If you don’t want to go to university, and you’re interested in a career in accountancy, then consider the ACA qualification as your route to your perfect career.
You study for the ACA whilst in employment, it can take as little as three years to complete, and if you want to, you can start training after you leave school. This makes the ACA the ideal way to get your first step on the career ladder, whilst getting a professional qualification along the way.
Who are we?
The ICAEW are a world leader in business and finance, and our ACA qualification is regarded globally as one of the leading business and finance qualifications. Once qualified, the ACA will ensure you have all the skills and knowledge you need to be a success in the world of business.
Don’t just take our word for it! We have over 130,000 members across the globe and a further 13,000 students currently studying for the ACA. They have all seen the value the qualification brings to any career, and the ACA has enabled many of them to reach the very top of the organisations that they work in.
Did you know – over 67% of qualified accountants acting as Finance Director or CEO in the FTSE 100 are ACA qualified!
So, whether you’re aspiring to be the Chief Executive of your favourite football club, the head of finance for a top fashion label or you want to run your own business, the opportunities are endless. Not just in this country either, our members are based in over 160 countries so if you fancy working abroad – you can!
‘I’m glad I chose to study for an internationally recognised accountancy qualification. The biggest decision I’ve made since graduating was to relocate. In order to obtain a work permit in the Cayman Islands ideally you have to be qualified so it’s fair to say that without the qualification I wouldn’t be here now.’
David, BDO Tortuga, Cayman Islands
You can study for the ACA after school or college
Whilst most trainee ACA’s join as graduates, there are an increasing number of students who start training for an accountancy qualification after leaving school.
If you have good A-level results, there are opportunities available for you to start training for the ACA either straight away or, after an accountancy apprenticeship. We have designed a fast track route especially for students who have the AAT qualification. We know that you will have already done exams that cover our modules too, so we award you credit for prior learning which means we won’t make you do the same topics again!
We also have our own Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB), which is designed as a stepping stone on to the ACA. It will develop your general knowledge of business and finance as well as giving you an understanding about the role of accountancy in the wider business context. It has no minimum entry criteria and you can study at your own pace and in your own time.
How does training for the ACA work?
The ACA is a combination of practical experience with technical knowledge which will be assessed by a series of exams. The most important thing is that you secure a training contract with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer (ATE). Typically this will last for at least three years and will set out the commitment between you and your employer for your training. After you have secured your Training Contract, you will start your structured programme of learning, assessment and practical work experience in order to gain the ACA qualification.
You will usually study for each module by attending a professional tuition provider such as BPP or Kaplan who will teach you the syllabus and prepare you for your exams. Typically you will complete 15 exams, topics include, Business and Finance, Law, Accounting, Tax, Management Information, Business Strategy, Audit and Assurance. Your final exam will be an advanced case study designed to combine all your knowledge in a simulation of a real life business situation.
What Next?
If you are interested in finding out more about the ACA and careers in chartered accountancy then visit our website . We have loads of information for you including; full details about the ACA and how you qualify, details about the career options and other useful information to help you make that all important career choice. Make sure you click on the Training Vacancies link too, it’s our dedicated vacancies website and your first step to securing your first training contract!
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