The profession

Chartered accountants work in all fields of business and finance. Some are involved with public practice work whilst others work in the private sector or are employed by government departments. The term “Chartered Accountant SA (CA) is the title of members of SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountancy).

Chartered Accountancy is a challenging career involving trade, industry and economic growth – a profession which requires the best of technical skills in financial and management activities, including abilities crucial for deciding and professionally acting upon unique situations. With such skills and capabilities, this will present you not only with a challenge, but also lead to an equally rewarding career in commerce and industry.

Chartered accountants also offer professional services as accountants and management accountants. Rapid changes taking place in South Africa’s economy have opened up vast opportunities for chartered accountants to engage in many diverse businesses and industries.

As a result, the general public, often mistakenly, believes that all Chartered Accountants act as Auditors. Since the introduction of TOPP (Training Outside Public Practice), a large number of members have earned the designation of Chartered Accountant without any knowledge or experience in the Auditing field. Their speciality focuses on financial management, and many in fact can be found in positions of Financial Director or as managers within large corporations.