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Finance & Accounting

Finance & Accounting certifications

Finance, accounting and investment qualifications such as CFA, CPA, ACCA and CMA - high-value, multi-year study paths.

Finance and accounting qualifications are not interchangeable - they lead to distinct careers. The CFA is for investment analysis and portfolio management; the US CPA is the licence for US public accounting; ACCA is the globally portable accounting route; the CMA targets corporate finance and management accounting. Choosing by career and geography, not prestige, is what saves years of effort.

This hub brings these qualifications together with comparisons (CFA vs CPA, ACCA vs CPA) and a career path, so you can match the qualification to the work you actually want and the country you want to work in.

Content last verified Aug 5, 2026 · free, no sign-up

14exams compared
1,867free practice questions
70guides & resources
11side-by-side comparisons
Most searched: ACCA study planACCA subjects & levelsCMA syllabus

Start here

Where to start

The decisions to make before you commit to a syllabus.

  1. Decide the career first

    Investing → CFA. US public accounting → CPA. Global accounting → ACCA. Corporate finance / FP&A → CMA.

  2. Check entry requirements early

    The US CPA needs ~150 credit hours; ACCA has open routes without a degree; the CMA needs a degree and experience.

  3. Study while you work

    All of these expect or require qualifying experience, and the material lands better alongside a real role.

  4. Qualify and specialise

    Then specialise - equities or fixed income (CFA); audit, tax or reporting (CPA/ACCA); FP&A or controllership (CMA).

Progression

Certification pathway

A rough progression by level, not a strict order - start where your experience fits.

Foundation
SIE
Associate / core
EASeries 7
Advanced / expert
ACCACAIACFA Level ICFA Level IICFA Level IIICFPCIACMACPAFRMCIMA

The catalogue

All Finance & Accounting exams

Every exam we track in this field - each card links straight to its free practice questions, guides and fee breakdown.

Head-to-head

Compare these certifications

Side-by-side verdicts for the pairs candidates actually weigh.

Where they lead

Related career paths

Step-by-step routes from a first certification to the roles it unlocks.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

CFA or CPA - which should I choose?
Different careers. CFA for investment analysis and portfolio management; CPA for accounting, audit and tax (especially in the US). Choose by the work you want, not prestige.
Which qualification is most internationally portable?
ACCA is the most portable across the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia. The CFA is also globally recognised; the US CPA is most powerful inside the US system.
Can I qualify without a degree?
ACCA often allows it via open entry routes. The US CPA and the CMA generally require a degree (and the CPA typically 150 credit hours).
Which is best for corporate finance rather than audit?
The CMA targets management accounting and corporate finance (FP&A) more directly than the CFA or CPA.