CPA and CFA good together?

P

PittFin

New member
Joined
Jun 18, 2026
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
I have a CPA, and I am working on the CFA. Do these compliment each other on the street? Help with job search? Trader positions?
 
CPA = rearview mirror
CFA = windshield
CPA = follow rules
CFA = original thinking and forecasting
that said, i have seen quite a few pension fund / insurance co types with the two together
 
rohufish Wrote:
——————————————————-
> CPA = rearview mirror
> CFA = windshield
>
> CPA = follow rules
> CFA = original thinking and forecasting
>
> that said, i have seen quite a few pension fund /
> insurance co types with the two together
so if you get them both, they cancel each other out and you’ve wasted years of your life.
you are better off just learning the art of numchuks
 
CPA would be useful in research and banking, from a technical standpoint.
As far as trading and money management, a CPA is not going to raise any eyebrows.
I agree with commstudent, for certain gigs, I would probably not even bother putting it out there unless somebody asked, I definitely wouldn’t try to play it up.
I would definitely be looking to prove I had a creative mind, focused on forward looking analysis of the economic variables that really count. Conversely, at all cost, avoid the stereotype of the historically focused “beancounting” CPA whose view of everything financial is within the framework of GAAP.
 
I’m looking for investment banking positions more than trading positions, I’ve heard mixed feelings on the usefullness of having both of these designations in I banking. Hopefully it works out…
 
I actually am noticing more and more of our manager’s holding dual CFA, CPA designations and I think its a great combo given the fact that the Canadian CA designation basically requires one to have nearly 65% of an undergrad degree in commerce, which is fine if you studied commerce…but what if you did a Math degree or a Physics Degree or took Economics or Latin.
Willy
 
pimp Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Which is harder - CPA or CFA?
Depends on who you ask. I tend to think CFA and believe I have a very convincing case, many people on CPAnet also posted similar opinions. But from a universal standpoint, you will always have people who disagree, so I believe it all just comes down to where your strenghts and background lie.
 
The CPA was easy compared to the CFA questions I am encountering, not to mention the longest test on the CPA is just 4.5 hrs, just the breadth of the material makes any one CFA test harder than the CPA.
WillyR - Are you with RBC or another canadian bank, and what line of finance are you in that your managers hold both CPA/CFA?
 
i studied for ~1 month for each part of the CPA exam and ~5 months for Level I of CFA….. so in aggregate I’d say they are comparable in difficulty, atlhough taking each CPA part alone makes it considerably less difficult.
…. Level II, however, sucks.
 
Another thing about the CPA exam is that you get to choose your own timing of the test. It’s a computer based test so you can really fit into your schedule so to speak. The questions on all (4) CPA exams are easier than CFA Level 1. I can’t get how some people manage to fail them (CPA exams).
From what I have seen in the market, CPA/CFA is a killer corporate finance combo, but would not advance your chances on the sell side i.e. i-banking. It still boils down to a top 10 MBA and CFA as a bonus.
 
One more thing about the difference between the two exams. The CPA questions tend to be more memorization driven (know the rules) while the CFA ones are more concept (know the how things work) driven.
 
If you want to pass CPA I would use Becker Review (I did)…it is solid and you will pass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top