ACCAGet ting started

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What is ACCA? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Why study ACCA? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Where can ACCA take you? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Can I study ACCA? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What will it cost me? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ACCA Syllabus explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

How do I progress? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Which study method is right for you? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Why study with Kaplan? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Your ACCA checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contact us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contents

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What is ACCA ? What does it take to become a chief financial officer? How do you control a $100 billion balance sheet at a bank? If you want to know the answers, then the ACCA qualification is for you!

ACCA is an accountancy qualification ideal for those who would like a rewarding career in finance, or wish to become a Chartered Accountant.

During the ACCA qualification, you will study a broad range of topics that will help your career, including: ❚ financial management ❚ corporate reporting ❚ taxation and audit ❚ leadership and ethics

The skills you pick up from these topics will help you progress in your chosen field and open up new career paths in the future.

Why study ACCA ? ACCA is a globally respected qualification, with 110 years experience as

a leading professional accounting body. The qualification is based on international accounting standards, so employers

around the world know that an ACCA qualification indicates professional excellence.

96% of employers stated that ACCA was a respected brand for professional qualifications*

Over 219,000 members and 527,000 students

in 179 countries

The average salary for an accountant in the UK is £62k a year**

*ACCA Survey. **Accountancy Age Salary Survey 2018.3

Where can ACCA take you ?From fashion to football, accountancy is essential in all industries, meaning ACCA can lead to a wealth of opportunity in almost any sector. After all, the

success of a business is dependent on sound financial management.

The ACCA qualification also opens up many career opportunities in external auditing, banking and corporate finance.

And because of its global reputation, an ACCA qualification is your passport to work around the world.

Our quick quiz suggests an area of accountancy you may find interesting based on your traits, personality and motivations.

Take the Quiz

*ACCA Career Survey 2013

Becoming an expert in a specialist finance role

Leading a finance team

Broadening horizons and knowledge by working internationally

Top 3 Career Achievements, according to ACCA Members*

Find out more about how your career will progress with our Career Timeline

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Can I study ACCA ?Whether you’ve just finished school, want to change career, or already hold a financial qualification, there are lots of ways to start ACCA. The three main entry routes are highlighted below.

Foundations in Accountancy (FIA)The FIA qualification is designed for those that want to start in financial accounting, but don’t have any previous relevant qualifications.

Entry Requirements None.

Find out more here

Applied Knowledge/SkillsThe first step toward ACCA membership, the Applied Knowledge Level introduces you to both financial and

management accounting techniques. The Applied Skills Level will then build on these skills further.

Entry Requirements Two A-Levels and three GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths. If you have a relevant Accounting or Finance degree, you may be able to start at Applied Skills Level.

Strategic Professional LevelThe final stage of the ACCA Qualification. But if you have previous relevant qualifications, you could skip ahead and start here.

Entry Requirements Completed Applied Skills Level, or a relevant degree from an ACCA-accredited university.

More details about entry requirements and exemptions can be found here

Myths and MisconceptionsMany believe that they don’t have the right qualifications or skills to start studying accountancy.

But whilst it does help to be comfortable with Maths, English and using a computer, most accountants today use spreadsheets or accounting software to do a lot of the calculations and processes. So you certainly don’t need to be a maths or IT genius!

Find out more myths about starting in accountancy here

What will it cost me ?Though ACCA courses can be expensive, it is worth considering the cost of not being qualified, such as the salary increase for fully qualified accountants and missed opportunities. Kaplan ACCA student Craig Coda explains:

*Kaplan career changer survey6

Financial Support

There’s lots of extra financial support available for ACCA students. In our survey, 60% of people said they got financial support from their employer or training provider.*

Finally, Kaplan offer interest free payment plans on our courses. So you can pay for your course over 6–12 months in smaller, affordable chunks. Plus, there’s no extra cost to do this! Learn more

You can also now study ACCA via an apprenticeship, meaning you can earn while you learn.

Is an apprenticeship right for me?

Being a true accountant, throughout my qualification I have kept a record of the costs of my course. To date, my ACCA qualification has cost me £4835 over two years – which I actually think is pretty reasonable, especially when you consider the true cost, which is what I would have earned had I been fully qualified throughout my accountancy career.

There can be a big pay gap between being part qualified and fully qualified and I’m very aware that had I been picking up the same work as a qualified accountant I could have been paid up to £9000 more. Some rough calculations show that over my career I’ve forfeited over £100,000 due to not being qualified.”

Read more from Craig here

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ACCA Levels ExplainedTo become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, you need to complete the two ACCA Levels previously mentioned – Applied Knowledge/Skills and Strategic Professional.

Applied Skills/KnowledgeOverview This Level contains nine mandatory exams. The first three papers cover the Applied Knowledge section, with the remaining six covering Applied Skills. You can sit them in any order and once passed, you can move on to Strategic Professional.

What You Learn A strong, broad and practical knowledge of the world of finance. Topics include Corporate Law, Taxation, and Financial Reporting.

Time to Complete 12–18 months

Career Progression Studying at this level gives you a wide range of job opportunities to choose from, such as a finance trainee, trainee business analyst and internal auditor.

Strategic Professional LevelOverview Within this Level, there are two mandatory subjects – Strategic Business Leader and Strategic Business Reporting. You must then take an additional two specialist subjects from a choice of four.

What you Learn At this level of the ACCA Qualification, you’ll learn the dynamic skills and strategic vision that all great businesses and financial leaders need. It also gives you the opportunity to specialise in areas that best suit your career ambitions via the specialist subjects. When you are choosing your specialisms, think about which exams best reflect your strengths and which exams best reflect the experience you have gained or the career you want to have.

Time to Complete 18–24 months

Career Progression With experience, your qualification could lead to very senior positions such as a financial manager, chief financial officer or a partner in a professional firm.

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How do I progress?On average, it takes most students three years to pass all the exams that make up the ACCA professional qualification.

You can sit ACCA exams at four times during the year – March, June, September and December. How you decide to use these sittings is completely up to you, but it means you need to plan your studies carefully.

Read more advice about how to use the four sittings to your advantage and which ACCA exams are best taken together here

ACCA QUALIFICATION STRUCTUREApplied Skills/Knowledge Level

Strategic Professional Level

Essentials Module

Strategic Business Leader (SBL)

P1 + P3

Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)

P2

Specialisms (choose two)

Advanced Performance Management (APM)

P5

Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)

P7

Advanced Financial Management (AFM)

P4

Advanced Taxation (ATX)

P6

Knowledge Module

Accountant in Business (AB)

F1

Management Accounting (MA)

F2

Financial Accounting (FA)

F3

Applied Skills Module

Corporate and Business Law (LW)

F4

Financial Reporting (FR)

F7

Performance Management (PM)

F5

Audit and Assurance (AA)

F8

Taxation (TX)

F6

Financial Management (FM)

F9

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Still unsure which of these study methods is best suited to you? Answer 7 simple questions to find which one we recommend for your unique learning style. You’ll then get a chance to try it for free with an in-depth demo.

Take our Quiz

Which study method is right for me?Many factors can affect how you perform in your ACCA exams, but one key question is frequently overlooked – what’s the best study method to use?

Your unique learning style and situation can make all the difference to your ACCA success. Pick the wrong study method and you may face a tough journey, even if you are well suited to the subject.

Luckily, Kaplan has four different ways to study ACCA to suit different needs. Not sure about whether structured or flexible learning is right for you? Find out more below.

F lexibleIs this right for me?

StructuredIs this right for me?

ClassroomA traditional scheduled programme, with face to face tutor led classes at one of 21 centrally

located Kaplan Training Centres.

Learn more

OnDemandAn online course with resources specifically

designed for online learning, with the flexibility to start studying anytime, anywhere.

Learn more

Live OnlineLive interactive online classes at a set time

with expert tutors. Every session is recorded so you can watch them back later.

Learn more

Distance LearningStudy independently in your own time, at

your own pace, using a range of online and printed learning materials.

Learn more

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If you’ve decided that ACCA is the right qualification for you, and you’ve decided how you should study, the final question is – why study with Kaplan?

Because we listen! We’ve recently redesigned all our courses based on student feedback, to give you the best chance of completing your studies, whatever study method you choose.

*Top 10 UK accountancy firms taken from Accountancy Age 2018 Top 50+50 survey. All students have purchased a course within the last 6 months as of May 2019.

Extended opening hoursAvailable until 8pm on weekdays and

9am–1pm on weekends.

Exceptional pass ratesOur pass rates consistently exceed the national

average, so you can be confident of success when you choose us.

UK’s largest accountancy training providerWe train over 40,000 accountants each year so

you can be confident when studying with us.

Guaranteed response in 4 hours or less Get instant tutor support via Live Chat or

within 4 hours by email or callback.

Fully marked mock exams and a wealth of practice questions

You’ll get feedback highlighting what went well and what was incorrect, so you can focus your

time on the areas you need to improve.

8 of the top 10 UK accountancy firms have employees studying with us*

It’s not just about quantity. Top firms choose Kaplan to give their employees the best

learning experience.

Why study with Kaplan ?

Contact us

0161 259 7400

We know that starting ACCA can be overwhelming, so we have put together a handy checklist below to guide you through the process from start to finish. Follow these steps and you’ll be ACCA qualified in no time!

studentservices@kaplan.co.uk

If you have any questions at all about starting ACCA with Kaplan, please feel free to get in touch:

6 Start StudyingYou should now have everything in place to be able to start your training – now hit those books and schedule your first exam when you feel ready!

1 Choose your course Make sure ACCA is right for you, and find out which level you should start with

2 Choose your study methodFlexible or structured, in class or at home? Pick the study method that will give you the best chance of success.

3 Choose your training providerThat’s where we come in! Decide who you would like to study with based on factors such as tutor support and course content.

4 Check your funding optionsYou might be surprised at what is available to you. And always ask your employer if they are willing to help fund your studies.

5 Register with ACCASeparate to your training provider, you also need to register as an ACCA student with the institute itself. Otherwise you can’t take your exams!

Your ACCA checklist