MBAs face CA challenge

B-SCHOOL grads better watch out. A new breed of chartered accountants trained in management skills are getting ready to challenge them in their backyard. Until now, MBAs have had a certain edge over CAs in the job market, as most of the latter were not trained in management skills. But now that’s going to change. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will set up 11 centres of excellence across the country, with an investment of about Rs 100 crore. ICAI is forging alliance with national and global institutes to avail of their expertise in training its members and students and impart better communications and presentation skills. It has initiated a dialogue with IIMC and is likely to sign an agreement soon. “Role of a CA is no more limited only to auditing the books. Their abilities are being utilised in various areas of operations, such as strategic planning and innovative ideas,” ICAI V-P Sunil Talati said. He said that it was now being realised that an MBA scored over the CA in the job market, as they possessed better presentation skills. “So, we are going to set up 11 centres in metros and other major cities. We are in the process of signing an agreement with IIMC and planning to join hands with prominent global institutions,” he said. It was learnt that ICAI and IIMC have conducted two rounds of meetings in the recent past. The first centre would start training the first batch of students in Hyderabad from March 2007. ICAI will issue a note on the same to the government. Mr Talati added that CA students studied and cleared four times more papers compared to an average MBA graduate. ICAI is trying to break up the barrier of managerial skills between MBAs and CAs. “We are changing the syllabus according to market requirements,” he said. Of 1,32,000 CAs, 50% ICAI members are employed in the corporate world, while the rest are practicing in India and abroad.

source: economic times