Chartered accountants work as Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, Financial Advisors or Directors (Finance) and watch over the finances in the day to day management of companies. Their main areas of work include Accountancy, Auditing, Cost accountancy, Taxation, Investigation and Consultancy. Accountants also act as directors, arbitrators for settling disputes, handling work related to insolvency, bankruptcy etc. and also as executors under a will or trust in order to carry out the administration of an estate or settlements. They are also engaged in activities like markets research, budget planning, working capital management, inventory control, policy planning, securities consultancy, registrar of issues of securities etc.

A career in finance promises a challenging and extremely rewarding professional life. On attaining qualification of a Chartered Accountants, ample of opportunities open up. Whether they work in a firm or they carry on with their own private practice, there is so much to do. Some of the opportunities available for Chartered Accountants are in capital markets, business houses and industry, consultancy firms etc. They are also engaged in activities like preparing project reports, markets research, management accounting, cost analysis, budget planning, working capital management, inventory control, policy planning, securities consultancy, registrar of issues of securities, auditing etc. With the country liberalizing its policies and approach, opportunities are expected to grow further. So it is not so diffuclt even for an entry level accountant.

Chartered Accountancy (CA) program is administered by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
To become a Chartered Accountant one has to pass the Intermediate & Final Examinations conducted by the Institute.

Eligibility for CA Program: Successful completion of the Foundation course after 10+2 or Graduation in commerce with 50% marks; Non-commerce graduates with Mathematics need to secure 60% marks and non-commerce graduates with subjects other than Mathematics with 55% of the total marks.Candidates should not be less than 18 years of age.

Foundation Course: One can join the CA course, after passing the Foundation course or the completion of Graduation with at least 50% marks. Anyone who has a 10+2 can enroll for the Foundation course. Graduates who doesn't have the required percentage of marks have to do the Foundation course. The foundation examination is held in May and November every year. Students have to ensure their registration at least 10 months before the examination. The application for registration should reach the office of the institute on or before 30th of June and for November Examination on or before 31st December of the preceding year. A candidate is declared successful in the Foundation examination if he/he secures an aggregate of 50% of the total marks in all the papers subject to a minimum of 40% marks in each paper.

Intermediate & Final Course The CA Programme is mainly divided into Intermediate and Final course. After completing the foundation or graduation one can go for Intermediate. For this, the candidate has to register as an articled clerk with a firm of chartered accountants for undergoing practical training and as a student with the Board of Studies for theoretical education. The candidate is a trainee for a period of three years. During this period he gets thorough knowledge of the various fields in which a Chartered Accountant can render services. After twelve months training one can appear for Intermediate examination and during the last six months of training can appear for Final examination. On successful completion of the Final examination one become the member of the Institute. Member of the Institute may either practice as a Chartered Accountant or go for employment.

For admission details you can visit http://www.icai.org

Hope that helps
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