Syllabus Acca Course
Nguyet Edmondson
If you wish to work in accounting or finance, the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is one of the most well-known certifications available. It is internationally recognized and respected, allowing access to a plethora of options. However, understanding the ACCA syllabus and exam structure can be difficult. This manual provides the ACCA syllabus, giving you a better understanding of what to expect on your ACCA journey.
The ACCA qualification is intended to provide you with the skills, knowledge, and ethics needed to succeed in finance and accounting. The ACCA syllabus consists of three main stages which are applied knowledge, applied skills, and strategic professional. Each level builds on the previous one, increasing complexity and depth. Candidates should go through the ACCA course structure to ensure they are well versed with what the ACCA course is all about.
The Applied Knowledge level is the starting point. It provides the groundwork by explaining fundamental ideas in accounting and business. Consider it the foundation for all of your future knowledge. The ACCA syllabus for Applied Knowledge exam is given below:
Once you have mastered the principles, you will progress to the Applied Skills level. This stage expands on the knowledge learned at the Applied Knowledge level while introducing more difficult topics. The ACCA syllabus for Applied Skill Level is given in the table below:
The third level of the ACCA Syllabus is Strategic Professional, focuses on advanced professional skills, strategic thinking, and leadership capacity. This level is divided into two modules: essentials and options. The ACCA syllabus for Strategic Professional Level can be seen in the table below:
In addition to the three levels, ACCA requires you to complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM). This course is designed to help you enhance your ethical judgment and professional skills, both of which are essential in the accounting profession. The ACCA syllabus for Ethics and professional skills modules is given below:
The ACCA qualification is a journey that requires dedication, endurance, and patience. The structure, which includes the Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional levels, as well as the Ethics and Professional Skills Module and the Practical Experience Requirement, prepares you to deal with the complexities of the financial and accounting fields. Understanding the ACCA Syllabus and pattern, as well as being committed to your studies, will enable you to successfully travel this path and secure a rewarding position as a professional CA.
I am looking at the ATT syllabus and they look a tougher set of exams than the ACCA tax papers which I passed a few years back. This must be the case as paper exemptions are not that great. Has anybody here done both and additionally how much of a step up are they in terms of hours and difficulty?
The ATT came into being because originally when you attempted the CIOT exams you had to take them in two levels/years. CIOT were finding that many students passed the first set of exams and kept failing or did not go on to attempt the final exams. So they formed a new qualification. ATT is a specialist tax qualification - much harder and more detailed than ACCA. They dont like to give exemptions if they can possibly help it.
I am not member of either body, but I am not sure that like is being compared with like. ATT is a specialist (second tier) tax qualification but ACCA is a (first tier) accountancy qualification. Tax is only part of the ACCA syllabus but all of the ATT syllabus. So surely it should be no surprise that the ATT syllabus is wider than the tax element of the ACCA syllabus.
So in terms of man hours to put in. I seem to recall ACCA used to suggest so many man hours per paper. Of course, I realise this varies from person to person but would you say one ATT paper requires the same dedicated man hours as one ACCA tax paper? I realise its not like for like but you must be able to vaguely benchmark it.
By time and effort I'd say i probably put in, on average 20 hours a week from the point I got all the ATT study materials until the time of the exams. 2 hours per weeknight and 2 X 5 hr bursts at the weekend. That took care of 4 ATT papers in one sitting.
You are quite right though, maybe that was too much, maybe it was too little - certainly too little for any of those fancy medals ;) it varies from person to person, exam technique, quality of study etc etc
What do you visualize when you think about accounting and finance careers? A few years ago, accounting meant working under heaps of paper. However, the scenario has drastically changed today. The finance and accounting sector has progressed from manual bookkeeping to technology-driven methods. So, to build a career in accounting today, you must choose a dynamic course that matches the evolving accounting field.
Before looking at careers after ACCA, let us brainstorm a bit about what ACCA is. Eight brilliant accountants formed the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on 30th November 1904 in the UK. While the association started in the UK, it soon gained recognition globally and is now present in as many as 180 countries worldwide. According to recent records, the ACCA courses in India have more than 2,00,000 registered community members and more than 6,00,000 registered students.
The benefits of doing ACCA include global recognition, enhanced employability, comprehensive knowledge of international standards, career flexibility, and access to a vast professional network.
Once you have decided to pursue the course, you must know what ACCA course eligibility is and whether you fit in or not. Here are the eligibility criteria to help you join the ACCA course details.
ACCA offers exemptions to Commerce Graduates, Post Graduate (MCom) Inter CA Students and CA Qualified. Students who have just cleared their class 12 examinations, do not qualify as per the aforementioned criteria, but are still qualified to register for the ACCA Exam via Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) route.
Are you now a graduate and regret not joining the course immediately after completing your Class 12th? You do not have to worry because students with higher educational qualifications get ACCA exemptions.
Apart from the study modules, you must have work experience of about 36 months in the relevant field. You can complete this work experience during the course or even after completing all the levels. You can claim the ACCA certification only after clearing all the levels and completing the work experience.
The ACCA syllabus encompasses a comprehensive range of topics, including financial accounting, management accounting, taxation, audit, and financial management, designed to equip students with essential accounting and business skills.
Strategic Professional: Advanced level with essential exams on strategic business leadership and reporting, plus optional exams on specialized areas like advanced financial management, performance management, taxation, and audit.
ACCA has three levels to cross for which you have to pass 13 exams. In total, there are 15 subjects available in the ACCA curriculum. You have to complete all the subjects in the first two levels. However, when you reach the third level, you have the option to select your subjects according to your specialization.
To become an Affiliate member, students are required to complete 36 months of work experience and achieve about nine performance objectives. This experience documentation should be signed by a supervisor.
ACCA organizes its exam four times a year offering candidates the flexibility to appear in the exam at their convenience. You can appear in the ACCA exams in March, June, September, or December every year.
ACCA is not as difficult as CA. However, passing the exam levels can get more difficult than your graduation exams if you do not prepare well for them. The difficulty level increases with each level. For example, you may not find the Foundation Level very difficult. However, the Skill Level will get tougher than the first level, and so on. Consult a guide to prepare for the ACCA exam well and pass it smoothly.
One of the major questions that arise in many minds is why should you pursue ACCA when there are so many other accounting and finance courses available in the market. Here are some of the potential answers to this question.
A few years back, CA was the most prestigious accounting course in India. However, you will find now that many CA candidates also pursue the ACCA course. Even so many candidates prefer to choose ACCA over CA today. One of the major reasons is the difficulty level. Reliable sources have claimed that if the ACCA passing rate is 40%, the CA passing rate is just 4%.
So, what is so special about ACCA that even the CA candidates are pursuing the course? One of the prominent reasons is global recognition. Today, it is available in as many as 180 countries worldwide. So, after completing the course, you can either work in a multinational company in your country or enjoy exposure to other countries.
Apart from global exposure, another essential reason to pursue ACCA is career growth. Most multinational companies wish to hire candidates with professional qualifications such as ACCA. ACCA candidates are experts in strategic skills and also highly trained in professional skills of communication and leadership, making them a favorite of various big-shot companies globally.
It is quite obvious that with career growth, you will start earning a decent salary package. Ambition Box mentioned that the annual salary of an ACCA is Rs. 12 lacs per annum with a few years of experience. This salary keeps on increasing with time and experience.
Lastly, you happen to become a part of the reputed community. The association updates the ACCA members regularly with the latest happenings in the accounting industry. Also, you can discuss and seek advice on various areas from other community members.