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Be a fully qualified CA Sri Lanka Chartered Accountant in just three years and enjoy unlimited international mobility
View(s):In a world of intense challenges and complexities and amidst a multitude of qualifications offered both locally and overseas, one qualification has stood the test of time for over 60 years, which is the globally recognised Chartered Accounting professional qualification offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka).
CA Sri Lanka stakes claim to being a world class professional body and is today recognised as the preferred destination for accounting education in the country. The Institute boasts of a mammoth student population of nearly 30,000 hailing from all over Sri Lanka and from all walks of life. Many of the students who have qualified at CA Sri Lanka as Chartered Accountants are today driving businesses both big and small, across multiple sectors and industries.
Chartered Accountants of CA Sri Lanka are reputed locally as well as globally and are identified as a brand of unique and versatile professionals, with the ability to steer any business successfully. CA Sri Lanka has produced over 7,000 members, who are recognised for their professional integrity, exceptional technical and perceptive skills, as well as financial discipline and out of the box thinking, which helps them add value to their organisations and thereby contribute towards the national economy.
The portfolio of CA Sri Lanka qualified Chartered Accountants range from Chairmen, Partners, Managing Directors, Finance Directors, CEOs, CFOs, General Managers, Financial Consultants and Controllers, Senior Finance Managers and Audit Managers, among other high-profile designations.
CA Sri Lanka qualified Chartered Accountants also enjoys global mobility, and apart from spearheading businesses across multiple industries in Sri Lanka, they are also in demand with a significant percent of CA Sri Lanka members working in nearly 40 countries, spanning from Australia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia to South Asia.
CA Sri Lanka’s qualified professionals are synonymous for success, and students who follow the professional qualification offered by CA Sri Lanka have a unique advantage of earning a reputed accounting qualification within the shores of Sri Lanka, which enjoys respect and recognition all over the world.
President of CA Sri Lanka Mr. Manil Jayesinghe said that with the right amount of dedication, commitment, and focus, students of CA Sri Lanka have progressed to become successful professionals. “You need to dedicate just three years of your life for this course, but once you complete the programme successfully, the dividends will be immediate,” he said.
According to Mr. Jayesinghe, CA Sri Lanka’s primary focus is to produce exceptionally skilled professionals with the right vision, foresight and expertise who possess the ability to carry out their professional duties going beyond the stipulated expectations.
“The CA qualification has been structured in a unique manner to ensure students gain the required competencies and skills at the time they exit the programme. A professional qualification is recognised for the firm foundation it lays in a student’s life,” he said.
Mr. Jayesinghe noted that anyone can become a Chartered Accountant with the right amount of commitment, focus and hard work. “A Chartered Accountant sits in the nerve centre of an organisation and they play an important role in ensuring the success and sustainability of an organisation. So, as a responsible professional body, we must ensure we produce professionals par excellence with the right skills and expertise who can contribute towards the success. This is why we don’t focus only on theory, but we also make training during the course mandatory, so they have the required expertise when they transition from student to professional,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of CA Sri Lanka, Ms. Dulani Fernando said that if a student registers for the Chartered Accountant professional programme soon after successfully completing the GCE A/L exam, they can complete the programme within just three years and become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant at just 23 years old. “Today, many of our students have completed their exams and training at the age of 23 years and have successfully transitioned into becoming young professionals and are enjoying the benefits of the qualification by being employed at leading companies,” she said.
“One reason CA Sri Lanka’s qualification stands out despite the various challenges, is that it is contemporary, and professionals who possess this qualification have the inbuilt skills and competencies in a range of areas spanning from finance, management, business, strategy and leadership, which is why they can hold top corporate positions including c-suite executive positions,” she said.
23-year-old Dihan Udugampola said that he completed the CA Sri Lanka programme in just four years, contrary to belief that the CA programme takes time to complete and is tough.
“I started my CA journey soon after my advanced level exam, because I wanted a head start in my professional accounting career with the best accounting qualification, which is why I chose CA Sri Lanka. I sat for my first exam in 2016 and was able to complete the entire Executive Level and two subjects in the Business Level within that year.
In early 2017, Dihan gained admission to university, and according to him, the knowledge he gained from pursuing the CA Sri Lanka programme was of immense help towards his undergraduate studies.
“I was proactive in pursuing practical training even before entering the university, which helped me immensely when I was following the Strategic Level of the CA Programme. Thus, I was able to complete both my degree and the CA Sri Lanka professional qualification simultaneously. Today, I am proud to say that I have successfully completed the CA programme at the age of 23,” he said.
CA Sri Lanka enjoys numerous agreements with leading internationally reputed accounting bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ), CPA Australia, and CPA Ireland which paves way for CA Sri Lanka qualified Chartered Accountants to enjoy greater mobility across any part of the globe.
CA Sri Lanka is also the only professional body in the country to offer a dual membership pathway simultaneously with ICAEW for the benefit of its students following the CA Sri Lanka programme. To obtain the dual membership from CA Sri Lanka and ICAEW, students must complete 2 out of 5 subjects from the CA Sri Lanka Strategic Level and 3 subjects from the ICAEW Advanced Level.
The CA Sri Lanka programme is offered at three ascending levels, and at each level, the student receives a recognised qualification which guarantees employability. Students who follow the CA programme have the option of exiting as a Certified Business Accountant (CBA) after completing the Business Level or exit as a Certified Corporate Accountant (CCA) after completing the Corporate Level and or as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) after completing the Strategic Level, which is the final level.
A CBA can engage as an accountant in the SME sector, while a CCA can serve as an accountant in a large organisation. An ACA possess the compatibility to be a CFO and even a CEO of a range of organisations including top corporates and conglomerates.
A key feature of the CA Sri Lanka qualification is that apart from the global respect the qualifications command, all levels of the qualification enjoy employability, thereby making it a discerning choice among aspiring accountants.