04-20-2007, 01:40 AM
nabeelsiddiqi
I have been doing some search about the professionals in Pakistan that proves foreign qualified and experianced accountants are accepted in Pakistani and Gulf markets. They can work in industry or even in CA firms in consulting except signing financial statements. CPA with US experiance is globally accepted including Pakistan.
mshujaweb
You have asked the questions to which answers would be detailed and also depending upon student's personal situation, specially Fees/expenses, having valid visa, nationality etc.
In my personal view, student in Pakistan can take ACCA, CIMA(UK), CMA(USA), or CFA(USA) as a first step, because they can sit for these designations from Pakistan without going to relevant country. Once a student move to UK, Canada or USA then situation changes.
To do Canadian CA, after passing graduate degree a student MUST have to get articleship (3600 hours requirement) in ONLY in one of the CICA RECOGNIZED CA firms in ONLY in Canada. CICA does NOT accept foreign experiance and NOT all Canadian CA firms are allowed/recognized as training providers to CA students. Therefore, mostly foreign qualified accountants do CGA or CMA once they arrive here, unless they get a job in CA RECOGNIZED/ALLOWED firm in Canada. CGA and CMA accept Canadian industry experiance also, in addition to Canadian public accounting experiance. The good news is that in December 2006, CGA Canada and ACCA(UK) have signed MUTUAL RECOGNITION, which means that a member of any of these bodies may get the membership of other body by just passing two days online Tax course of other country. As a result, if a student does ACCA in Pakistan can also get 2nd designation i.e. CGA (Canada) from Pakistan based on mutual recognition. So the person would be dual designated, opening more opportunities, making possible to immigrate to Canada and getting a job here more easily. Then he/she can do CPA or Canadian CA etc. Please visit following for further info.
Canadian designations
<http//www.cica.ca/>
<http//www.thinkcga.org/>
<http//www.cma-canada.org/>
US designations
<http//www.aicpa.org/yellow/ypsboa.htm>
<http//www.imanet.org/>
<http//www.cfainstitute.org/>
For CFA in Pakistan
<http//www.cfainstitute.org/programs/socservices/socpage.asp?society=PAKISTAN>
Therefore, a young student in Pakistan may choose among ACCA(UK), CIMA(UK), CFA(USA), and CMA(USA). If a student is in Pakistan, I would suggest ACCA as a first steping stone in career. Though, Pakistani ACMA and CA are good options too, but keep in mind their passing rate, how many members these have, and most important these associations DO NOT have MUTUAL RECOGNITIONS with British or North Ameriacan associations. So these are NOT GLOBALLY recognized with exception to Middle East or Gulf countries.
There are many variables, parameters, options, obstacles, and pros and cons one must have to consider while making decisions.
I have been doing some search about the professionals in Pakistan that proves foreign qualified and experianced accountants are accepted in Pakistani and Gulf markets. They can work in industry or even in CA firms in consulting except signing financial statements. CPA with US experiance is globally accepted including Pakistan.
mshujaweb
You have asked the questions to which answers would be detailed and also depending upon student's personal situation, specially Fees/expenses, having valid visa, nationality etc.
In my personal view, student in Pakistan can take ACCA, CIMA(UK), CMA(USA), or CFA(USA) as a first step, because they can sit for these designations from Pakistan without going to relevant country. Once a student move to UK, Canada or USA then situation changes.
To do Canadian CA, after passing graduate degree a student MUST have to get articleship (3600 hours requirement) in ONLY in one of the CICA RECOGNIZED CA firms in ONLY in Canada. CICA does NOT accept foreign experiance and NOT all Canadian CA firms are allowed/recognized as training providers to CA students. Therefore, mostly foreign qualified accountants do CGA or CMA once they arrive here, unless they get a job in CA RECOGNIZED/ALLOWED firm in Canada. CGA and CMA accept Canadian industry experiance also, in addition to Canadian public accounting experiance. The good news is that in December 2006, CGA Canada and ACCA(UK) have signed MUTUAL RECOGNITION, which means that a member of any of these bodies may get the membership of other body by just passing two days online Tax course of other country. As a result, if a student does ACCA in Pakistan can also get 2nd designation i.e. CGA (Canada) from Pakistan based on mutual recognition. So the person would be dual designated, opening more opportunities, making possible to immigrate to Canada and getting a job here more easily. Then he/she can do CPA or Canadian CA etc. Please visit following for further info.
Canadian designations
<http//www.cica.ca/>
<http//www.thinkcga.org/>
<http//www.cma-canada.org/>
US designations
<http//www.aicpa.org/yellow/ypsboa.htm>
<http//www.imanet.org/>
<http//www.cfainstitute.org/>
For CFA in Pakistan
<http//www.cfainstitute.org/programs/socservices/socpage.asp?society=PAKISTAN>
Therefore, a young student in Pakistan may choose among ACCA(UK), CIMA(UK), CFA(USA), and CMA(USA). If a student is in Pakistan, I would suggest ACCA as a first steping stone in career. Though, Pakistani ACMA and CA are good options too, but keep in mind their passing rate, how many members these have, and most important these associations DO NOT have MUTUAL RECOGNITIONS with British or North Ameriacan associations. So these are NOT GLOBALLY recognized with exception to Middle East or Gulf countries.
There are many variables, parameters, options, obstacles, and pros and cons one must have to consider while making decisions.