CA vs CS – 7 Key Differences to Help You Choose

Company Secretary (CS) has to advise the company on various fronts, while a Chartered Accountant (CA) takes care of budgets and finances of the company. One is an expert in Accounting and Finance, while the other is an expert in Company Law and Corporate Governance. Keep reading because in this blog, our primary goal is to clear the confusion between CA vs CS for all who want find which is the better programme for them!

Despite a striking difference between the job profiles of both the courses, most people are often confused between CA vs CS. Being one of the most pursued professional courses after graduation or 12th, it is important to understand the difference between the two. So, here is a blog that will provide you with a detailed analysis of CA vs CS and the various aspects related to the two fields so that you can make an informed choice.

Check out: How to become a Cost Accountant?

What is Chartered Accountancy?

Choosing a career is tough which is why we have compared the two most commonly confused professions- CA vs CS in this blog. Chartered Accountancy is an international career field accredited by the ICAI i.e. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The course provides with Auditing, Accounting, and Financial Management techniques and skills that open up career opportunities for those aspiring to work in the Business and Finance sector. A Chartered Accountant is a professional who analyzes the Risk Management aspect, maintains accounts as well as provides future financial advice.

Who is a Company Secretary?

Company Secretary is among the principal aspects of a company and acts as a conscience seeker. Apart from managing taxes, a CS also ensures that the organisation complies with the laws, statutory and non-statutory, efficiently. The ICSI i.e. Institute of Company Secretaries of India provides professional training to those who aspire to pursue a career in the financial and legal aspects of business firms. The course provides knowledge of handling legal aspects and managing the company’s brand image. A Company Secretary is responsible for completing the company’s tax returns, keep records, the advisory board of directors and members and ensure all the legal and statutory regulations.

Difference: CA vs CS

Here are some of the major differences between CA and CS. A CA stands for Chartered Accountant while CS stands for Company Secretary. CA course is organized by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or ICAI while CS course is by  the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Let’s read about them in detail.

Differences	CA	CS
Conducting Body	Institute of Chartered Accountants of India [ICAI] is the main conducting body	Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Who should opt for it?	Candidates with a strong mathematical and logical reasoning background	Candidates with an inclination towards theory and legal
Stages	Foundation, Intermediate, and Final Course. Note: One can also follow the direct entry route	Foundation, Executive, and Professional Programme Note: The number of levels can vary based on the
Course Duration	5 years	2-3 years
Entrance Exam	Chartered Accountancy Common Proficiency Test	Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test
Eligibility Criteria	Candidates who have qualified their 12th exams with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks can register for the CA Foundation 2021 exam. Candidates who have an aggregate of 55% marks in graduation or post-graduation degree in Commerce stream or its equivalent from any recognized university/open university are exempted from CA Foundation 2021.	For the Foundation Programme, (10+2 pass or equivalent from any stream) Executive Programme (Graduation from any field apart from fine arts) Professional Programme (Executive Programme)
Job Profiles	Auditor Accountant Credit Analyst Forensic Audit Financial Analyst Research Analyst Investment Advisor	Associate Company Secretary Legal Advisor Corporate Policymaker Principal Secretary Company Registrar Corporate Planner Chief Administrative Officer
Average Salary	Rs. 8-7 Lakhs	Rs. 6- 5 Lakhs
Employment Opportunities	Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, etc.	Public Relations, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law Advisor, International Trade & WTO, etc.
Official Website	https://www.icai.org/	https://www.icsi.edu/home/

Career Path: CA vs CS

How to Become a Chartered Accountant?

The beginning of both the fields starts from Commerce but eventually divert into two different paths. For those, who wish to pursue a career in CA, need to have strong mathematical knowledge to deal with massive accounting and budgeting.
Steps to follow in order to become a CA:

• Register with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
• Qualify the Competency Professional Test(CPT) and pursue a degree course in Commerce or any relevant field.
• Qualify the Integrated Professional Competence(IPC)
• Pursue Articleship and gain work experience under professional CA for minimum of 3 years.
• Clear the final CA exam.

The CPT exam can be pursued right after class 12th. However, you need to complete graduation to appear for the IPC examination.

How to Become a Company Secretary?

For pursuing a career in CS, having strong critical thinking is important to in order to handle the company profile and involve in decision making.
Steps to follow in order to become a CS:

• Register with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
• Pursue the Foundation course of 8 months.
• Pursue the Executive Program of 1 year for additional qualifications.
• Pursue the Professional course of 1 year in order to gain specialization.

For pursuing CS programs after graduation:

• Pursue Graduate programs in the field of Commerce for 3 years.
• Pursue the Executive program of 1 year.
• Pursue the Professional course of 1 year.

Course Duration: CA vs CS

Another important with regard to CA vs CS is the course duration. Both CA and CS courses involve 3 levels, but the duration of each field differs from one another. If compared, CS is shorter than CA and can be completed in 2-3 years. While CA takes 5 years to complete (including the training period).

Eligibility Criteria: CA vs CS

Both CA and CS are some of the most sought after professions in India and many candidates start applying for CA vs CS after finishing their 12th standard. Here is the detailed eligibility criteria you need to follow in order to qualify for the two programmes-

Chartered Accountant

• Candidates who have qualified for their 12th exams with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks can register for the CA Foundation 2021 exam.
• Candidates who have an aggregate of 55% marks in graduation or post-graduation degree in Commerce stream or its equivalent from any recognized university/open university are exempted from CA Foundation 2021.

Company Secretary

• Students who have qualified for their 12th exam from any stream can take up the ICSI Foundation Course (8-month long course) It is essential to qualify for the course within three years of admission.
• Candidates have to qualify for ICSI Intermediate and Final course, followed by short-term training and practical training.

Differences in Subjects

Next in our CA vs CS analysis, we will look at the syllabus of the two courses. Both the fields are related to the same domain but provide knowledge and skills that help cater to different sectors:

CA	CS
Fundamentals of Accounting	Company Law
Auditing and Assurance	Tax Law
Financial Management and Cost Accounting	Economic Labour and Industrial Law
Direct Taxes	General and Commercial Laws
Management Accounting	Banking Laws
Financial Analysis	Insurance – Laws and Practices

CA vs CS: Differences in Career Opportunities

Students who are pursuing a career in CS can explore a wide range of opportunities in big corporate firms globally. They can find job opportunities in various departments such as governance, administration, meeting with stakeholders and board of directors. Students can also consider the option of working independently as Company Secretary for various firms.

Students pursuing a career in CA have more career opportunities as compared to CS. They can explore both public and private sectors including government organisations, private firms, banks, law firms, business enterprises, civil services, etc.

CA vs CS: Salaries

Next in our analysis of CA vs CS is the average salary for the two professions. The average salary for CA is more than CS. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a CA and CS in India is as follows:

Avg. Salary
CA 8 Lakhs
CS 6 lakhs

Career Prospects

When it comes to job opportunities for CA vs CS, graduates can find lucrative options in both private and public sectors in India. Demand for qualified CAs and CSs is increasing and candidates can take up a wide range of profiles in the diverse field. Let’s look at some of the top companies for CA and CS professionals in India-

CA	CS
Deloitte PriceWaterhouseCoopers KPMG Ernst and Young Grant Thornton International ICICI Bank BDO International SS Kothari Mehta and Co Luthra and Luthra	Aditya Birla Group TATA Steel Robert Bosch India Bharat Forge TATA Consultancy Services IBS Software IDFC Mutual Fund Somaiya Group Ernst and Young

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