ACCA or MBA – which is better?

July 02, 2020
Last updated August 03, 2022

A comparison of ACCA and MBA. Doesn’t it seem fascinating that we have to make choices our entire lives? While deciding to choose the right path, it’s essential not to overlook the little yet significant things. You can read this quick guide to help you out of this academic dilemma if you are confused about completing your MBA or completing the ACCA certification.

How does ACCA work?\ We should first look at what ACCA is all about. This qualification is offered by one of the most prestigious and respected professional accounting bodies, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). By honing their capabilities and knowledge, the organization helps aspiring finance professionals develop advanced accounting skills. Accountancy, taxation, and auditing are among the knowledge areas covered by this multi-tier certification program that can ultimately serve as launching pads for the careers of accountants. For the ACCA to maintain its reputation and influence, its professionals follow a set of rules.

ACCA: Why should YOU study it?

ACCA professionals can enjoy many benefits. A member of the ACCA family is one of many skilled professionals across 179 countries affiliated with a substantial professional family. It also puts you in touch with more than 7,400 agencies and 80 accounting firms worldwide, opening up international work opportunities for students and professionals. The ACCA is an excellent option for those who want to gain specialized knowledge in finance and accounting. In addition to learning taxation, auditing, and financial management, accounting students will study business studies, law, financial reporting, and ethics.

What is MBA?

MBA! Wow! In recent years, it has been one of the most popular degrees. An MBA degree is a master’s degree in business administration, which prepares people for positions related to business. Most business schools offer a two-year course, while some offer a one-year period for those with experience. Still, all aim to prepare you for leadership and strategic roles in any organization by providing you with a sound understanding of accounting, marketing, finance, and human resources. There is a full-time MBA course and a part-time program, and a distance education program, each of which has its way of preparing you for the industry.

A comparison of ACCA and MBA. Doesn’t it seem fascinating that we have to make choices our entire lives? While deciding to choose the right path, it’s essential not to overlook the little yet significant things. You can read this quick guide to help you out of this academic dilemma if you are confused about completing your MBA or completing the ACCA certification.

How does ACCA work?

We should first look at what ACCA is all about. This qualification is offered by one of the most prestigious and respected professional accounting bodies, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). By honing their capabilities and knowledge, the organization helps aspiring finance professionals develop advanced accounting skills. Accountancy, taxation, and auditing are among the knowledge areas covered by this multi-tier certification program that can ultimately serve as launching pads for the careers of accountants. For the ACCA to maintain its reputation and influence, its professionals follow a set of rules.

ACCA: Why should YOU study it?

ACCA professionals can enjoy many benefits. A member of the ACCA family is one of many skilled professionals across 179 countries affiliated with a substantial professional family. It also puts you in touch with more than 7,400 agencies and 80 accounting firms worldwide, opening up international work opportunities for students and professionals. The ACCA is an excellent option for those who want to gain specialized knowledge in finance and accounting. In addition to learning taxation, auditing, and financial management, accounting students will study business studies, law, financial reporting, and ethics.

What is MBA?

MBA! Wow! In recent years, it has been one of the most popular degrees. An MBA degree is a master’s degree in business administration, which prepares people for positions related to business. Most business schools offer a two-year course, while some offer a one-year period for those with experience. Still, all aim to prepare you for leadership and strategic roles in any organization by providing you with a sound understanding of accounting, marketing, finance, and human resources. There is a full-time MBA course and a part-time program, and a distance education program, each of which has its way of preparing you for the industry.

An MBA is beneficial, but why should one pursue one?

Even though people are fascinated by the glamorous life of MBAs as portrayed in movies and TV series, MBAs do teach valuable business skills that will help them advance in their careers. It is true that getting into a reputable business school and then enduring its rigid course structure can be taxing; it is worth the pain because an MBA degree will help you excel in managerial roles. An MBA course is comprehensive as the syllabus touches upon all the various aspects (although not in great detail) of a general business setup. The course prepares you for working in the industry.

ACCA and MBA differences

ACCA and MBA degrees differ in several fundamental ways:

ACCA UK, which is the only body authorized to issue ACCA certification. Business schools offer MBA degrees affiliated with government-recognized universities, however, there are two certification courses:

An ACCA certification or an MBA degree, depending on your career goal. Obtaining an ACCA certification will require you to pass 14 professional examinations and gain three years of supervised accounting experience, which means it will indeed take quite a bit of time. In contrast, once you have been accepted into a good business school, you will be able to complete your full-time MBA program in one to two years, depending on the school you choose.

Modus operandi: Earning an ACCA certificate will give you a comprehensive understanding of finance and accounting. An MBA course will provide you with a more holistic overview of how an organization functions. In addition to case studies and group activities, the MBA curriculum has a report preparation component, which will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to handle business situations.

ACCA certifications cost approximately £850, whereas MBA degrees are over $65,000. MBAs are much more expensive than ACCAs, which again raises the question – what is it that you want to do as a career? It would be best if you attempted not to let the cost drive your decision too much (even though, inadvertently, it will).

Job opportunities: After completing ACCA certification, you can apply to jobs such as Accountant, Internal Auditor, Tax Management, Finance Manager, and Financial Consultant. On the other hand, the MBA degree will prepare you to become a leader in various fields.

Conclusion

So, it then gets said that an ACCA certification will help you get jobs in finance and accounting. Therefore, an MBA from a top school can help you get a managerial position in an organization. ACCA and MBA each provide pros and cons, but the choice is ultimately yours. You can specialize as an ACCA or go for an MBA to gain a broader business perspective. Our goal is to provide you with information that you can use to decide what career path you should follow.


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“NCA is Nepal’s first ACCA institute securing Gold Standard Approved Learning Partner (ALP-ST) of the ACCA with accredited recognition (2010)”.

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