If you want a promising finance career that will allow you to showcase your analytical and problem-solving skills, then a career in Chartered Accounting could be for you.
As far as accounting jobs go, being a Chartered Accountant (CA) is incredibly rewarding and will allow you to make a real difference in the world. This is because Chartered Accounting gives you the skills and knowledge you need to drive business decisions that could build better communities, societies and economies.
With that said, how does one go about becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA)? Read on to find out!
Career Overview
Chartered Accountants (CA) are the people responsible for examining the financial affairs of individual clients and organisations.
Typical activities conducted include analysing an organisation’s financial information, preparing and reporting on financial statements for shareholders and capturing financial information on computers.
Required School Subjects
You will need to have the following matric subjects in order to study towards a Chartered Accounting qualification:
- English (matric level)
- Accounting (not required but helpful)
- Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy (depending on the institution you apply to)
Institution and APS
The following institutions are highly recommended for studies in Chartered Accounting:
- University of Cape Town (UCT) – a Faculty Point Score (FPS) of 480
- University of Pretoria (TUKS) – APS of 30
- University of Witwatersrand (Wits) – APS of 39
- University of Johannesburg (UJ) – APS of 33
Required Qualification/s
A Bachelor’s Degree/Higher National Diploma (HND) is the minimum requirement for individuals who want to be a Chartered Accountant (CA), although there are organisations that accept candidates without either a degree or HND. The learning process doesn’t end with a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Degree; the journey to becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant is generally 7 years.
An Honours degree, Certificate in Theory of Accountancy (CTA), articles of clerkship, final exams and applying for a Chartered Accountant membership are all part of the journey to being able to write CA (SA) or similar.
Required Skills of Chartered Accountant (CA)
The following traits are found among successful Chartered Accountants:
- communication skills
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- business Interest and Awareness
- organisational and Time Management
- IT skills
- interpersonal skills
- numeracy skills
- self-motivation and commitment
- integrity and trustworthiness
Where You Can Work as a Chartered Accountant (CA)
As a Chartered Accountant, you can work in any industry. Some of these include:
- Chartered/Certified Accountant firms
- Telecoms Industries
- Charities and Non-profit Organisations
- Central and Local government
- Educational Institutions
- Manufacturing Industry
- Retail
- Public Sector
Working Hours of Chartered Accountant (CA)
Chartered Accountants generally work standard 8 am to 5 pm hours; however, the hours you work largely depend on your own work ethic and your company of employment. Depending on which company you work for and what your role is, the hours may be more than indicated. For example, accounting auditing firms may require more hours during the ‘high season’. Chartered Accountants tend to work late in the evening and over weekends for some projects.
Expected Salary for Chartered Accountant (CA) in South Africa
According to SalaryExpert, the salary for a Chartered Accountant in South Africa is estimated to range between R375 773 to R658 550 annually – with the average being R526 940.
In this field, experience and qualifications contribute to increasing the salary.
Chartered Accountant (CA) Roles and Responsibilities
The below are some of the duties and responsibilities of a Chartered Accountant (CA):
- Conduct tax planning for special projects
- Prepare income tax returns
- Compile accurate reports about your company’s finances to government agencies
- Review tax forms and make recommendations if needed
- Maintain good relationships with businesses and clients
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