Seeking guidance on your ACCA aspirations? Joseph Ling, an accounting graduate currently tackling the ACCA exams, shares his full-time study experience and provides practical advice to help you succeed.
Thinking about pursuing your ACCA qualification? As an accounting graduate currently navigating the exciting (and challenging) world of ACCA, I want to share my journey with you – why I chose to tackle ACCA full-time and the key insights I’m gaining along the way. Hopefully, this helps you as you embark on your own accounting path.
ACCA is More Than Just a “Must-Take” for Accounting Students
Why ACCA? While I often joke, “Because I’m an accounting student!” the real answer is much more strategic.
ACCA is an internationally recognized qualification. In Malaysia, becoming a Chartered Accountant is very important and a major accomplishment. This is a big deal because earning an ACCA opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities, especially in the finance sector.
Beyond that, I see ACCA as a personal challenge. It is one of the toughest professional accounting exams in Malaysia, and I want to test my abilities while proving my commitment to excellence. Accountants with a Chartered designation have premium ethical standards and some serious expertise in accounting and finance. Achieving this qualification not only grants me professional recognition but also increases my earning potential.
A Year of Deliberation
It took me an entire year to decide to pursue ACCA. I research quite a bit on the different roads to take to be a professional accountant, considering routes with options like MICPA, CPA Australia, and ICAEW. I spent a good time working out which of these would suit me.
On top of this, during my internship at an accounting firm, I gained valuable insights into how accounting principles apply in real-world scenarios. Seeing accountants in action reassured me that this was the right path for me.
Conversations with my lecturers further guided my decision-making. They emphasized the importance of selecting a qualification that aligns with my personal aspirations.
What ultimately drew me to ACCA was Swinburne Sarawak’s Accelerate Program. This grants me exemptions for nine out of the 13 papers required by ACCA. That was a game-changer for me.
Another factor was location. Since I am from Kuching, studying ACCA at Swinburne Sarawak made the most sense. Should I have chosen other qualifications, that would have required me to relocate to Kuala Lumpur. This was not an ideal choice for me.
Joe believes every failure is a stepping stone to success – stay determined, push forward, and the rewards will be worth it.
Full-time or Part-time?
Many students choose to study ACCA part-time while working. But I made the decision to commit a full year to it as I feel full-time studying lets me really dive into my studies, ensuring I keep my momentum while learning in a structured manner.
My family and lecturers fully support this decision. They understood the importance for me to focus my energy entirely on my studies to improve my chances of success. With that in mind, I set my goal to complete four papers within the year while following a strict study plan.
My ACCA Experience So Far
Without a doubt, the exams are challenging, but having passed my paper really gave me a huge confidence boost! So here’s what I’ve learned:
- Time management is key, so you’ll need to create a structured study plan and stick to it
- Practice makes perfect, so review past exam papers regularly
- Always ask your lecturers or tutors if you’re stuck and need guidance.
My Advice for Future ACCA Students?
- Research your options by exploring the different professional accounting qualifications, as this will help you determine which aligns best with your personal goals
- Network and continue to look for advice from those already in the industry
- Identify your learning style and personal circumstances so you’ll know if you can manage full-time study or otherwise
- Remember to take breaks and don’t force yourself else you’re bound to face burnouts
- Develop a realistic study schedule and commit to it.
Finally, once you start this journey, don’t give up. It’s normal to fail, but more importantly, you can use failures to improve yourself. ACCA is challenging, but the rewards make it worthwhile.
If you’re a Swinburne Sarawak student or graduate, the pathway to your ACCA qualification is already in place. Reach out to your lecturers and course counsellors for guidance.
Good luck on your ACCA journey!