The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently launched a virtual career guidance session aimed at reconnecting with lapsed students. The session titled “Reset – Refresh – Renew” targeted CA students who dropped out mid-way during the programme.
During the highly interactive session, students were educated on the importance of the qualification, its global mobility and also how to fast-track their journey to become Chartered Accountants as well as the early exit routes the qualification offers.
The session encouraged lapsed students to reconnect with CA Sri Lanka and successfully complete the benchmark CA qualification which commands local and global respect and recognition.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to encourage lapsed students to re-join CA Sri Lanka and complete their lifelong ambition of becoming recognised Accounting professionals. Lapsed students who joined the virtual guidance session were provided with the necessary expert guidance and advice on how to move forward and why it is important to complete the qualification, despite difficult circumstances the students face from time to time, ranging from personal issues to financial constraints.
During the session, a comprehensive presentation was conducted on the CA course units, course structure, progression rules and importance of the various pillars as per the CA Sri Lanka curriculum, after which a Q & A session ensued where the students were given a platform to ask questions in relation to the programme and other matters including CA exams and obtain answers in real-time.
The students were educated on the benefits of the early exit routes and the advantages of becoming a Certified Business Accountant (CBA), upon successful completion of the Business Level and or becoming a Certified Corporate Accountant (CCA) upon completion of the Corporate Level. Students who complete the Strategic Level, which is the third and final level of the CA programme will obtain the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) qualification, which is identified as the benchmark qualification of CA Sri Lanka and has been in existence for more than 60 years.
A CBA can engage as an accountant in the SME sector, while a CCA can serve as a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or Accountant in a medium to large organisation. CBAs and CCAs can also seek employment overseas, as both qualifications are recognized as mid-level accounting qualifications. The CA Sri Lanka qualification leading to become an ACA can be completed in just three years. Further, professionals who possess the CA qualification have the inbuilt skills and competencies in a range of areas spanning from finance, management, business, strategy and leadership, which is why a fully qualified Chartered Accountant from CA Sri Lanka can hold top corporate positions including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at corporates.
CA Sri Lanka will take this initiative forward by conducting similar sessions every month on various topics to help CA students clear their concerns whilst also improving their knowledge which will allow them to successfully complete the Chartered Accounting programme.
CA Sri Lanka is also the only professional body in the country to offer a dual membership pathway simultaneously with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). To obtain the dual membership from CA Sri Lanka and ICAEW, CA Sri Lanka students must complete 2 out of 5 subjects from the CA Sri Lanka Strategic Level and 3 subjects from the ICAEW Advanced Level.