I am at the last leg, hopefully, of completing the exam requirements for ACCA and a step closer to getting my membership. This just leads me to take a moment and think about the journey that it has been so far. I remember before I took the plunge and decided to sign up; I was on crossroads and was not sure whether it was the right decision. Yes, I was familiar with accounting and enjoyed it in school but I did not know exactly how an accounting career would help me or to be more specific how ACCA would help me to realize my goals.
I knew someone who had passed ACCA and was now working as an auditor with one of the Big4 and that was reason enough for me to think ACCA opened all sorts of doors. Public accounting was always an attractive prospect as it opens you up to a variety of clients and exposes you to the different industries. Besides it adds great value to the resume to start off with a professional service firm, no matter what route you may choose to take in the future.
With that in place, I signed up to take my first round of exams and began classes at my local tuition provider. I have always enjoyed learning and was prepared to work hard and get through the exams. What I was not prepared for was the ensuing hard slog and the pressure. It was more difficult than I anticipated especially since my basics were rusty and I had been given exemptions from the Level 1 papers. It did help that I was not the only one in class to not understand certain things in the first attempt. However with some background reading and diligent work throughout the duration of the lectures, I have been able to manage so far.
It is not easy to pass but consistent effort goes a long way. The path seems really long in the beginning with lots of exams to take and the end goal seems far off. But it brings great benefits in the long run to see it through. I am yet to receive my results for the December 2007 exams but I am glad to say I am beginning work as a public accountant in the Big4 firm of my choice!
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