Your journey to ACCA membership

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YOUR JOURNEY TO ACCA MEMBERSHIP2

WE WILL HELP YOU REACH YOUR CAREER DESTINATION OF CHOICE

Why accountancy?

Deciding on what direction you want your life to take is hard. Working out how you are going to get there can be even harder.

So wouldn’t it be great if there was a career choice that gave you many opportunities around the world; the chance of career development and personal growth; variety in terms of the types and sizes of organizations you could work with; and a career which could provide you with responsibility and prestige because it is vital to every business?

THEN CONSIDER A CAREER IN ACCOUNTANCY.

All organizations need professionals who understand finance, talented people who can help make the business a success. And professional accountants play a vital role in wider society too. They provide real value by giving businesses and individuals the confidence to invest, and that in turn, allows countries, organizations and, most importantly, people, the opportunity to realize their potential.

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Why ACCA?

Are you interested in an exciting international career in accounting and finance?

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants and financial managers. And with good reason.

Here are just some of the reasons why you should choose ACCA as your route to becoming a qualified accountant and financial professional.

• Employersallovertheworldknowandrespectourqualificationsandvalue the skills and contribution ACCA accountants make to their organization. As an ACCA-qualified accountant, you will be in demand for having the right skills.

• TheACCAQualificationisrelevanttoeachandeveryareaofaccountancy and finance, so you will have the choice of working in many different financial roles and at senior levels within an organization.

• Studyandworkwhereveryouwantyourcareerpathtotakeyoubecause our qualifications are recognized and valued around the world.

• FlexibilityiskeywhenitcomestogainingyourACCAQualification,with different starting points, study methods to choose from and choice when it comes to when and where you gain your relevant on-the-job training.

• Wehaveanetworkof83officesaroundtheworld,soyoucanrelyonthe servicesandsupportyouwouldexpecttoreceivefromaglobalorganization.

ACCA is your global passport to a career in international finance!

Currently 6.32 million Americans live and work abroad. The advantages of living abroad are numerous. International job postings can give you the opportunitytoexperienceanewculture,meetnewpeople,andpotentiallylearn a new language!

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YOURJOURNEYTOACCAMEMBERSHIP4

If you want a challenging and rewarding career, it’s essential that you get qualified. At the end of the day, when you step into a boardroom, you want to add value and speak with authority.

Chris BromeSeniorManager–Advisory KPMGBarbados

Chris achieved ACCA membership in 2001 and has over 12years’experienceworkingmainlyinfinancialadvisoryservicesinBarbados,theBahamasandCanadainawiderange of industries including offshore banking, insurance telecommunications, retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure, oil and gas, government and not-for-profit organisations.

A background in finance provides an invaluable foundation to any future career inside or outside of finance. The ability to understand how a business is performing and guide that business to success is an asset which any individual would benefit from.

Siobhan PandyaSenior Continuous Improvement Practitioner–AmericasShell

Siobhan works for Shell as a Senior Continuous ImprovementPractitionerfortheAmericas.Inherrole,she supports various businesses in driving operational excellence,developingcontinuousimprovementcapability across the organization, deliver performance targets and priorities with the business and building a Customer1stleanculture.SiobhanPandyaisactivelyinvolved in ACCA USA and has been Dallas Chapter head and committee member since 2007.

ACCA members understand international business and local market issues. The broad syllabus thatincludestax,audit,consultingand financial advisory ensures that ACCA members are effective wherever they work.

Vic TanChiefFinancialOfficer,Japan Ralph Lauren Corporation Japan

AsCFOJapan,VicTan’sultimategoalistoincreaseshareholders’ value over time. Ralph Lauren Corporation isaFortune500companyandlistedinNYSE.Itisaglobal leader in design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances.

There are 11 regional chapters in the United States that support members and students. These chapters provide learning and networking events as well as a support network. ACCA USA is headquartered in New York City and manages events, networking opportunities, and online offerings to members and students.

For more information on ACCA USA please visit http://usa.accaglobal.com

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Where to start?

At ACCA we strongly believe it’s the end result that counts. That’s why it isn’t important to us what qualifications, if any, you have when you join us. We will start you on your journey at the most relevant level. Through our comprehensive and rigorous exams and training, along with a range of resources and support to help you on your way to achieving the ACCA Qualification, we will help you reach your career destination of choice.

Foundation levelWeofferarangeofFoundation-levelcertificatesanddiplomas which provide the ideal starting point for anyone new to accounting and finance and who doesn’t have any formal academic qualifications. You can start your ACCA journey at the Introductory Certificate, the Intermediate CertificateortheDiplomainAccountingandBusiness.It’supto you. However, we strongly recommend you start with the introductoryexamsifyouhavenopriorqualifications–you’lldobetteratthehigherlevelexamsifyoucompletethebasicsfirst.ThenprogressthroughtherestofexamsandachievetheIntermediateCertificateinAccountingandFinanceandDiplomainAccountingandBusiness.YoucanthentransfertotheACCAQualificationandstartatF4oftheFundamentalslevel–missingoutthefirstthreeexamsatthislevel.

Fundamentals levelTheACCAQualificationisdividedintotwolevels–FundamentalsandProfessionallevel.Therearelotsofqualifications you can achieve along the way as you work towards ACCA membership, including a Diploma in AccountingandBusiness,AdvancedDiplomainAccountingandBusinessandevenaBScdegreeinAppliedAccounting,awardedbyOxfordBrookesUniversity(OBU).OBUprogramshaverankedinthetop10intheUK.YoucanlearnaboutOBUby visiting their site http://www.brookes.ac.uk

Professional levelForgraduateswithrelevantaccrediteddegreesfromrecognized institutions, you can start your journey to ACCAmembershipattheProfessionallevel.Yourpreviousqualifications mean you have already made significant progresstowardstheexamcomponentoftheACCAQualificationandcouldallowyoutoclaimamaximumofnineexemptions.Youcancheckoutwhatexemptionsyoumaybeeligibletoclaimatwww.acca.global.com/exemptions

ExperienceBecomingaprofessionalaccountantisn’tjustaboutsittingexams.That’sonlypartofit.Equallyimportantisgettingrelevant,supervisedpracticalexperience.Itdemonstratestoemployersthatyouhaveprovenexperienceandpracticalskills relevant to the role and can be relied on to get the jobdone.Youcancompleteyourworkexperiencebefore,atthesametime,oraftercompletingtheexams.Butatthesame time is best. It means a quicker journey time to ACCA membership and can really benefit your studies if you can start to apply what you’re learning to the workplace.

EthicsEthicsandprofessionalismareattheheartofeverythingwe do and stand for at ACCA. It doesn’t matter where you start your journey, it’s important you know what it means to act professionally and ethically. It builds confidence in those who employ your services that you carry out your duties with trust and integrity. It demonstrates you are professional. That’swhyallourstudentshavetotaketheFoundationsinProfessionalismonlineinteractivemoduletoachieveanyoftheFoundation-levelawards;andtheProfessionalEthicsmoduleinordertoachieveanyoftheFoundation-levelawards;andtheProfessionalEthicsmoduleinordertoachievetheACCAQualification.

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FA1 Recording Financial TransactionsMA1 Management Information

INTRODUCTORY CERTIFICATE IN FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING

FAB Accountant in BusinessFMA Management AccountingFFA Financial Accounting

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS

FA2 Maintaining Financial Records MA2 Managing Costs and Finance

INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE IN FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING

EntryroutesWe offer various entry points so you can start your ACCA studies at the right level, based on your previous qualifications. We’ve listed the main entry routes here but visit our website to find out further information about entry requirements and exemptions.

EXPERIENCE

36 months’ relevant work experience is required and can be completed before, at the sametime,oraftertheexams.

I hAVE A hIgh SChool dIPlomA, WhErE do I STArT?

FoUNdATIoN

Foundations in Professionalism

Anonlineethicsmodule–mustbecompleted,butonlyonce,ifyouwishtoachieveacertificateforanyoftheseawards.

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FAB Accountant in BusinessFMA Management AccountingFFA Financial Accounting

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS

SKILLSF4 Corporate and Business LawF5 Performance ManagementF6 TaxationF7 Financial ReportingF8 Audit and AssuranceF9 Financial Management

EXPERIENCE

36 months’ relevant work experience is required and can be completed before, at the sametime,oraftertheexams.

I hAVE A mASTErS dEgrEE, WhErE do I STArT?

But check out our exemptions database – you may get some exemptions from this level!

YESNo

do you have a relevant, fully accredited degree from a recognised university?

ACCA QUAlIFICATIoN

FUNdAmENTAlS

KNoWlEdgE

F1 Accountant in BusinessF2 Management AccountingF3 Financial Accounting+ Foundations in Professionalism

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS

ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS

BSc IN APPLIED ACCOUNTING AWARDED BY OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY

Research & Analysis and Key Skills Statement

+

ProFESSIoNAl

ESSENTIAlS

P1 Governance, Risk and EthicsP2 Corporate ReportingP3 Business Analysis

oPTIoNS (two to be completed)

P4 Advanced Financial ManagementP5 Advanced Performance ManagementP6 Advanced TaxationP7 Advanced Audit and Assurance

ETHICS

The Professional Ethics Module is an online ethics module which must be completed before, at the same time, or soon after you becomeeligibletositPaperP1.

You also need to complete this to achieve the Advanced Diploma in AccountingandBusinessandtheBScdegreeawardedbyOxfordBrookesUniversity.

Foundations in Professionalism

Anonlineethicsmodule–mustbecompleted,butonlyonce,ifyouwishtoachieveacertificateforanyoftheseawards.

+

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I hAVE A CollEgE dEgrEE, WhErE do I STArT?

Ready to apply?

If you are ready to apply to become a student, then it’s quickest toapplyonline–youcanevenenterforexamsatthesametimetoo.Pleasevisit www.accaglobal.com/applynow

The right study materials

It’s important to use the most up to date study materials. We recommend you use materials produced by one of our ApprovedLearningPartners.BPPisACCA’sonlyPlatinumApprovedLearningPartner,whichmeanstheyarequalityassuredbyACCAandbenefitfromanexclusiveexaminerreviewofcontent.ButwealsohaveanumberofGoldApprovedLearningPartners–content,whicharequalityassured by ACCA. You can find details of all our Approved LearningPartners–contentonthewebsite.

ContactBPP

BPPProfessionalEducation4025SouthRiverpointParkwayPheonix,AZ85040

Email:bppUSAinfo@bpp.com

© ACCA march 2013

The information contained in this publication is provided for general purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time of going to press, ACCA accepts no responsibility for any loss which may arise from information contained in this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in any format, without prior written permission of ACCA.

Gettingstarted

After registering with us as a student, you need to think abouthowyouwanttopreparefortheexams.Thereare lots of different ways to study so you need to decide which studymethodisrightforyou.AlltheexaminformationisavailableonlinethroughKaplanandBPP.Thisgivesstudentstheflexibilitytostudyandlearnattheirconvenience.

We recommend you choose one which has been approved by ACCA–referredtoasourApprovedLearningPartners.Youcan find a list on our website.

Need more information?

We have lots of information on our website to help you plan your journey to ACCA membership, including advice from our members, guidance on study options, tuition available, exemptionsforpriorstudiesandhowtogainandrecordpracticalexperience.

Visitwww.accaglobal.com for more information.

Any questions?

Weareavailable24hoursaday,365daysayeartoansweryour questions by email or by phone. Contact ACCA Connect –ourglobalcustomerservicecentreandoneofouradviserswill be happy to help.

Email:students@accaglobal.com Phone:+44 (0)141 582 2000