MBA (Finance) OR CA......Which is better?

This is what I answered: CA is a good and rewarding career although, like in medicine, building a practice from scratch takes time. Of course, there is the option of working for someone else -- CAs are in demand in the industry like never before.

KPOs, equity analysis and accounting firms employ a lot of CAs at very good salaries. But remember, it can be a very boring profession if you don't like working with numbers. So don't make a choice based only on the job potential!

Half-a-dozen readers sent in angry emails saying that Chartered Accountancy was a great profession -- and that I was projecting a wrong picture. That no profession can be termed as 'boring'.

Well, I'm afraid I can't be politically correct and will go out on a limb to say that CA -- despite being a respectable profession with great career prospects -- has lost out to the MBA. And, like it or not, this trend will only grow stronger.

The ABCD of CA

Ask most engineers why they did a BE and they'll tell you: "That's what all bright students who opt for science do... unless they want to do medicine."

The situation is something similar with CA. "That's what all bright commerce students do... unless they want to do MBA." Of course, the situation is a bit different. Even those doing the CA may eventually top it off with an MBA.

The difference between the CA and MBA is a bit like the difference between a five day test match and one day cricket. Acquiring a CA takes a lot of plodding and perseverance; at the end of the day, a result may prove inconclusive.

The MBA, like one day cricket, is quick, glamorous and performers get faster recognition as stars.

Okay, let's not stretch it. One day or five day -- in both cases, the players hold a bat and throw a ball. In case of CA and MBA, there is a difference. Both may join the same companies, but their job profiles would be completely distinct.

This is not to say that one job is 'superior' to the other. But the fact is that, starting as a CA, you can expect to climb up the ladder upto the CFO position. While an MBA's career path could -- in theory -- lead upto CEO. There are notable exceptions such as Deepak Parekh of HDFC [ Get Quote ], but, generally, this holds true.
Why MBAs are preferred

The reason is simple: being CEO is about vision and leadership. This would require you -- at times -- to take a leap of faith, even when the numbers are against you. For example, you diversify into a new area of business. This may mean investing a lot of money, literally burning cash in the initial phase. It may look very bad on the balance sheet for a while, but there is a gameplan and eventually it pays off.

MBAs are exposed to all aspects of the business -- their role is to take a bird's eye view of the organisation. On the other hand, CAs are trained to look at the eye of the fish. And they do a damn good job of it.

But should a CA decide to throw down his accounting and auditing arrow and don a different hat, it is not easy. The mobility into general management and consulting that comes with an MBA from a premier institute is missing for CAs. Even though the CA has battled equally hard; a rank holder in particular would be one among several thousand aspirants.

Overall, it appears that MBAs score when it comes to communication skills, presentation and customer orientation. The 'soft skills' so crucial for success in today's corporate world.

The bottomline is that certain jobs are purely in the CA domain: Statutory & Regulatory compliance, Consolidations, Taxation, International Accounting (GAAP), Internal Audit, Systems Audit, Transaction Advisory -- to name a few.

Other profiles are available to both CA s and MBAs: MIS, Budgeting forecasting, Business Planning, Equity Research, Treasury, Investment Banking, Mergers and Acquisitions, Portfolio management, Fund management, Sector Analysis.

However, these are diversified roles. Many employers prefer to hire MBAs from premier institutes for these roles, as it is felt they are more equipped to provide insight and analysis.

Does a CA + MBA combination provide an extra edge? Well, it never hurts to have a double degree but there's no sure fire formula to become a finance whizkid. An engineer + MBA or a B Com with a degree from a top 10 institute stands an equal chance!
 
Hey my dear friend first of all tell me whether u r doing CA or MBA bcoz if u r doing MBA & posting such questions i think u r lacking self confidence . If u r confident u wouldn't be asking this question. I feel both MBA(Finance) & CA's have very good career opportunities. It depends on how u see it. MBA's are more suitable for top management positions where a lot of analytical & decision making skills r required whereas CA's are specially suitable for auditing jobs as it requires indepth accounting knowledge . I hope u r now clear about it my dear friend.
 
I think MBA Finance is better in the current world scenario as they can be a company asset by managing resources by analysing of the company finances.
 
Hi:
CA and MBA (finance) are different as they both cocentrate on two different aspects of finance field. They also come togather at a high level jobs (M&A managing financial firm at a manregerial level in dicission making process for co.s investments and in how to the co .should work etc) MBA is most probably into investments banking, NBFS, stocks, analisys, etc and C A is into more of a/c audit tax etc . At entry level one may see both working on the same domen(KPO brokerage firm etc) but in further or higher level job both has its vital role to play.
Eg : CA tries and make blance sheet look very well and understands the particular co. very well as per his knoledge and analisys so that people look on to the co. invest and be in top of the sector however MBA (f) will look at the balance sheet and make dicissions of investments and future prospects about co.
Now at some times both may seem to be of the same and different importance at the same point . CA or MBA(f) one of them may not have a vital role to play in a particular industry or a field and the other may have it.
If we talk about knowledge MBA (f) wont have good knowlede of A/C.s like that of CA however has more of prectical knowledge of its own cource (I-banking Commercial banking merchant banking ) and CA may have the same topics as that of MBA (f) however may not have the latest and practical knowledge like that of MBA(f).
So one may not be able to decide to whether CA or MBA (f) who is of more importance or better.
I am a student so may not be perfect however I got the info from my faculties and other experience people from the industeirs so if any one disagree plz feel ferr to let me know where I am wrong as it may rectify my interpretation of the topic and knowledge of market and time.
 
but mba finanace is always an added advantage over ca as they have also management skills in them otherwise ca wouldnt go for mba.thats why mba rocks
 
There's a distinct caste system in the MBA field though, isn't there? I mean the CA qualification is issued centrally and a CA from anywhere in India would be treated at par. Whereas there's a world of difference between an MBA from an IIM or any other A-grade b-school and an MBA from the other colleges in terms of the opportunities available. So to answer the question, one would have to ask "MBA from where?".
 
i feel CA's and MBA's both have equal n ample of opportunities with respect to career opportunities it all depends from which institute the person has doen MBa and what exposure the CA or MBA has got
 
CA definitely has much more value than an MBA. However, the pass % of CA is very low. Also the course is very demanding with regards to time, effort and stress levels. As a result, many who take up CA studies are not able to complete it. On the other hand, once you secure admission to MBA you are sure to pass out with the degree.
 
i feel CA as a profession is much more secure and superior...
while MBA in finance depends on - frm which college u graduated.!
 
We all know CAs have Better and indepth Knowledge about Finance. But they Lack Managerial Skills. MBA( Finance ) can take Financial Decisions better. They know how to use info and apply.
In my opnion this Equation works:
MBA (Finance )= Manager + Finance knowledge.
CA = Only Finance knowledge.
So..MBA(FIN) is better.
 
Any studies in this case where u r studying is not a matter. how & what u r doing is matter. besides the MBA finance is good. CA is have better knowledge, have indepth exposure, analytical of fact and figure is more in CA. e.g how to read balance sheet,read the position of the company depends on assets and liabilities etc., one can able to analyse then it is o.k. mere studying is not sufficent. how to apply and manage that is more important.
 
This is what I answered: CA is a good and rewarding career although, like in medicine, building a practice from scratch takes time. Of course, there is the option of working for someone else -- CAs are in demand in the industry like never before.
 
Why MBAs are preferred

The reason is simple: being CEO is about vision and leadership. This would require you -- at times -- to take a leap of faith, even when the numbers are against you. For example, you diversify into a new area of business. This may mean investing a lot of money, literally burning cash in the initial phase. It may look very bad on the balance sheet for a while, but there is a gameplan and eventually it pays off.:SugarwareZ-288:
 
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