UK Grant Thornton public sector audit

[ross2144]

I have recently got a job in a regional office for Grant Thornton, for public sector audit. It wasn't until just before the assessment centre that I realised this required gaining the CIPFA qualification instead of the ACA or ACCA. Now that I received the job offer I'm not sure of whether I want to take it because I'm not sure how respected the CIPFA qualification is and whether I'll be wasting 3 years in obtaining it. I do have an interest in the public sector but then I also have an interest in the private sector so feel like I could be severely limiting future career prospects. Does anyone know how respected CIPFA is? and how much worse it is for potential career progression and future salaries compared to obtaining the ACA?
Thanks

 

[Fidget]

If you look at job ads, CIPFA rarely gets a mention in qualification requirements.

Grant Thornton spans private & public sectors though so, before you decide, you could ask if - as part of your career development - transferring to the private sector side of things would be hampered by doing the CIPFA qualification rather than ACA or ACCA, since CIPFA is geared towards public sector?