CSS and Chartered Accountancy are two promising professions in Pakistan that offer opportunities and room for growth in the future. Both these professions are sought after by a large majority of the general public owing to the respect and prestige of being involved with any of them. Multiple applicants take gap years to ensure they are well-prepared to sit through these exams.

For introductory purposes, the complete form of CSS is Central Superior Services in Pakistan. Whoever passes these exams and becomes a civil servant is responsible for running the bureaucratic operations of the country. To appear for these exams, students need to be well acquainted with the political landscape of Pakistan, know the bureaucratic history, and have a good understanding of political science as a subject. As opposed to this, Chartered Accountancy is a field that deals with accounting and finance, and taking this as a career path would mean you will work in the corporate world.

If you are a student conflicted between the two fields of CA vs. CSS and want to know which would be a better career option, our blog will serve as your guide. We will draw a comparative analysis between the two fields to make your job easier.


Nature of the Field
The first significant difference between CA vs. CSS is in the nature of both professions. While CSS is more government-based, CA is more towards the corporate side. CSS requires you to work for the government in different groups, which can be any of the following:
– Pakistan Administrative Service
– Foreign Service of Pakistan
– Inland Revenue Service
– Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service
– Information Group
– Office Management Group


Your primary responsibilities as a CSS officer include leading different projects and the execution of various state affairs. You might have to go out in the field and interact with other stakeholders.
As a Chartered Accountant, your work is usually limited to your office. Your major responsibilities are drafting financial reports and analyzing the data so the company can make effective decisions. This job tends to revolve around numbers and financial information.


Salary
Salary is one of the most significant factors that will impact your decision regarding the field you want to choose. Generally, chartered accountants earn more than civil servant officers. In Pakistan, the pay of the former ranges from Rs 55,000 to Rs 140,000. However, there are a few benefits that come along with being a civil servant, examples of which include getting accommodation and transport facilities. On the other hand, CA average salary in Pakistan is six figures. The range goes from Rs 70,000 to Rs 200,000. This can increase as you go up along the ranks.


Difference in Responsibilities
There is a massive difference in the expectations attached to both professions, and you need to be aware of those before you make a decision. As a civil servant, you must move around very often. Your posting will take place after every one or two years, and the sites you will have to go to might be somewhere other than the major cities of Pakistan. This is a crucial aspect of the job. With Chartered Accountancy, there is no such requirement. Your role is mainly related to the office job that you have. You may be expected to represent your company at conferences for which you may have to travel. Other than that, the profession expects you to travel infrequently.


Country Preference
Lastly, one thing that will help make the decision of CA vs. CSS easier is whether you want to stay in Pakistan or move abroad after completing your certification in either of the fields. If you become a civil services officer, you can always choose foreign relations as your field. If this happens, you will be posted to different countries for 3-5 years. If, however, staying in Pakistan is a priority and you want to earn well while you are here, then Chartered Accountancy is a better option because there is more room for exponential growth in terms of the job and the pay.


To conclude, the choice of CA vs. CSS is subjective. No particular thing can help us establish which is better because, in all the points mentioned above, every individual will have a different priority. Adding on to that, both of these are opposite fields. While one deals more with affairs of the state, political science, and international relations, the other is more about numbers, mathematics, and finance. If you want to be able to weigh both of these things out, think of what you want in terms of all points mentioned above. Prioritize your preferences. For example, if the salary is more important, the best option for you would be to choose Chartered Accounting because CA average salary is more. Once you figure this out, the decision will become easier.