Chartered Accountants vs. Regular Accountants: What’s the Difference?

When looking for accounting support, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a chartered accountant and a regular accountant. This guide will cover chartered accountants vs regular accountants, qualifications, expertise, and services, so you can make an informed decision for your business or personal finances, especially if you’re looking for accountants in Cardiff for local support.

Chartered Accountants vs Regular Accountants: What’s the Difference?

A chartered accountant is an accountant who has been trained, qualified, and registered with a professional body – such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). To become chartered, they must pass tough exams and complete up to three years of practical experience. As registered members, chartered accountants must adhere to strict professional standards, undertake continuous professional development, and hold professional indemnity insurance, which protects the accountant and client.

Chartered certified accountants often work in senior roles, such as chief financial officers, financial controllers, or senior managers within organisations, where they manage financial performance, ensure compliance in financial reporting, and provide business advice. Many chartered accountants run their own practice and offer specialist accountancy services such as forensic accounting, corporate finance, and tax planning to clients.

What’s a Regular Accountant?

A regular accountant, also known as a general accountant, may not be chartered or affiliated with a professional body. While regular accountants are qualified through a degree or equivalent, they may not have undertaken the extra exams, professional accreditation, or practical experience required of chartered accountants.

Regular accountants can do many day-to-day financial tasks – prepare financial statements, reconcile bank statements, manage tax returns, and assist with cost accounting. But they are not qualified to do more complex services like auditing financial statements or forensic accounting, as they don’t have the specific qualifications and training required for chartered accounting.

Qualifications and Professional Standards

One of the biggest differences between chartered accountants and regular accountants is their qualifications and professional standards. To become a chartered accountant, an individual must complete a specialist degree in accounting or equivalent qualification, and then undergo intensive training. Chartered accountant qualifications include passing exams and completing up to three years of experience, often across different industries and business practices.

Additionally, chartered accountants are bound by the ethical codes and professional guidelines of their professional bodies. Membership ensures they work to high standards. Regular accountants, while qualified, are not held to the same standards of professional conduct, continuous professional development, or accountability.

Services and Expertise, Including Forensic Accounting

The services offered by chartered accountants and regular accountants can be very different, especially in areas that require specialist knowledge. Chartered certified accountants can offer:

• Auditing and Assurance Services: Chartered accountants can audit a company’s financial records, a requirement for larger businesses. This ensures financial statements are accurate, compliant, and transparent.
• Corporate Finance and Strategic Planning: Chartered accountants work with companies to navigate mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. Their expertise in cash flow forecasting, financial impact, and sound advice helps move the business forward.
• Forensic Accounting: A highly specialist area, forensic accounting involves investigating financial discrepancies, fraud, and other irregularities. Chartered accountants with forensic accounting expertise can handle these complex cases, drawing on their knowledge of business practices and financial regulations.
• Tax Planning and Compliance: Chartered accountants offer advanced tax advice and strategies to reduce tax liability. This is especially useful for business owners or individuals in complex financial situations, such as inheritance tax or corporate tax.

Regular accountants focus on:

• Basic Financial Record-Keeping: Regular accountants help small businesses and sole traders to keep financial records, track income and expenses, manage bank statements, and prepare annual tax returns.
• Tax Return Preparation: Regular accountants can prepare personal and business tax returns and ensure clients meet their tax obligations. But they may not offer the in-depth tax planning that a chartered accountant does.
• Bookkeeping and Payroll Services: Regular accountants do the day-to-day financial tasks, bookkeeping, payroll processing, and cost accounting, which is required for smaller businesses to comply with local tax regulations.

Chartered Accountants and Professional Indemnity Insurance

Another difference between a chartered accountant and a regular accountant is the requirement for professional indemnity insurance. Chartered accountants must have this insurance, which covers clients in case of errors, omissions, or negligence. Some regular accountants may also have professional indemnity insurance, but it’s not mandatory unless they are members of a professional body that requires it.

Professional Conduct and Accountability

Chartered accountants are registered members of professional bodies, which means they have to follow strict standards of professional conduct and ethical behaviour. They are accountable to their professional bodies, such as ACCA, ICAEW, or CIMA, which can impose disciplinary action if standards are not met. These bodies also require members to keep up to date with industry regulations through continuous professional development.

Regular accountants may not have to follow such strict standards if they are not a member of a professional body. This doesn’t mean they are not professional, but clients may have limited recourse if issues arise or work is substandard.

Chartered Accountant or Regular Accountant

For individuals or business owners with complex financial situations, a professional chartered accountant is often the way to go. Their specialist accountancy services and expertise in areas like corporate finance, financial reporting, and cash flow forecasting is perfect for businesses looking to grow.

If your financial needs are relatively simple – basic bookkeeping, tax return preparation, reconciling bank statements – a regular accountant may be the more cost-effective option. Regular accountants support smaller businesses or individuals without complex requirements and can offer business advice without the higher fees that come with chartered accounting services.

Career Options and Professional Development in Accountancy

For those looking to pursue a career in accountancy, understanding the career options between a chartered accountant and a regular accountant is key. Chartered certified accountants often move into senior roles, such as chief financial officers or directors of finance in large corporations, due to their qualifications and experience. This advanced training also allows them to specialise in areas like forensic accounting or management accounting and open up more career paths.

Regular accountants, while not required to follow the same level of professional development, can still have a fulfilling career as accounting technicians or as local accountants supporting small businesses. But they may not have access to the same senior roles or specialist accountancy services as chartered accountants.

Making a Decision

In summary, the difference between a chartered accountant and a regular accountant is most evident in their qualifications, expertise, and the range of services they offer. Chartered accountants, with their advanced professional accreditation, commitment to ethical codes, and rigorous training, are suited to clients who need in-depth advice and strategic financial support. Regular accountants offer practical day-to-day support, which is perfect for those with simpler financial needs.

Whether you’re a business owner, a new business, or an individual managing your personal finances, choosing the right type of accountant is key to meeting your financial needs. Assess your financial situation and your long-term goals and decide if a chartered accountant or a regular accountant is right for you.