Yes, the CFA is worth pursuing after ACCA if you want to transition into investment management, portfolio management, or equity research, as ACCA provides strong accounting fundamentals, while CFA adds deep investment expertise, creating a powerful, well-rounded finance professional valuable to employers in global markets, especially for roles beyond traditional accounting. The combination offers excellent career flexibility, covering both corporate finance/reporting (ACCA) and capital markets/asset management (CFA).
You can pursue both ACCA and CFA together or doing one course at a time, this will enhance your CV even more. However, if you equally like Accounting and Finance and want to pursue only one course between ACCA and CFA, I will suggest you to go for CFA, as it has a slightly better reputation than ACCA.
The best choice between ACCA and MBA or ACCA, MBA, and CFA depends entirely on your personal career goals and professional interests. If you're aiming for a solid mix of business management and financial expertise, the ACCA and MBA combination is a great option.
- Is ACCA more difficult than CFA? No, the CFA qualification tends to be considered slightly more difficult than ACCA - but this is to some extent a subjective matter, differing from person to person. Many people don't make it through the three levels of CFA because of the time required to finish the course.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): There are no CFA Level 1 exemptions for ACCA. Instead, CFA charter holders are exempt from taking the Paper F3 – Financial Accounting exam of ACCA, one of the five mandatory papers of ACCA.
While ACCA and CFA certifications cater to different areas of finance, together, they create a unique blend of expertise that significantly enhances a professional's marketability. If you're looking to broaden your horizons, pursuing both certifications is a strategic step toward success.
Both exams are challenging, and you'll need in-depth knowledge of complex concepts in finance or accounting. However, the CPA Exam generally requires less studying - around 80 to 120 hours per section compared to 300 hours per section of the CFA Exam, and the CPA Exam also has a higher pass rate.
Generally, CFA professionals in finance and investment roles may earn more, but ACCA professionals in accounting and finance management can also have competitive salaries.
All Big 4 accountancy firms – Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG – are active recruiters of ACCA-affiliated accountants. Choice often depends on your interest area: audit, consulting, tax, or advisory.
If you aspire to be employed by JP Morgan, ICICI Bank, or an international consulting behemoth like EY, the CFA certification provides that competitive advantage.
It takes three to four years to complete all three levels of the CFA Program. This takes into account the recommended study time of 300 hours per level. To become a member and use the CFA Charterholder designation, you also need at least 4,000 hours of relevant work experience, completed in a minimum of 36 months.
Some of the best courses to pursue after ACCA for career advancement are CIMA, CFA, ACA, MBA, Master's in accounting and finance, FRM, DipIFR, Taxation qualifications, PMP, Data analytics and business intelligence courses, etc.
Does JPMorgan hire ACCA? JP Morgan hires ACCA candidates, and many ACCA members work in their finance, risk, and reporting teams. Positions in controllership, financial analysis, regulatory reporting, and risk operations often welcome applicants with accounting qualifications.
Three months can be enough time, but typically it takes a candidate at least six months to prepare for the CFA Level 2 exam.
FCCA stands for Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a senior-level designation above ACCA.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) plans to discontinue remote examinations from March 2026, reported the Financial Times. The move will mean most candidates must return to in-person exam centres, as the organisation responds to increasing instances of exam misconduct.
Individuals who describe themselves as Chartered Certified Accountants must be members of ACCA and if they carry out public practice engagements, must comply with additional regulations such as holding a practising certificate, carrying liability insurance and submitting to inspections.
The CFA is very rigorous and even with an ACCA qualification, it is more challenging. The scope and breadth of the CFA Program curriculum: The CFA curriculum is broad, ranging from ethical standards to sophisticated financial analysis skills.
One of the main reasons many professionals pursue the CFA designation is the potential for higher earnings. The average base salaries of CFA Institute members and CFA charterholders increased at a greater rate year over year than the rate of increase for the general market.