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A CA is a professional accountant who has met very high standards for professional knowledge, judgment and integrity. The designation is earned through training and practical experience obtained while employed with a firm of Chartered Accountants engaged in public practice or with the Office of the Auditor General. The program includes a formal education program with a national Uniform Final Examination.
The CA designation offers considerable flexibility in choosing your career path and your place of residence. Opportunities are available in public practice, education, industry, and government.
1. THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT IN PUBLIC PRACTICE All Chartered Accountants have experience in public practice, since a period of practical experience with an approved training office is required before becoming a Chartered Accountant. The large majority of these training offices are Public Accounting firms. The Office of the Auditor General is the other training office. One of the main functions of the Chartered Accountant in public practice is that of an auditor. Auditing is an independent examination of information to determine its reliability. Traditionally, this meant an examination of an organization's financial statements and expressing an opinion as to whether or not they present its results fairly. However, the scope of information subject to audit has expanded considerably and now includes such broad areas as the environment, technical matters, compliance issues, and financial forecasts. Auditing is becoming increasingly important as more people are relying on financial and other information that they are unable to verify directly. The consulting side of public practice is also important, as clients have come to appreciate and use the CAs unique blend of expert knowledge and practical experience gained from dealing with many varied types of people and businesses. 2. THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT IN INDUSTRY A Chartered Accountant, with his or her expertise in business, accounting and administration, experience in public practice, and educational background, is much sought after to fill a large variety of positions in industry. CAs are recruited as CEOs, Vice-Presidents of Finance, Treasurers, Controllers, Internal Auditors, Managers, and a wide variety of other responsible positions. There are no upper limits on your career progress in industry with a CA designation behind you. The level you reach depends on your abilities, personal goals and opportunities you create for yourself. 3. THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE There are many employment opportunities for a Chartered Accountant in all levels of government service. Various federal and provincial departments and publicly funded organizations regularly recruit Chartered Accountants for such positions as treasurers, auditors, senior financial officers, financial management officers and financial analysts. Since the needs of government in the accounting field are very similar to those of industry, a Chartered Accountant finds the transition from one to the other very easy, which is a reflection of the exceptional mobility the profession offers. 4. THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT IN EDUCATION A Chartered Accountant who is attracted to the field of education finds the CA designation highly useful. Chartered Accountants often instruct specialized courses at universities. Chartered Accountants are prominent in the Commerce and Business Administration faculties of Canadian universities, and others serve in administrative posts within this sector. |
