Career in Accountancy

The definition of a business in the modern era has changed. The way we looked at the business industry a decade or two ago is not the same. Modern businesses are greatly influenced by technology, which not only has widened their reach but also has allowed them to curate their services for the targeted audience. The mere ‘buying and selling’ idea of business has long ago been transformed into a more customer-centric approach where businesses seek to increase their clientele through interactions with the customer. This has created an array of job roles and one of the most important of them all is that of an Accountant. In this blog, we will cover various aspects of pursuing a career in Accountancy. 

What is Accountancy?

One of the widely sought after options while pursuing a career in Commerce stream, Accountancy deals with the recording, classifying and reporting of business transactions for a company or an individual. In the simplest terms, understanding of Accountancy enables one to manage the expenses and income of a business. Providing feedback to the management regarding the financial transaction and results of an organization. The main tasks involved in the process of Accounting includes issuing invoices, recording cash and paying employes besides keeping a track of the financial status of the company.

Did you know?
K.S. Aiyar (1859- 1940) is a pioneer name in the fields of Accountancy and Commerce.

What does an Accountant do?

Now you might be wondering what do you do as an accountant? The Accountant is perhaps the most important person in any business organization or the go-to person for many business organizations. Performing an array of tasks, Accountants are revered as the financial physicians for their multitasking role at the company. Besides checking the financial health of the company, an Accountant is likely to perform the roles listed below:

• Managing financial systems and budgets
• Conducting financial auditing
• Providing financial advice to companies or clients
• Advising clients on tax planning
• Overseeing and checking potential for business acquisitions and mergers
• Keeping records of accounts and management of information
• Detecting and preventing fraud
• Dealing with financial irregularities
• Preparing monthly and annual financial statements
• Forecasting risks and devising strategies to tackle them

Also Read: Diploma in Financial Accounting

Top Courses in Accountancy

Universities all over the world offer courses in Accountancy. A bachelor’s in commerce is good to start with. Giving you an overview of the field and in-depth knowledge of the subjects, the course spans over 3 years. BBA is a comprehensive all in one degree to give you a firm understanding of Finance, Accounting, Business Law, etc. A specialization degree or a diploma can also be done to further your skills in the field. A masters degree in Accounting can be done to gain extra knowledge of the field while a PhD is for those who wish to go into the research aspect of the field. Tabulated below are the popular courses in Accountancy-

Course	Duration
Bachelor of Business – Accounting Major	3 Years
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting	4 Years
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting	4 Years
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance	3 Years
BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance	3 Years
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance	3 Years
Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) – Accounting	3 Years
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)	3 Years
BBA (Accountancy)	3 Years
BA (Honours) in Accounting and Finance	3 Years

Eligibility Criteria for Accountancy Courses

To pursue a career in the field of Accountancy, the entry requisites differ in terms of the study destination and academic institution. If you are planning to pursue Accountancy courses in India, here are some of the important points under eligibility criteria-

• For Diploma Courses: Basic qualification of 10+2 from a recognised institution
• For Bachelor’s Courses: Basic qualification of 10+2 with a minimum required score
• For CA or other professional courses in Accountancy: Qualification of allotted entrance exam

If you are planning to study abroad, the basic eligibility criteria to pursue courses in accountancy is-

• For Diploma Courses: Basic qualification of 10+2 from a recognised institution
• For Bachelor’s Courses: Basic qualification of 10+2 with a minimum required percentage and stated score in SAT and ACT exam
• For Masters Courses: A degree in accountancy along with a valid GMAT or GRE score
• A good score in English language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.

Entrance Exams for Accountancy

To make your way through accountancy courses, it is necessary for the candidates to showcase the required educational qualification and qualify for certain entrance examinations. Presenting a good score in the entrance exam is important for seeking admission in accountancy courses in India as well as abroad. For National level courses like Chartered Accountancy as well as universities offering bachelors and diploma courses,  it is mandatory for candidates to clear the below-mentioned entrance exams- 

Entrance Exams for India	Entrance Exams for Abroad
– ICWAI exam – ICSI exam -ICAI exam (CA Foundation) -JMI Entrance Exam  -LUACMAT  -SHIATS Entrance Exam  -PUCET  -AUCET	-CPA  -SAT -ACT -GMAT -GRE -IELTS  -TOEFL

Top Universities for Accountancy in India

As per your course choice, you can select a university after exploring various features like Faculty,  Research Opportunities, Placement Opportunities, etc. Here are the prominent universities of India offering courses in Accountancy-

• Shri Ram College of Commerce
• Lady Shri Ram College for women
• St Joseph’s College of Commerce
• Gargi College
• Christ University
• Lovely Professional University
• CRM University -Amity University
• Sharda University
• The Heritage College

Top Universities for Accountancy Abroad

Many esteemed universities abroad offer a bunch of courses in Accountancy ranging from Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy to Bachelors of Business Administration in Accountancy. Here’s a curated list of the best universities for accountancy abroad:

• Auckland University of Technology
• Michigan State University 
• Texas State University
• Australian Catholic University
• University of Liverpool
• Ontario Tech University
• University of Reading 
• University of South Australia
• National College of Ireland

Pursuing Accountancy After 12th

Some of the students take another route to pursue a career in Accounting. Right after 12th class, students can go for exams to qualify for the colleges that specialize in Accounting only. The colleges are highly professional and demand a great level of hard work to crack the entrance exams. Owing to the level of competitiveness and a diverse syllabus, the exam is considered among the toughest exams in India. But with a strategic study plan, dedication and good resource material, you can crack the exam. After studying the course for the required duration, you are given the certification as an Accountant. Though this process is the shortest to pursue a career in Accountancy but having a bachelor’s degree reinforces your skillset and adds to your knowledge base in the subject. 

If your goal is to become a Chartered Accountant, then you might want to take a look at our detailed blog on how to become a Chartered Accountant and CA after graduation.

Applying for CPA Certification

In the field of Accountancy, CPA or Certified Public Accountant exam is of the highest standard all over the world. Administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the world’s largest accounting body, the certification exam is one of the toughest exams in the world. The exam has numerous benefits which include global recognition, advanced academic excellence and flexibility to work anywhere in the world. 

The syllabus of the exam is divided into four sections: 

• Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
• Regulation (REG)
• Business Environment Concepts (BEC)

Eligibility Criteria for CPA

In order to apply for the exam, the candidates should be: 

• Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
• Member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants in India.
• Member of the Company Secretaries in India.
• Master of Commerce
• MBAs

Accountancy Career Scope, Jobs and Salary

The business field offers endless possibilities to and a range of opportunities to build a career upon. With the rising need for trained professionals, employers are in tough combat to recruit the best in the field. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a reputed college increases your chances of landing in a high earning jobs. Offering lucrative salary packages and higher prospects for growth, the job of an Accountant is an important one. In coming years, with the advancement in businesses, the jobs in the field are expected to shot up which is a good thing to bank upon.

Job Opportunities

Some of the job roles suitable for you after earning a degree in Accountancy are listed below:

• Actuarial Accountant
• Budget Analyst
• Capital Accountant
• Financial Controller
• Business Valuation Specialist
• Certified Financial Planner
• Cost Accountant
• Forensic Accountant
• Real Estate Appraiser
• Financial Analyst
• Tax Consultant

Pursuing a career in Accountancy can open doors to a number of opportunities. Whether you want to work in the country or abroad, with a valid certification

Average Salary

The average salary of an accountant in India is INR 3-4 Lakh per annum. In abroad, you can expect to earn around 20-230 Lakh per annum.

FAQs

Opening doors to a spectrum of opportunities, pursuing a career in Accountancy is a dream for many commerce aspirants. A degree from a reputed school followed by certification is set to guarantee you a luxurious career. If you are planning to study in one of the top colleges around the world, reach out to us at Leverage Edu. Our experts will guide you to choose the institution which is best suited for you. Book your 30-minutes free counselling session with industry’s leading career counsellors now!