By choosing to become a Chartered Accountant you become a trusted professional with technical excellence, reliability and commitment to the public interest.
Distinguished International Designation
In becoming a CA you will be joining an exciting and highly regarded profession with high professional standards, competence and decision making. CA can have public, corporations public and private, and businesses large and small, and in the public sector practice.
- Chartered Accountants in business can work at many management areas, in large and small organizations. Some lead major corporations as CEOs, CFOs, vice presidents of finance and controllers. Others start their own businesses, and are highly successful because of the broad understanding of the business world they gain during their training.
- Chartered Accountants in government hold strategic government positions such as deputy ministers, auditors general, controllers and senior public servants. They are generally recognized for the government programs and leadership in suggesting and implementing modern solutions to make better performance of government.
- Chartered Accountants in public practice - they spend little time at the office. They make phone calls on clients in many different businesses and industries, meeting with managers, auditing financial statements, providing tax and financial planning advice, and providing consulting and advisory services. They can work in areas such as corporate finance, corporate recovery and insolvency, control and risk management, information and communications technology and general financial and business management.
- Chartered Accountants can be teachers help prepare the next generation of CAs in universities, colleges and professional programs. They are also key contributors to the advancement of accounting sciences in innovative fields.
Minimum requirements
There are minimum requirements to assist you in your development as a CA candidate:
- Education - a university degree with particular business course credits and the professional program of your province or territory. This level of education provides a sound base of knowledge, skill and values necessary to be able to show competence.
- Experience - work experience in a recognized training office under the management of experienced CA is also required. The training will really assist you in the development of the skills, attributes and values of a competent CA.
- Evaluation - CA candidates will repeatedly receive assessments throughout their development – in university programs, in professional education programs and on the job. All CA candidates must assemble the profession’s Uniform Evaluation (UFE) which is the capstone evaluation of a continual process of rising and assessing the knowledge. This three-day evaluation gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your professional competency.
These three elements ensure that, when you earn your CA designation, you will have acquired all the competencies that the marketplace expects of a Chartered Accountant.
Skills and Competencies
The CA qualification process is planned to make sure you have the opportunity to develop all the skills and abilities you will need to begin your career as a CA. The process is based on professional competency, knowledge and skills, values and attitudes needed to analyze and apply that knowledge successfully. You are provided with many opportunities to develop these competencies, through your university education.
The CA Competencies
CA competencies are the specific skills you are expected to perform at a defined proficiency level. The CA Candidates’ Competency Map lays out two groups of competencies:
The pervasive qualities and skills which include:
- Ethical behavior and professionalism;
- Personal attributes such as accountability, adaptability to change and the ability to self manage, take initiative and add value; and
- Professional skills such as communication, problem solving and management skills.
All CAs are expected to bring these qualities to all their work.
The specific competencies, which are grouped into six categories:
- Organizational effectiveness, control and risk management
- Finance
- Taxation
- Assurance
- Performance measurement, and
- Information and information technology
The CA Candidates’ Competency Map also defines the level of proficiency you are expected to acquire, and to demonstrate on the UFE in each of these competencies.The CA Candidates’ Competency Map also defines the level of proficiency you are expected to acquire, and to demonstrate on the UFE in each of these competencies.The CA Candidates’ Competency Map also defines the level of proficiency you are expected to acquire, and to demonstrate on the UFE in each of these competencies.
What is UFE
The CA Candidates’ Competency Map also defines the level of proficiency you are expected to acquire, and to demonstrate on the UFE in each of these competencies. All Canadian trained Chartered Accountants must write the profession’s uniform evaluation (UFE). This three-day evaluation challenges CA candidates to show their proficiency in the CA competencies. You must demonstrate that you have acquired the competencies necessary to begin your professional CA career. The UFE is set by the CA profession’s Board of Evaluators. It consists of three papers written over three days, one each day. These papers will challenge you to demonstrate your competence by responding to simulations/business scenarios that represent the kinds of challenges you have faced during your work experience, or will soon be facing in your professional career as a CA.
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