About Professional Certification

Exeter is a city in transition. Like many urban centres, Exeter is undergoing significant change, much of which is financial. A survey of over 1400 residents was aimed at discovering which local government services were important, and which were less so. In the published results, civic spending was regarded as one of the least important discretionary services. In this era of increasing public clamour over government expenses in the city, accountants in Exeter play an important and critical role. To be successful, though, accountants are advised to acquire professional certifications that validate their skills. Here's a quick summary of some of the certifications available.
Types of Certifications Available for UK Accounting Professionals
Today's financial climate is quite complex, so it's no longer a simple matter just to obtain chartered accountant (CA) certification, and expect to have a prosperous career. There are many other certifications worth obtaining, including those from the following organisations:
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • Association of Accounting Technicians Certification (AAT)
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Certified Financial Manager (CFM)
  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Certification (CIMA).
  • Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA)
Which Certification Should You Seek?
Short answer: It depends. For example, if you wish to pursue a career in management accounting, then CIMA certification will be most valuable for those in the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. For accountants who intended to practice in the UK, CIMA also is a highly relevant certification, because it's considered an executive level accreditation. In addition, in the UK, the AAT and ACCA certification have value. AAT sometimes is considered an entry level certification for those who do not hold an accounting degree. AAT practitioners are familiar with issues relate to VAT, PAYE and others, and they are often referred to as "accounting technicians." For countries outside the UK, it's best to have CA (chartered accountant) credentials obtained from a certifying entity that is authorised to confer them. Certifications like that from ICMA in India and Pakistan are not widely recognized in the UK, so accountants in Exeter are advised to be circumspect regarding these.
Some Concrete Advice
Because accounting is a large, intricate, and diverse field, those who intend to obtain professional certifications need to do a thorough analysis of which certifications are the most relevant for them. It's also a good idea to investigate some of the newer categories of the profession, such as environmental and forensic accounting. In both Exeter and the UK at large, the competition for accounting jobs is fierce, so some due diligence may turn up an attractive niche that's a bit out of the mainstream, but still quite lucrative. Once you've picked your accounting sub-speciality, it's a simple matter to determine what certifications are required. Finally, be sure to consider is whether the certifications you're seeking are multinational, that is, are they recognised outside the UK?
In order to enhance their careers, accountants in Exeter should consider obtaining one or more of these important professional certifications.

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