Chartered Accountant (CA) is among India’s most reputed and sought-after professions. Getting the ‘CA’ title behind your name requires a lot of hard work and effort. The CA program curriculum is vast and exhaustive. Articleship is a mandatory part of the CA program. People aspiring to be chartered accountants must go through a three years articleship period. Candidates aspiring for CA have to find the articleship opportunity by themselves. They have to work under a practising CA to learn the practical aspect of things. Getting an articleship opportunity at a reputed firm can be a game-changer for CA aspirants. Read on to learn more about CA articleship and the top CA firms in India.
Understanding the concept of articleship
A CA articleship can be explained as a training program for CA students that’s required after completion of an academic degree. It is a mandatory part of becoming a CA. The articleship lasts for three years, and students are trained in the practical aspect of accounting work. Getting the right articleship opportunity can open new doors for CA students. The top CA firms always look out for the best talent as they don’t want to compromise with the work. There are two categories of CA students, and the eligibility for a CA articleship varies based on the category. Let’s take a quick look at the eligibility criteria for both.
- Articleship eligibility for direct entrants
Direct entrants are people who have already completed their graduate program. Commerce graduates should have a minimum score of 55%, whereas graduates from other disciplines must have a minimum score over 60% to be eligible for enrolment. Students who meet this basic criterion have to register for both groups of the IPCC at the official ICAI website. In addition, they must complete 35 hours of orientation and 100 hours of Information Technology Training (ITT) before starting an articleship.
- Articleship eligibility for CPT students
The criteria for starting an articleship for CPT students are more straightforward than for direct entrants. They must pass either group 1 or both groups of the IPCC program. Additionally, they must complete the orientation and ITT training programs (100 hours) before starting an articleship.
Top CA firms in India for articleship
Articleship is a long-term commitment as you have to spend three years learning about the work. Therefore, it’s paramount to choose the right firm which can offer the needed exposure to excel in the job. Now that we have a fair understanding of articleship and its eligibility criteria let’s find out the top CA firms in India for articleship.
- AKM Global
Based in Gurgaon, AKM Global has been one of the leading CA firms in India for over four decades. It offers a wide range of accounting and tax-related services, including audit & assurance, international taxation, mergers & acquisitions, corporate finance, direct & indirect tax, global PEO services, company registration, etc. Besides having offices in all prominent Indian cities, it also has a strong presence in Singapore. CA students who want diversified exposure can surely apply for an articleship at AKM global.
- Deloitte
Deloitte is among the largest professional services networks across the globe. Part of the big four accounting group, this firm employs over 200,000 professionals across 150 nations. Some prominent service offerings include financial advisory, consulting, audit & assurance, taxation, etc. So, if you want a big name in your CV for articleship, it’s a great fit.
- Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, or EY, is another big four accounting firm with a robust presence in India. It has offices in all leading Indian cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Noida, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, etc. Some of the popular services offered by EY include strategy consulting, corporate strategy, corporate finance, M&A advisory, tax planning, compliance, etc.
- KPMG
Headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands, KPMG is an industry leader in the accounting and financial services space. It is also a part of the big four clan. KPMG employs over 1,75,000 employees worldwide. It has a strong presence in India, with offices in cities like Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Vadodara, Kolkata, Hyderabad, etc. Like the other big four firms, it has a diversified service offering.
Final words
Choosing the right articleship opportunity can shape your growth trajectory as a CA. Knowing what type of firm you want to work with is essential. A big name can indeed look like a lucrative proposal. However, you might not get exposure like a small or medium-sized CA firm. Therefore, evaluating your objectives and goals is necessary before choosing a firm for your articleship. The top CA firms in India will surely offer a great learning experience.
