ACCA is not recognized in the USA for signing audit reports because it lacks a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) or AICPA. The U.S. relies on its own CPA (Certified Public Accountant) qualification, which requires 150 hours of college education and adherence to U.S. GAAP. While ACCA holds global clout, it is not considered equivalent to the CPA for public practice in the US.
Boasting thousands of job postings within the USA, ACCA Careers should be your first step towards finding employment in the USA. Visit ACCA Careers. A local resource, AccountingFly can be a great secondary resource along with ACCA Careers.
Many students search for ACCA Jobs in the USA because the American market offers high compensation. While the USA does prioritise CPA for certain accounting roles, several opportunities still exist for global finance professionals, especially in finance operations, analytics, consolidations and risk management teams.
While Certified Public Accountant (CPA) makes you a Chartered Accountant of the US, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course makes you a global Chartered Accountant. This means you can practice Chartered Accountancy in 180 different countries.
The CPA exam is more intensive and technical, with a focus on US GAAP, audit, and taxation, whereas ACCA is broader, covering IFRS and global management concepts. The CPA is considered more rigorous in content but shorter in duration, while ACCA offers more flexibility and a gradual progression approach.
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.
ACCA pay in India varies based on years of experience and the most sought, from INR 6.4 LPA to INR 16.7 LPA. In India, the pay for a CPA professional can vary between INR 5.9 LPA (less than one year of experience) to INR 24 LPA (ten to nineteen years of expertise).
You may be eligible to apply for CPA Australia membership if you: are a current member of good standing with ACCA and not under any investigation for professional conduct infringements.
The ACCA Salary in the USA: 2025 Insights
Experience: Entry-level ACCA professionals may earn around $60,000 to $70,000 annually, while those with over five years of experience can command salaries exceeding $100,000.
Is ACCA harder than CA? Generally, CA is considered tougher because of its very low pass rates and lengthy articleship requirement in India. ACCA has a more flexible exam structure, on-demand exam options for early levels, and modular progression.
In terms of difficulty, ACCA is more difficult to complete than accounting degree as it incorporates the difficulty levels of a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree into one qualification.
The question keeps coming up: “With automation and AI advancing so fast, will accountants even be needed in the future?” According to ACCA, the answer is clear, AI won't replace accountants, but accountants who know how to work with AI will replace those who don't.
ACCA is recognised as a key qualification for accounting roles in the UK. USA – While the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the primary qualification in the USA, ACCA professionals are still highly regarded for their expertise, particularly in international financial reporting standards (IFRS).
In this blog, we have addressed the most asked questions about the ACCA qualification like, can you finish ACCA in 2 years? On average, it takes two to three years to prepare for all 13 exam papers, but you may earn the qualification in 18 months if you focus on the major eight.
ACCAs are recognized globally and are highly valued by employers. In terms of salary, ACCAs typically earn slightly less than CPAs. According to the ACCA, the average salary for ACCA members in the United States is around $75,000 per year. However, this can vary greatly depending on experience, location, and industry.
Five highly successful accountant entrepreneurs
Difficulty Analysis
Both ACCA and CMA are rigorous qualifications; however, ACCA may be considered more challenging due to the number of exams and broader scope. CMA is highly focused on management accounting and corporate finance, making it ideal for those who prefer a narrower specialization.
- 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.
CA and ACCA are two independent bodies, and you can take up the exam anytime, side by side according to your convenience.
First, the US CPA has fewer sections (4 exam sections vs 13 papers for the ACCA Qualification), but they are all hard. In fact, the US CPA pass rate hovers around 45-55%. Likewise, the ACCA estimates their mean pass rate is about 55%. However, CPA candidates can benefit from studying with a review course.
While ACCA has a wider global reach as compared to CA, the salary one can achieve as an ACCA has more growth. CA, on the other hand, has a great demand in India.