There are mainly three accounting designations: CA (Chartered Accountant), CMA (Certified Management Accountant) & CGA (Certified General Accountant). All three designations are administered by three Associations respectively: CA Association, CMA Association & CGA Association.
They all require education (preferably a B.Comm in accounting or you have to take a lot of courses through the Associations) and a prescribed period of working experience.
For CA experience, you have to get it in a CA firm, or Auditor General.
For CMA & CGA experience, the industry is OK, plus the Finance departments of the fed. governments.
In Ontario, only CA can do auditing. Most of the accounting firms, especially the Big Four also do a lot of business in management advisory and assurance services (consulting).
CMA focuses more on cost accounting. It's more industry-oriented.
CGA is more general.
Hope this helps......