Jobs for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Graduates

Kenya's main accounting qualification

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification is examined by KASNEB and is the standard credential for accountants in Kenya. You do not need a degree to start: KASNEB accepts candidates with a KCSE mean grade of C+ (with conditions on Mathematics and English), as well as diploma and degree holders, who may receive exemptions. The current syllabus runs through Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels, and many candidates study part-time while working.

Jobs it opens

• Accountant, accounts assistant and finance officer across every sector
• Audit associate and later audit senior in audit firms, and internal auditor roles in companies and the public sector
• Tax accountant or tax consultant, including PAYE, VAT and corporate tax work
• Financial reporting, management accounting and finance manager roles as you gain experience

ICPAK membership and practising

After completing CPA you can apply to join the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). Membership signals that you follow its ethics code and continuing professional development requirements, and to practise as an auditor you need a practising certificate from ICPAK, which requires relevant experience on top of the exams. Many job adverts for accountant roles state "CPA(K) and member of ICPAK in good standing" as a minimum.

How to make the qualification work for you

Employers look at how far you have progressed. A partly qualified CPA candidate can get accounts assistant roles; finishing the Advanced level opens accountant and audit roles; adding a degree and a few years' experience leads to finance manager posts. Practical skills matter as much as papers: payroll, tax returns on iTax, Excel and an accounting package such as QuickBooks, Sage or an ERP. Understanding how PAYE works is basic but often tested.

Career path

A common route is accounts assistant, accountant, senior accountant, finance manager and finance director, or audit associate through to audit manager and partner in firms. Each step typically takes two to four years, and moves between audit and industry are common.