentioned this) - so that means, there is a level of credibility - whether the CPA chooses to be AC chairman or happens to be not chosen, is by choice

You did not factor in again - there are a lot more ACCA/ICAEW/and even MICPA (which there are A LOT) - so therefore, you are bound to have more AC chairman of those qualifications. I can even say, ICAEW, may have less AC chairman than MICPA - does that mean MICPA is much better than ICAEW? Or, unless u can prove me otherwise

You got your probabilities and analytic summed up a bit pre-maturely there White Knight. Think, before you jump to conclusions and support your theories with good facts.

Don't forget of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y. There are a load of MICPAs out there from the baby boomer category so you cannot deny their number counts as their age would be ripe to be AC Chairs. Got to get your demographics right. This is all knowledge from work experience - not thought in ACCA or CPA or MICPA or ICAEW.

Doesn't mean they are the best, doesn't mean anyone is the best. It is how you handle yourself at work and what you want to be.

I can bet my sorry ass that there are people out there without degrees who are earning much more than us qualified accountants
Does that mean we are smarter than them? guess again, they just chose not to take papers, and pursue in things that they do best

Life is all about fulfilling your strengths and patching up your weaknesses
Those who do it the best, succeed