The journey of becoming a successful finance professional starts with choosing the right qualification. In India, Chartered Accountancy (CA) is seen as the most prestigious and toughest professional program, while ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is globally recognised across 180+ countries.

Today, thousands of Indian students are discovering that combining CA + ACCA opens the door to global careers, higher salaries, multinational job opportunities, and long-term career stability.

In this blog, you’ll learn how this combination works, why companies prefer dual-qualified candidates, the exemption benefits, salary growth, and global recognition advantages in accounting careers.

Why CA + ACCA Is Considered the Most Powerful Combo in Finance

CA gives you deep Indian expertise, and ACCA gives you global-level knowledge.
Together, they make you ready for both Indian and international job markets in finance.

Here’s why the combo is unmatched:

• You become an expert in Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) + IFRS, the global reporting framework.

• You get job opportunities in Big 4, Fortune 500, MNCs, global consulting firms, and outsourcing hubs.

• ACCA offers multiple exemptions for CA students, reducing exam preparation time.

• Your salary potential increases by 40% to 70% more than doing CA alone in finance roles.

• The combo is respected across UAE, UK, Canada, Singapore, Europe, and Australia.

CA vs ACCA vs CA + ACCA (Career Power Comparison)

Feature	CA Only	ACCA Only	CA + ACCA Combo
Global Recognition	Low	Very High	Highest
Salary Growth	High	High	Very High
Job Mobility	India-Centric	Global	Global + Indian Leadership Roles
Expertise	Ind AS, Tax, Audit	IFRS, Finance	Complete Global & Indian Expertise
Big 4 Preference	High	High	Top Priority

How Doing ACCA With CA Helps You Build a Global Career

1. Global Recognition Across 180+ Countries

CA India is highly respected within the country. ACCA, however, is accepted in:

United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates
Singapore
Canada
Australia
Malaysia
European Union
Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
Hong Kong

So when you combine both qualifications, companies immediately see you as a globally adaptable finance professional, equipped for IFRS-based reporting.

This boosts your chances for roles like Auditor and Financial Planning leadership positions across global teams.

2. CA Students Get Massive ACCA Exemptions

One of the biggest reasons CA students choose ACCA is exemptions.

ACCA Exemptions for CA Students

Your Status	Total Papers in ACCA	Exemptions	Remaining Papers
CA Completed	13	9 Exemptions	Only 4 Exams
CA Inter	13	6 Exemptions	7 Exams

With only 4 exams left, most CA-qualified professionals complete ACCA in 8–12 months.

3. You Become an Expert in Ind AS + IFRS

In India, almost all listed companies now follow Ind AS, which is closely linked with IFRS.
ACCA specialises in IFRS, making you an expert in:

• Global Financial Reporting
  

• Consolidation
  

• Financial Instruments
  

• Fair Value Accounting
  

• Global Taxation Frameworks
  
  

This is the exact skillset MNCs and Big 4 want.

Skills You Gain From CA + ACCA Together

Core Area	Skills Gained
Accounting	Ind AS, IFRS, Global Reporting
Taxation	Indian + International Taxation Systems
Audit	Statutory, Internal, Global Audit
Finance	Financial Analysis, M&A, Risk, Cost Control
Corporate Skills	Leadership, Client Handling, Cross-border Operations

4. Higher Job Roles & Salaries in Big 4 and MNCs

The combination gives you access to premium jobs that require both Indian and global accounting knowledge.

Top Recruiters Include

• Deloitte
  

• PwC
  

• EY
  

• KPMG
  

• JP Morgan
  

• Goldman Sachs
  

• Amazon
  

• Accenture
  

• HSBC
  

• Grant Thornton
  
  

Salary Range Comparison

Salary Comparison (India & Abroad)

Qualification	India Salary Range	International Salary Range
CA Only	₹8–10 LPA	$40,000–$60,000
ACCA Only	₹9–11 LPA	$45,000–$70,000
CA + ACCA	₹12–25+ LPA	$70,000–$120,000

You become eligible for leadership roles earlier because companies trust your dual expertise.

5. Strong Job Security & Fast Career Growth

With automation and AI influencing accounting, companies prefer professionals who have:

• Multi-country knowledge
  

• Multi-standard reporting skills
  

• Strategic decision-making ability
  

• Adaptability to global financial frameworks
  
  

CA gives you depth.
ACCA gives you width.
Together, you become future-proof and irreplaceable.

6. Opens Pathways to Additional Global Courses

After CA + ACCA, you can easily pursue:

• CPA USA
  

• CMA USA
  

• EA (Enrolled Agent)
  

• CFA
  

Because your fundamentals in accounting and finance become extremely strong.

CA + ACCA Combo vs Other Global Courses

Combo / Course	Difficulty	Duration	Global Value	Salary Growth
CA Only	High	4–6 Years	Medium	High
ACCA Only	Medium	2–3 Years	High	High
CA + ACCA	High	5–7 Years	Very High	Very High
CA + CPA	High	1–2 Years	Medium	High
CA + CMA USA	Medium	1 Year	Medium	Medium

Conclusion

The CA + ACCA combination is not just a qualification pair — it is a career accelerator.
It gives you global recognition, worldwide job opportunities, higher salaries, respect in both Indian and international markets, future-proof career stability, and fast promotions and leadership roles.

For any CA student or qualified CA aiming for international growth, ACCA is the smartest and fastest way to expand your career globally.

NorthStar Academy – India’s Most Trusted Institute for ACCA

If you are a CA, CA Inter, or CA Finalist, NorthStar Academy provides:

9 exemption guidance
Live + recorded ACCA classes
Big 4–focused training
Placement assistance
IFRS mastery support
Complete study materials & mock tests

Start your ACCA journey with India’s best faculty.

📞 For Expert Guidance:

WhatsApp “Hi” to +91 8147470505