What is Professional Accounting?

Professional accounting can be understood to be a field of accounting, specified by a statutory professional body of accountants, which is managed by the accounting professionals of that field. Some examples of professional accounting fields

• Chartered Accountancy
• Cost Accountancy
• Company Secretaryship
• Management Accountancy

Though, it is not a requirement that the bodies managing the profession should have a statutory recognition, we generally consider only the accounting fields pertaining to statutorily recognised bodies as professional accounting fields.

One of the main objectives of the professional body, is to conduct courses and periodical examinations, so as to enable, aspirants become professionals, in the field specified by the body, by taking up the course and qualifying in the examinations. The structure of the course, the frequency of examinations, qualification norms etc., are decided by the body itself.

They may also conduct more than one course, each of which represents a different level of proficiency in that field. They may also conduct various courses representing proficiency in different branches of the same field.

The professional bodies have many other functions and objectives all of which are directed towards enhancing the interests of the profession, professionals and the professional body.

Non-Professional/Formal Accounting

Non-professional or formal accounting would mean the fields specified by universities and non-professional bodies. The courses conducted by them are indicative of the fields. Unlike the professional bodies conducting professional accounting courses, these universities have very few objectives (in relation to the field) other than conduction of the course, examinations and award of certificates.