The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) recently declared the CA Final and Foundation exams 2021 on February 10, 2022. 

While congratulations are in order for all the candidates who successfully passed the finals and earned the prefix CA for their names, an important question that now looms over them is, what next?

If you are looking to qualify for the CA exams and are curious to explore the various career opportunities awaiting you, this blog is for you!

At this point of a professional career, it is time to evaluate whether to go for individual practice, join a CA firm or whether to do higher studies and then start a professional career. 

Regardless of the path you choose, remember that the learning cannot stop on the ground that exams are no longer there, but continuous updating of knowledge and up-gradation of professional skills has to be started from the very beginning of the professional career to render services to clients or satisfy management needs. It must be used as an edge for a pay hike, getting respect at a higher level, attaining great heights in your career from the very early start.

In this article, we bring to you a list of job opportunities that you can pursue now. All of these profiles require a Chartered Accountant. Have a look at these and choose the one that interests you the most!

Starting Practice as a CA

Doing practice as an individual or sole proprietor of a CA firm is an age-old, tried-and-tested concept. Nowadays, people also opt for partnership firms with two or more chartered accountants. 

Chartered Accountants can enter into practice with the following.

1. Company Secretary in practice
2. Chartered Accountant in practice
3. Cost Accountant in practice
4. Architect professional
5. Advocate as defined by the Bar Council of India
6. Engineer (chartered)
7. Actuary professional

Job Opportunities in a CA firm

A practicing CA can join an existing firm that is in operation, has good clients, and strives on taking firms to great heights.

A Chartered Accountant who is interested in joining a CA film should explore the following areas and have specialization in one area.

1. Internal Auditing
2. Tax Auditing
3. Forensic Auditing
4. Accounting and Finance
5. Taxation Auditing
6. Statutory Audit
7. Treasury Functions
8. Bookkeeping

Further study

There was a time when being a Chartered Accountant and earning the prestigious CA prefix before your name was considered as a masterstroke.

But, tables have turned now in the era of the rapidly evolving world. Moreover, the future of finance and business seems tremendously dynamic and emerging.

To raise your value and stand out from the crowd, it is important to set a stage for the next steps after completing your CA.

Here are some prominent further study courses to choose from. 

1. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
2. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
3. Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
4. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
5. Diploma in Information System Audit (DISA)
6. Investment Banking
7. Financial Risk Management (FRM)
8. Company Secretary (CS)

Conclusion

The benefits of taking a CA course are numerous. It is a well-known profession not just in India but internationally, and as a result, it provides high-ranking and high-paying work chances to individuals who possess the necessary qualifications. The fact that CAs can build their careers in a variety of ways, including beginning their own practice and setting their own clientele, working in the private sector, or working in various government agencies, is one of the main factors contributing to this.

Looking at how every company needs a CA, the demand for these professionals is only going to grow, and their options are going to get better.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 135,000 openings for accountants and auditors are projected each year, on average, from 2020 to 2030 in the United States.

The global numbers are obviously much higher.