Indian Accountants Are Using These 5 Certifications To Land Their Dream Jobs Abroad
Professional Certifications are absolutely important for Indian accountants who are serious in building and advancing their careers abroad. These certifications are not just a piece of paper, but they are your passport to HIGH PAYING JOB opportunities in countries like the Middle East, South Africa, India, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the USA. If you want to make your dream of working abroad in accounting or finance a reality, these 5 powerful certifications are your TICKET TO SUCCESS. They open Doors to: – Better Jobs – Higher Salaries – Career Growth – Respected by Peers etc… So, if you are determined… Continue reading! Ready? Here it is:
1. Certified Management Accountants (CMA – USA)
CMA is perfect for those who want to get into management accounting and financial analysis roles. It focuses on strategic management, budgeting, and decision-making—skills highly valued by government bodies and multinational companies.
Ideal for: Beginners, Students, Finance managers, cost accountants, and budget analysts
Popular in: USA, Middle East, Canada, India
Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree in any stream (preferably commerce/finance) Some institutes allow students to start while pursuing a degree 2 years of relevant work experience in management accounting (can be completed after exam)
Salary Range: Fresher: ₹4 – ₹7 LPA, With experience: ₹10 – ₹25 LPA (especially in MNCs or abroad)
Top Hiring Companies: EY, Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, PwC
2. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Offered by: ACCA Global, UK.
ACCA is one of the most flexible and widely accepted accounting certifications in the world. It covers financial accounting, taxation, audit, and law. With over 200,000 members globally, ACCA is recognized in more than 180 countries.
Ideal for: Beginners, Student, Auditors, Accountants, Finance Consultants
Popular in: UK, Singapore, UAE, Ireland, Africa and India
Eligibility: 10+2 with 65% in English and Mathematics/Accounts, and 50% in other subjects. Graduates from commerce background can get exemptions from some papers.
Salary Range: Fresher: ₹4 – ₹8 LPA, Global roles: ₹25 – ₹60 LPA (UAE, UK, Ireland)
Top Hiring Companies: BDO, Grant Thornton, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Big 4s
3. Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
Offered by: AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants)
AICPA is considered the gold standard for public accounting in the US and many other countries. It’s essential for those planning to work with big accounting firms, audit firms, or even the government sector in the US and Canada.
Ideal for: Beginners, Student, External auditors, tax consultants, CFOs
Popular in: USA, Canada, Australia, Middle East
Eligibility: 120–150 credit hours of education (equivalent to a Master’s Degree in Commerce or CA Inter with BCom) Some Indian CAs are eligible directly.
Salary Range: Fresher: ₹6 – ₹10 LPA, US/Canada roles: ₹50 – ₹80 LPA
Top Hiring Companies: Deloitte, EY, Amazon, PwC, JP Morgan
4. Certified Internal Auditors (CIA)
Offered by: The IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors)
IIA is the only globally recognized certification for internal auditors. It focuses on risk management, internal control, and governance—making it a go-to for jobs in public sector audits, regulatory bodies, and multinational firms.
Ideal for: Beginners, Student, Internal auditors, risk managers, compliance officers
Popular in: USA, UAE, India, Singapore
Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree Minimum 1 year of internal audit experience Some exceptions are made for students with strong references
Salary Range: Fresher: ₹5 – ₹8 LPA, Mid-level: ₹12 – ₹25 LPA, International: ₹40 – ₹70 LPA
Top Hiring Companies: Banks, Government audit departments, global firms
5. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Certifications
Offered by: Various global institutions (like ACAMS)
AML certifications are essential in the banking and finance sector, especially for roles involving regulatory compliance and financial crime prevention. With increasing government focus on transparency and security, AML experts are in high demand.
Ideal for: Beginners, Student, Compliance officers, forensic accountants, banking professionals.
Popular in: Banking hubs like UAE, UK, India, and the US.
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (any stream) Some certifications require 1–2 years of experience in finance, banking, or compliance.
Salary Range: Fresher: ₹4 – ₹7 LPA, With experience: ₹12 – ₹30 LPA Global: ₹40 – ₹75 LPA+
Top Hiring Companies: RBI, SEBI, HSBC, ICICI Bank, Citi, global fintech firms.
If you need any kind of guidance in choosing your perfect courses and institutes, don’t hesitate to ask for Free Counselling.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is gathered from publicly available sources such as Official Websites, Google Search, Educational Blogs, Program Managers, Professionals with the above certifications. What works best for one student might not be ideal for another. Please verify with institutes and always do research from your side