Even if I want to be an accountant??? Please explain. Pretty sure if Greenie’s firm was going to hire me as an accountant they would be looking for a CPA and couldn’t give two shits about my CFA designation. And if I was going to hire somebody, I wouldn’t care much about their CPA designation. Do CFA sharterholders practice accounting in India?? That would be a strange law. If compensation is what you are talking about, Rock star >>>>>CFA/CPA/ACCA. I suggest you don’t waste time on any designation and practice your vocals. And if difficulty is the issue, I don’t see why it matters. Nobody is going to make me a CPA because I passed some test that are supposedly harder than the accounting exams. Okay, I’m losing my mind. The chances of me commenting on this in real life approach, if not are, zero. Going to require more than an internet connection as my filter in the future.
You got me wrong.
I was just trying to say that CFA>>CPA/ACCA etc…if you are looking to work in finance and investment.I am assuming that people commenting on forums like AF are either working or willing to work in finance/ investment related jobs.
If you want to work in accounts/audit related jobs then,CA/CPA/ACCA>>>CFA.
Hallelujah!!!
Reputation of the average Indian just took a battering in this Forum. Anyway, I’m a CA student pursuing CFA too. Just my opinion that both of them gel perfectly if you are planning to get into finance. An MBA is a must if you want to get into IB, though your performance on the job is obviously all that counts once you enter any industry. CFA L1 would be a cakewalk for you Anupriya.
My two cents.
Thank you. For the positivity! 
Hello Everyone, this is my first comment, i have been following AF for quite a sometime now but this is one of those thread which made me to create an account and write a cooment. I know i am a bit late but i thought to express my views. First of all i am not interested in offending anyone here just putting forward my views.
RR: I agree with some of your points which you put forward that people who are not doing engineering or medical are asked to appear for CA. But in addition to it i totally disagree about your views that CFA is better than any MBA degree from Indian Institutes (IIM, XLRI and some) i suppose are better. One more thing what makes Indian exams tough (if not content as you say so) is the competition with passing rates as low as 1/2/3% for some exams. My views and i am open for healthy discussion on it.
And I thing one should no be so critical about someone qualification and should respect that.
Anupriya: While going through your comments and judging by your background i think Level I should not be that challenging for you given your CA and economics background. CFA L1 is not that tough as you are thinking. If you are able to complete the course and do some practice i think you will be able to crack it and just try to complete the course and be strong and nail it.
IIMS are better than CFA in Indian context only(not all IIMs only IIM A,B,C).If we talk globally then in the field of asset management CFA is more valued than MBA.But for IB perhaps a top MBA is better than CFA.I think you know this facts as you are following AF for a while now.
Passrates in Indian exams are lower since there are many candidates who are perhaps underprepared but still take the exams as fees are very low.People taking CFA generally have good educational background or work ex and are very serious about the CFA exams as thousands of $s are at stake.
Regarding corruption in Indian examinations:Like i have said earlier that CAT/IIT are perhaps the best administered exams in India.However the same cannot be said about Indian CA exams.
CFA/FRM are an over kill for Indian market and hence they are not in demand among local employers.
FRM was never in demand anywhere.
I agree that CFA gives you a global exposure as it is conducted globally, but as we know only clearing all the three levels of CFA won’t guarantee you a job, but doing an MBA from tier1 colleges might and if talk in Indian context still i think we might face more supply than demnad in this field.
Passrates in Indian exams are lower since many underprepared students appear is a valid point and i guess that would be not ideal to compare the exams as we always are biased towards the exam we are preparing for or already appeared and i personally don’t know how difficult is to crack CA though i have some relatives who are CA but i guess i not the right person to comment on it.
Thanks again for the positive help
accept <If you do decide, after due thought, to pursue the CFA program, stick to your decision. do not let anyone scare you. It is tough ,like any professional course. >
Not sure u guys still exist on this thread, but I am new to this forum…and I was having a boring Friday at office…and I happen to casually browse thru certain AF forums until I landed upon this classic thread…sheer entertainment…thanks for making my day…have’nt laughed so much from the start of this week
P.S: Anupriya, hope you aced CFA level 1 by now…Good Luck
@Rahul, I am a CFA charterholder making negative amounts per month, so not all CFA will not work for $300 a month.
In fact, I would love to have a job paying $300 a month, I was making more before I received the CFA charter.
Did you cross someone on your previous job?