Local chartered accountants provide professional services to businesses, individuals and non-profit organisations. They provide advice on accounting systems and processes, auditing, forensic accounting, business recovery, taxation and corporate finance. They are also responsible for ensuring that financial records are accurate and trustworthy.
How to become a Chartered Accountant
To start a career as a local chartered accountants, you need to complete a three-year training course in a registered training office and then qualify by passing the CA final examination. You can also gain the qualification by completing a training programme called Training Outside Public Practice (TOPP). After gaining the CA qualification, you can work in public practice or for a firm of your own choosing.
Social media is a good way to promote your services as a Chartered Accountant. It can help you build trust relationships with your target customers and generate valuable content for them.
Groups on social networking sites are a great way to build community and interact with your target audience. These groups are either open or closed and members can participate in discussions and share information pertaining to auditing, accounting, law, tax and other relevant issues.
Conferences and public speaking events are another effective way to market your accounting skills to a large audience. They are a good place to network with other professionals in the industry and can lead to referral work in the future.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is one of the most respected and recognized accounting bodies in the world. It is a member of the International Federation of Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, as well as being an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
There are many national accountancy bodies across the world and a variety of designations can be achieved. In the UK, for example, you can be a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or a CA.
During the first year, you work towards obtaining the Certificate in Finance, Accounting, and Business credential through a combination of online and classroom study. The program consists of six basic modules in finance, business, accounting and taxation. If you pass this exam, you can progress to the next level, the BFP.
You can also pursue an advanced certification in forensic accounting or corporate finance. This will increase your skill set and allow you to help clients with more complex issues.
For example, you can advise high net worth individuals with complex personal finances or estates and testify as an expert witness in criminal cases. Alternatively, you can specialise in taxation and auditing.
Your employer will also support your development as a chartered accountant by providing training and support on technical and business issues, as well as a Continuing Professional Development scheme. You may also be able to spend time in other areas of the practice, or even work overseas, to broaden your experience.
For a busy career, it is important to continue your education and stay up to date on all aspects of your profession. This can be done through CPD programmes or by taking courses through a specialist college. Keeping your knowledge up to date means you can offer the best service possible to your customers and ensure you keep your job.