donbuchi1:


You're right. Final stage doesn't mean he got the certification. What if another candidate has 6 years experience plus this certification and did well in the interview. What would CFO do?

Well the CFO would go for the person with the certification already. I was just thinking if being at the final stage counts for nothing.

Ogbeni, go and get the required certification, as it will boost you chances and make them consider you more. Same thing happened after I finished my youth service, all interviews I attended also required I get a PGD before being considered for a teaching job. I went ahead to run a PGD programme, rounded up, and have never really used the PGD in teaching. It came in handy as I have wanted to run a M. Sc and the PGD was required as I wanted to run a Social Science based course. A different faculty (Arts) which I had my first degree.
So my humble opinion is go for that certification and add more to you C. V.

Habisoye:
2nd Degree,ACCA/ACA OR 6-years Work Experience which one is Key?
I just lost a job offer of 650k because of Professional Certification.

This recent one happened to be a Finance Manager and which i got to the last stage as a result of proven extensive work experience in Accounting and Financial Operations and with my MBA. But i was surprised when the CFO that interviewed me said he would've chosen me but it's quite unfortunate that i have no Professional Certification(ACA or ACCA) not considering the fact that I'm at the final stage already and i have HND & MBA with 6yrs exp.
It really pained me but i just I've to let it go.
But one thing i'm sure of is that there's nothing a Chattered Accountant can do that i can not, but there's a lot that i can do with my experience that a chattered accountant cannot do. so why the discrimination?.

My questions goes thus; 1. Why do company always want a Chattered Accountant by all means to fill the position in Account and Finance.
2. Is 6-years Extensive Work Experience in Account not enough for a person to hold a position of a Finance Manager?
3. Does MBA not ok enough to hold that position?

Never give up, every encounter are meant to position us for future prospectives. Get your professional qualification and apply where necessary and good luck too!.
NB: All the itemised questions you listed did you by any chance ask your interviewer?

well, there are professional skills that are required of a chartered Accountant that just MBA holders doesn't have and also they are guided by their professional code of ethics. proudly ACA

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Oduok:
The day you will finally get chartered as an accountant you will come back and read this your post and see a whole lot of difference. Academic knowledge and "work experience" can be deceptive. When we talk of work experience it is not the length of time that matters but the role and the milestones met. There are lots of key roles that you must have not been given in your organization(s) because you were not chartered. Try and get chartered the difference will be clear. Let's promote professionalism in our callings.

At last someone thinks like me.. its never about the years of experience but the milestones you have acheived. Someone with a year experience can be better than the other with 3 years.

@Op like others have said, just finish up your ICAN. Your potential employer wants a candidate that will increase the prestige of the organisation. Being a chartered accountant gives this prestige.