TOP 8 LONG-TERM COURSES IN FINANCE IN INDIA

It is a rigorous course in the field of Accounting & Finance, which opens the doors to various career options in the financial domain. CAs are sought after by almost every business house for corporate finance, auditing, taxation, accounting, and legal counsel. Several banks and financial services firms look for CAs to fill their various financial analysis roles. CAs can also start their own practice soon after qualifying.

If there is any career option that is most coveted after the Chartered Accountancy in India, it is the Masters in Finance or Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from tier I institutes. It is a career field which requires one to have skills in mathematics, economics, and financial theory, all of which are further polished for specialization in the field of finance.

While MBA Finance offers specialization on business and finance domain, there are certain areas which fall outside the purview of MBA Finance. This is an era of super specialization and industry demands degrees which are focussed. CFA is one such focussed certification for those interested in making a career in investment analysis, security analysis and financial management.

Just like the CA qualification in India, the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is the highest professional qualification related to accounting in the U.S. One can move towards becoming a practicing CPA by taking the Uniform CPA exam conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) based in the UK is the largest professional body of management accountants. They along with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA – the body that conducts the CPA exam) conduct a highly respected global program called the CIMA Professional Qualification.

For those who have an inclination towards financial accountancy, taxation, audit, internal audit and pricing, “Chartered Certified Accountant” is one qualification worth considering. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a UK-based body which offers this global certification in Accountancy. ACCA is recognized in over 78 markets and has more than 80 international accountancy body partnerships.

The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI), formerly the ICWAI (Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India) is the only institution of India which offers Cost Accountancy education in the country. ICWA course has now been renamed as CMA which now stands for Cost Management Accounting. This course is a blend of costing and management accounts, which is highly demanded in the finance sector today. This course comprises of three stages, i.e. CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate and CMA Final.

For a focussed career in risk management, FRM is the ultimate choice. Offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP, USA), Financial Risk Managers is a globally recognized professional certification for banking and finance professionals. FRM holders can explore many rewarding career options in Risk Management, Trading, Structuring, Modelling, etc. Positions such as Chief Risk Officer, Head of Operational Risk, Senior Risk Analyst, and Investment Risk Management are few of the designations that FRM holders can be placed at.