I dont think so, go to UK/US and tell ppl u r a CA - MIA member, chances of ppls know what is MIA are definitely very low. Even if they know it is an Insitute Of CA in Malaysia, they won't know how prestidges it is. It is more advisable to get an ACCA/CIMA/CPA as these are the most well-known professional body, internationally recognised, besides, you automatically qualifed as a MIA member once your acquired your ACCA/CIMA membership.

This post has been edited by alxcnq: Jun 24 2008, 12:40 PM

That's the problem, MIA is well known only in Malaysia, apart from that, you also need to think about prestige here. Imagine you go for an interview in UK or other countries outside malaysia, you tell your employer you are an MIA member compared to you are an ACCA member, which one you think can impress the employer more? They know what ACCA is, the whole world of accounting knows they are a prestiges professional body. Why take only one membership when you can take two? If you talk about reciprocating recognition, ACCA/CIMA also opens you to that. Think yourself.

This post has been edited by alxcnq: Jun 24 2008, 01:54 PM

You still dont get it. For your info ACCA Chartered Certified Accountant qualification is fully recognised in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, they are one of the designated statutory body/governing body there. Outside these countries, legal recognition by government authorities, and mutual recognition by equivalent overseas institutes, varies from country to country, many countries like Malaysia do offer membership to those who is an ACCA direct to their local statutory body, also in many countries ACCA's strong global reputation have even obviate the need to acquire a local designation.

Take Australia for instance, you mentioned ICAA or ASCPA, but ACCA qualification is also a statutory recognised body for insolvency purposes & audit purposes there. The ACCA qualification is recognised as at least equivalent to an Australian bachelors degree in accountancy(in some countries even equivalent to master). This allows ACCA members to obtain a direct entry to the examinations or advanced standing from Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia or National Institute of Accountants.

TS is currently in Malaysia, the best choice ofcourse would be ACCA if he want to pursue accounting, even if his ultimate aim is to practice accounting just in Malaysia, ACCA also open you to a direct membership in MIA, and who know some day he might want to work in UK? You cant tell, back yourself up with ACCA would definitely be an advantage. Even if you go to other countries just for conference purpose or meeting, you will be known if you say you are ACCA with designation FCCA because ppl already know at what standards ACCA are. If you say like MIA, ppl dont know at what quality the body is like, their prestigious would definitely be in doubt. Master degree in instance does not open you to the recognition whether statutory or not like, ACCA does, you should obtain ACCA first before you go for master if you want to persue accoutancy. Which is also why I keep mentioning globally recognised, it is not just globally famous thats all. Hence, it is advisable to take ACCA, because it open you to a lot of opportunities, recognition and routes, if you just take ICAA or ASCPA, MIA it is not as globally recognised as ACCA, your choice is limited. Not forgot to mention, CFA is a body well recognised in finance/investment not accountancy.

This post has been edited by alxcnq: Jun 24 2008, 06:14 PM

ACCA & CIMA also opens a direct membership to ICPAS, but ofcourse other body like ICAEW ICAA ICAI CPA Australia also do.

I'm not saying ACCA is better than other bodies, but we are talking about whether just an MIA is enough to me it's definitely not even if you just want to work in Malaysia, your chances will also be limited, you never know from time to time you might need to deal with many people outside Malaysia, want to extend your network outside malaysia, more often if you work in MNC and ike you say ACCA does open you better reciprocating relationships to ICEAW, ICAA, CPA Aust etc compared to just MIA. Being the fact that TC is in Malaysia, his only choice would be only ACCA/CIMA. Prestigious varies from country to country as i mentioned, if you say US, ACCA is more preferable for most of the employer there, if you say UK thn it would be CIMA, if you say australia then ofcourse ICAA, CPA Aus.


Just to mention i'm not an ACCA holders nor an advocates, just trying to express my point of view, the best course of action TC should choose whether to go for ACCA or a master/CFA instead. If you have a degree, you can get exemptions most of the time 10 out of 15 papers for ACCA/CIMA, to me you should go for it before you think about Master/CFA.