See the notes below which show that one can stipulate that lighting the candles will not bring in the Shabbas until later, while saying maarive absolutely does so.
DinOnline says
Driving After Lighting Candles 19 Av 5771 The Question:
Can a single person light shabbos candles with a bracha with a tanai
(condition) that shabbos will be accepted later so that the person can
drive to shul?
Answer:
Yes, this is permitted.
Only with regard to women, and with regard to a reagular situation, do
we assume that lighting candles implies bringing in Shabbos, and it is
therefore forbidden to perform labor after lighting candles.
However, with regard to men, no such assumption is made. Even for
women, if a condition is made, the lady in question can light candles
with a berachah, and stipulate that she doesn’t mean to bring in
Shabbos until later.
Chabad
I'd like to add two notes:
a) Though lighting candles doesn't constitute an acceptance of Shabbat
(for men, and for women who have in mind not to accept Shabbat at the
time), the recitation of the Friday night Shabbat prayers (which also
may be done before sunset, see More on Plag Hamincha) does constitute
an absolute acceptance of Shabbat.2
b) We are required to "add" on to Shabbat, both when it enters and
when it departs. This means that we may not do work until the moment
of sunset (or the moment that three stars appear on Saturday night),
but we must accept the holiness of Shabbat at least a few moments
beforehand.
Thanks to @barlop for finding the following reference
Shulchan Aruch 261:4
4 After (28) responding to Barechu, even though (29) it is still
daytime, (30) one may not make an eyruv nor cover over hot foods, for
one has thereby already accepted /the holiness of/ Shabbos upon
himself. In our times, reciting Mizmor Shir Le-Yom Ha- Shabbos 2* has
the same effect (31) as had the response to Barechu /in earlier
generations/.
Mishnah Brurah on Shulchan Aruch 261:4
(31) As had the response to Barechu. For, most probably, since mention
is made of Shabbos /in this Psalm/, it is the same as an acceptance of
/the holiness of/ Shabbos. The M.A. writes: “But now the custom is to
say Mizmor Shir, etc., and yet to perform all kinds of labors until
Barechu [i.e., if it is still before beyn ha-shemashos]. ” The reason
is that originally this was the manner in which they accepted upon
themselves this custom /of saying Mizmor Shir, etc./ ; they did not
intend it to be an acceptance of /the holiness of/ Shabbos. All this
/held true/ at the time of the M.A. But today the custom in all our
localities is that as soon as Mizmor Shir is said, the congregation
accepts /the holiness of/ Shabbos upon themselves, and it is then
forbidden to engage in any work even if there is still much time
remaining in the day. [P.Mg. and D.Hach.] The Derech Chochmah writes
that the same is true for localities where Lechah Dodi is customarily
recited, which concludes “ Bo’i Chalah ” : 8 this constitutes a true
acceptance of /the holiness of/ Shabbos. (See To.Sh.)