SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) consists of several modules (around 15) supporting different kind of business processes.

It is a German company found in 1972 useful for all kind of business processes including finance , planning, budgeting & accounting, costing, human resource, treasury, internal/external reporting.

SAP for a CA

The most relevant modules for a CA in SAP are SAP FI (Financial Accounting) and SAP CO (Controlling/Management Accounting).

Within SAP FI ,several sub-modules namely Accounts Receivable, Asset Accounting, General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Treasury (now a separate module), Taxation, Banking.

It covers Budgeting, Profit Centres, Cost Allocation, ABC (Activity Based Costing) , Internal Orders, Cost sheet, Inventory Control, Cost Centres.

Top 4 Institutes providing SAP certification are:

• siemens it solutions and services pvt. Ltd (now ATOS)

• Enovations System Intelligence Private Limited

• NIIT

• Lithan Genovate

For a Non-CA:

Yes SAP certification would be a path-breaker for a Non-CA.

However, recruitment of such candidate will be only on the basis of the SAP certification and knowledge has in finance.

Cost & Duration

For a CA:

Duration The duration of the course is 200 Hours over a period of 4 months

Cost ICAI provides SAP ERP course at a discounted fee of Rs. 96,000/-.

For a Non-CA:

In most of the institutes, you have 2 options to take up the course

a) Online Training (web based)

b) Full Time (class room training)

Cost:
For SAP FICO integrated course: more than 3.5 Lakhs

For SAP FI classroom training: around Rs. 2,75,000 (Rs. 2,50,000 is the training fees and Rs. 25,000 for Certification).

For SAP FI OLT (Online Training): Around Rs. 1,60,000/-.

Duration: Classroom training: 20 days + certification: 1-2 Months

OLT (Online Training): 25 Days – 5 Months in total