Any advice/help on pursueing a CA

[Qwerty]

So heres my problem...

I graduated UoC with a Bachelors of Commerce, majoring in Finance.

Recently i have decided I am not that into Finance (Banking etc) and would much rather do accounting as I like rules and numbers.

However when ive looked into finishing up the coursed i need to become a CA i keep getting stuck at dead ends.

The only thing ive found is a CA Bridging Program through the UoL but classes are only offered evenings/weekends and would take me 18months to finish last 7 courses.

There has to be a faster way? I would ideally like to do a few courses over the summer, and finish the rest in september at UoC or something.

Ive tried talking to UoC and since ive done a business degree there alrdy, i could only enrol in the classes after all students have which seems like it may be really hard to finish up what i need.

Has anyone done a similiar thing as I and have any idea / advice on how I can accomplish what I want without going through this bridging program and dealin with 18months of evening classes to finish 7 courses?

Thanks

[Deegee]

You could take some courses through Athabasca, couldn't you?

http://www.athabascau.ca/

http://business.athabascau.ca/titanw...5?OpenDocument

[Qwerty]

Ive thought about that as well, only problem ive had is trying to get in contact with anyone from CASB to see if it will work.

The CA Bridgin program kept preaching that I had to do it through them to count and If i did it on own (courses) they may not 'count' when I apply to CASB... It sounded like a whole bunch of crap to me, but I really dont know.

Has anyone done courses on their own as of late then got into CASB?

[Kybosh]

All those poor accountants at my work seem to do all the CA stuff through the company. Maybe just try to get a job with an accounting firm?

Don't take my word for it though. I ain't no accountant.

[mrkajz44]

Check this link out:

http://www.casb.com/index.php?catid=30

It shows the kinds of course you need to get in, and shows the equivalent courses offered by many institutions.

As for the U of C registration process, I think you might be SOL there as they are preaching about how you will graduate in four years guaranteed. Maybe talk to a dean and explain your situation and you might get a better shake.

EDIT: I assume you are wondering about finishing courses to get into the CASB program itself, and you are not asking about CASB modules

[Shaggin Wagon]

See if CA has an Alberta chapter. They should tell you which institutions you can take courses.

I'm working toward the CGA designation. The CGA of Alberta has a program set up to complete your CGA. You take the course through them (all quiz/assignments are Blackboard and Exams at UofC or MRU). It not cheap and takes a long time as it is set up for people that are working full time. I find it convenient.

[THE SCUD]

I am a CA - PM me any questions and I can try and help.

1) You can, at worst, take the 12 month CA bridge program through UBC, but you'd have to move to BC. However, there has to be a similiar program here in Calgary. the BC program is designed specifically for finance majors to get the accting pre-recs and get into CASB ASAP.

3) It's not hard - look at the CASB pre-reqs, cross off what you have. Go to UofC (if that's where you went?) and take the courses you need (assuming you're allowed and you didnt do your finance degree 3_ years ago or whatever their cut off is).

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by Shaggin Wagon

See if CA has an Alberta chapter. They should tell you which institutions you can take courses.

I'm working toward the CGA designation. The CGA of Alberta has a program set up to complete your CGA. You take the course through them (all quiz/assignments are Blackboard and Exams at UofC or MRU). It not cheap and takes a long time as it is set up for people that are working full time. I find it convenient.

*insert required CA potshot at CGAs here*

[THE SCUD]

Here is what you have to take: http://casb.com/pdf/University_of_Calgary_2007.pdf

Go back to UofC and take what you don't have - if you can, do 5/6 courses a semester, with a BComm in in you are looking at 2 semesters, tops.

[THE SCUD]

This is the easiest fast way, short of you getting back into UofC to get the 7 courses you say you need:

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Programs/Diploma_in_Accounting

[loob job]

Take your cga, easier, and they are the exact same as CA's except they can't sign off on audits, who cares about that though.

[Locke]

If you're pursuing a CA you're in luck, they usually cant run very fast.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by loob job

Take your cga, easier, and they are the exact same as CA's except they can't sign off on audits, who cares about that though.

Rightfully or wrongfully, if you are ambitious and want to climb high in the corporate ladder, then CA is the best choice to go. I'm a CMA, and I fully admit having a CA will generally get you further ahead than CMA and CGA. Now I'm not saying all CA's are better, but the perception in the business world is that CA's are the ones you hire.

The biggest difference between CA's and the other 2 are the vast amounts of exposure they get from auditing different companies. That's a huge advantage.

All I'm saying is, if you have a choice between the 3, go for the CA. Nobody ever decides to go for a CGA or a CMA over a CA becuase they want to. They do so because they're forced to (ie. back up plan since CA didn't work out). That's the reality.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by loob job

Take your cga, easier, and they are the exact same as CA's except they can't sign off on audits, who cares about that though.

CGAs are not the exact same as CAs. As a CA, I take offense to the implication that they are. There are some really good CGAs, CMAs and CAs and there are some bad apples in each group too. There is also a reason companies pay more for CAs than other groups, as the training we received is far superior. It's harder, it sucks and it drains you mentally and physically, but a newly qualified CA is more prepared, seasoned and has greater exposure to the business world than other accounting designations.

Once you leave public practice your experience in your new job could mirror a CMA or CGA, but a CA will likely start higher up in the company and make more initially. What you do for the company after you are hired will then affect how you are paid, so you can't coast on it forever.

I was hired as a controller of a real estate development and capital company. My boss is a CA and his boss is a CA. There is no chance they would have hired a CGA who graduated school the same time as I did. If I wasn't available, they would have hired a different CA.

[The Yen Man]

For some reason, my fellow CMAs and other CGAs I talk to take offense when I flat out tell them CA is the better career path if given the choice. I don't really understand, since this is the reality in the corporate world. It's like they are deluding themselves if they think they're on equal standing. Most publicly traded companies won't even consider you for a controller or higher position unless you have a CA. I know my company doesn't.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Qwerty

So heres my problem...

I graduated UoC with a Bachelors of Commerce, majoring in Finance.

Recently i have decided I am not that into Finance (Banking etc) and would much rather do accounting as I like rules and numbers.

However when ive looked into finishing up the coursed i need to become a CA i keep getting stuck at dead ends.

The only thing ive found is a CA Bridging Program through the UoL but classes are only offered evenings/weekends and would take me 18months to finish last 7 courses.

There has to be a faster way? I would ideally like to do a few courses over the summer, and finish the rest in september at UoC or something.

Ive tried talking to UoC and since ive done a business degree there alrdy, i could only enrol in the classes after all students have which seems like it may be really hard to finish up what i need.

Has anyone done a similiar thing as I and have any idea / advice on how I can accomplish what I want without going through this bridging program and dealin with 18months of evening classes to finish 7 courses?

Thanks

It depends on what courses you need and your living situation. You can take seven courses in one semester if you live at home and want to dedicate your time to studying. You could be part time for eight months and finish that way. I'm guessing some of the courses you need have prerequisites you haven't taken either, so you won't be able to do them all at once. Since you have a BComm, it is likely it will take less than 18 months. You can do courses at a University while taking some through Athabasca at the same time.

My best advice is to call the Institute of CAs of Alberta and tell them your situation. They'll put you in touch with people in their group who can guide you on the right path. I wouldn't email them, because based on your post, you still need to take an English and a Communications course.

You also need to look at getting hired so you can article at a CA firm. Recruiting is usually done in October of one year for a September start in the following year. There are always exceptions, but that is how most CAs go through the process. You can look at summer student positions to get in the door and there are also industry jobs that are available and count towards your articling period. Those are fairly new and I don't have any experience with them though.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I was hired as a controller of a real estate development and capital company. My boss is a CA and his boss is a CA. There is no chance they would have hired a CGA who graduated school the same time as I did. If I wasn't available, they would have hired a different CA.

CA is generally the better designation. But once you are in the industry, the differences aren't that apparent. I've seen CMA/CGA in a big company making $150K as an analyst plus bonus and perks. And I've seen CAs doing contract work for very little. It's all over the map, CAs have some theoretical advantages over CMA/CGA for sure. But in reality, the differences aren't as material as you might think.

Marvin Romanow was the CFO of Nexen two years ago, and he is what? An engineer without a CA or even CMA/CGA.

The truth is people are much better educated nowadays and luster of the letters, be it CA/CFA/CMA and some such don't count for much nowadays.

[Shaggin Wagon]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Nobody ever decides to go for a CGA or a CMA over a CA becuase they want to. They do so because they're forced to (ie. back up plan since CA didn't work out). That's the reality.

that is a dis. Or it could be that they got a Science degree and then decided to go the accounting route. (FYI it was the Actuary plan that didn't work out).

Since we are on the subject, anyone need to hire a Jr. accountant?

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Shaggin Wagon

that is a dis. Or it could be that they got a Science degree and then decided to go the accounting route. (FYI it was the Actuary plan that didn't work out).

Since we are on the subject, anyone need to hire a Jr. accountant?

But hypothetically, if you came out with a Science degree, and decided to do accounting, and both routes (CA vs. CGA) were equally available and both equal in workload, would you not have gone the CA route?

[dissentowner]

I would first learn how to spell such words as pursuing.