CA vs CS

CA or Chartered Accountant is an exam conducted by ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) and is taken by individuals keen on learning accountancy, audit, and taxation. Whereas CS or Company Secretary is an exam conducted by ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) and is pursued by individuals interested in managing a company's legal matters.

Chartered accountant (CA) and company secretary (CS) are important certifications for accounting professionals. While some duties are common, the two professional designations are very different. For example, while a CA is primarily engaged in accounting functions, a CS is involved in corporate compliance and liaising with the shareholders through accounting and reporting.

To get a detailed purview of both the courses, let's look at the following sections step by step.

Choosing the better certification course revolves around what the aspirant wants to do in their career. For example, candidates who wish to become specialists in international accounting standards should pursue CA. In contrast, candidates who wish to work in corporate compliance should opt for CS. Let us understand the different aspects of the two certification courses in more detail in the following sections.

As a CA, one develops more of a quantitative bent of mind than a qualitative, while a CS becomes more adept at taking a qualitative approach. Invariably, the CAs have good analytical skills. They are very good with numbers as they need to be accurate, and there is no room for errors. On the other hand, CS candidates are very good in legal management and communication as they are usually a part of the advisory body of the board of directors or CXOs.

In either CA or CS, a candidate needs to clear three levels. However, the time required to complete them differs from the course structure and the professional training requirement. On average, a candidate takes 4 to 5 years to complete CA, while CS is a relatively shorter course, and a candidate usually takes 2 to 3 years to complete it.

An aspiring candidate can pursue either CA or CS after completing the 12th standard (HSC). An applicant with graduation in commerce doesn't need to appear for the CS Foundation exam (level I); however, no such exclusion is provided for the CA certification. A 3-year articleship is mandatory for a CA candidate, while a CS candidate must take 15 months of management training.

The syllabus of CA focuses on domains such as finance, accounting, taxation, banking, etc. Some of the major subjects include accounting fundamentals, auditing & assurance, cost accounting & financial management, direct taxes, management accounting & financial analysis, etc. On the other hand, the syllabus of CS helps in becoming an expert in company law, and some of the major subjects include basic economics & business environment, tax laws, general & commercial laws, company law, banking & insurance – law & practice, economic labor & industrial laws, etc.

After becoming a CA, one can apply for accounting, auditing, consultancy, taxation, etc. In contrast, as a CS, one can apply as strategic managers, legal experts, executive secretaries to CXOs, corporate planners, chief advisors to boards, etc. In the UK, the median salary is around $44,000, while it is about $11,000 in India. In the UK, the average salary of a CS is around $51,000, while it is around $8,000 in India. It is important to understand that the potential compensation primarily depends on work location, type of training, and years of experience.

The exam fees for both CA and CS are very low. While the CA course costs around $950, the CS course costs around $500. The difficulty level is very high in both cases, which can be ascertained from their low passing rates. The below table represents the outcome of the CA exams held during November 2019.

The below table represents the outcome of the CS exams held during June 2019.

Usually, the CA exams are conducted during May and November every year, while the exams for CS take place during June and December every year. The upcoming exams for CA are expected to start from 21st January 2021, while that of ICAI are scheduled to start from 1st June 2021.

To enroll for the CA course, one needs to visit the official website of ICAI, register for various programs at student services, and make the fee payment for the relevant exam. On the other hand, to enroll for the CS course, one needs to visit the official website ICSI, register at online services, and make the fee payment for the relevant exam.

You will get the best results if you do both courses. But it's not easy to pursue both of the courses simultaneously. If you want to pursue even one of these, remember it's a full-time job. Part-time study will not help you crack these exams. It would help if you studied hard. So go through the above details and pick what best suits you.

This has been a guide to CA vs. CS. Here we discuss the details of both courses and how they help students get ahead in their professional careers. You may also have a look at the following articles –

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