1. HOW TO BECOME AN ICAEW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Key slide
Each slide is supported by a guide script and also background information about the topic to help your further understanding. You don’t have to follow the script exactly and please don’t read out all the information contained but use the script and extra information to help guide and inform you.
Hi, my name is … and I’m from ICAEW. I’m here to tell you a little bit more about ICAEW, what a chartered accountant is and what they do, and how you can become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in the future.
HOW TO BECOME AN ICAEW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Take your first step towards a highly rewarding career in accountancy, finance and business

2. Key slide
Key messages:
ICAEW stands for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
We are a professional membership organisation, which means that we promote, support and regulate over 140,000 ICAEW Chartered Accountants around the world.
We are committed to helping talented individuals around the world develop the knowledge, skills and experience they need to perform at the highest level in accountancy, finance and business.
That means supporting bright, talented and ambitious students throughout their training to ensure they have the best possible start to their journey to becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
Once qualified and welcomed into membership of ICAEW, our members receive valuable support from us throughout their careers. We ensure their interests are represented to government and that they are kept-up-to-date at all times through our faculties, communities, networks and other communications.
This ensures our members have the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their ambitions – whatever they are - throughout their career.
ICAEW is a professional membership organisation, supporting over 138,000 chartered accountants around the world.
© ICAEW 2012.

3. What’s an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and what do they do?
Key slide
So what’s an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, and what do you think they do?
ICAEW Chartered Accountnats are highly skilled professionals who interpret financial information so important decisions can be made. The vital role they play means accountants are highly respected and in demand. As a result they have varied careers and find themselves in senior decision making roles in all types of organisations.

4. ICAEW Chartered Accountants…
are high achievers in accountancy, finance and business
are professionally qualified with ‘chartered’ status
are respected for their valuable business advice
Key slide
So what makes an ICAEW Chartered Accountant different?
They are highly qualified professionals who have achieved the ACA qualification from ICAEW. They are trusted and respected for their ability to give valuable advice to individuals and businesses around the world and are often found working at the highest levels.
Individuals and businesses recognise that through their training ACA training, ICAEW Chartered Accountants have developed a diverse range of knowledge, skills and experience that is vital in todays competitive business world.
Where appropriate (i.e for older audiences) - introduce it is the qualification for business leaders and high achievers, that holding a professional qualification offers a secure career with longevity.

5. It’s much more than numbers…
… lots of people interaction
… don’t just sit at a desk
… lots of opportunity to be creative
… can work in a variety of different sectors and businesses
… have the opportunity to travel
Key slide
So what do they actually do?
Many people think accountants are confined to their desks and that it’s all about numbers but it involves more interaction with people than you may think. ICAEW Chartered Accountants communicate complex financial and business information to their colleagues, managers and clients in an easy to understand way. Accountants get to know organisations inside out, so they understand the challenges and opportunities individuals and businesses face, they guide people in making crucial decisions which means that they are in demand and often find themselves in meetings and on client visits – so are rarely confined to their desk!
The variety of opportunities on offer throughout a chartered accountants career is wide ranging. You could find yourself in any sector and any size of organisation; from a firm of accountants to a charity, meaning no two roles will be exactly the same. And its not just restricted to the UK either, ICAEW Chartered Accountants are in demand all around the world so there’s lots of opportunities to travel, take secondments or even move abroad.
So lets take a look at the different opportunities in more detail.

6. Where do we work? Not for profit Industry Practice Key slide
So where do they work?
Just about anywhere. Where you go with your career depends on what you’re interested in, and the level you want to reach. As an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you will have the opportunity to work in organisations of all different types, sizes and locations. When starting your journey, you could perform any number of roles from technical and analytical
work to financial planning and business strategy. You’ll develop skills that will be vital to any organisation.

7. Not for profit / public sector
Organisations which operate for a charitable, humanitarian, or educational purpose.
Government department
Charity
Not for Profit
You can train or work in any number organisations that operate for charitable or not-for-profit reasons; including charities, government departments and organisations such as universities and even professional membership organisations such as ICAEW.
Not for profit organisations re-invest their profits into the organisation to achieve it’s mission, you will assist in helping your organisation to make the most of its money looking for cost savings and new opportunities to improve the efficiency of operations at all times. Charities on the other hand, need to ensure they are using the funds they raise as efficiently as possible in order to achieve their mission.
Careers in the charity and not-for-profit sector are challenging and can be highly rewarding due the differences they have to profit making organisations. They have different rules and regulations to comply with ranging from tax implications, to the way they save, use and invest money.
While the aim of these organisations is not to make a profit to pay to shareholders there are still many similarities, so you will find there are a number of similar roles such as:
Finance Controller (overseeing transactions, the preparation of financial accounts and internal control)
Finance Director (reporting on monthly figures, budgeting and forecasting, developing strategy, ensuring the success of the organisation
Auditor - Internal (oversee audit teams on projects, submission of final audited accounts, implementation of procedures and controls)

8. Financial services
Includes a variety of organisations – not just banks
Banking
Finance
Insurance
Investments
Wealth management
Mergers and acquisitions
You can train or work in any number of banking and financial services organisations; from those high street names you know well to specialists you have not yet heard about. The financial services industry is about saving, borrowing and investing funds, and making sure funds are being managed effectively. It is a large sector and important to the UK economy meaning it employs a large number of people in a wide range of roles; not just in London but across the UK.
The slide highlights some of the areas you can train and work in and roles could include;
Banking: Corporate Banking, Risk, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, CSR….
Finance: Credit management, Risk, Treasury, Internal Audit…
Insurance: Risk Analysis and Management, Product Management, Corporate Governance, Audit, Business Development.
Investments: Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, Financial Advice and Management, Compliance, Fund Management, Stock Valuations.

9. Business Work for any business
Different sizes, different sectors, different countries
Internal Audit
Risk/ Control
Management Accountant
Finance Director
You can also train and work in the finance department of a number of well-known high street organisation. You are likely to be part of the finance team. You will have a range of roles and responsibilities from analysing monthly management information to providing reports to assist management with making strategic business decisions.

10. Practice Firms of chartered accountants Large – Big 4 Medium – Top 20
Small – Less than ten partners
Smaller high street firms, one or two partners…
Public Practice is another term for firms of accountants, they range in size and type and many specialise in particular areas of accountancy. Ask the audience if anyone can name any of the ‘Big 4’ Accountancy firms. Do the same with Top 20 depending on how informed they are. If appropriate, explain to the group what differentiates these organisations (size and turnover, number of offices and staff, types of clients etc).
ICAEW Chartered Accountants carry out a number of different roles within Public Practice and the size and type of practice can dictate the type of work you will be exposed to. While large practices such as the ‘Big 4’ deal with large multi-national organisations, medium size firms often specialise in specific types of customers and smaller firms often have smaller more local clients.
Areas of specialism include: (explain a little about each area if time permits)
Tax
Audit
Forensic Accounting
Business Advisory
Corporate Finance

11. Whatever your aspirations
A professional qualification
Being challenged and stretched at work
Job security
Joining a student network
Early responsibility
Opportunity for rapid promotion
Client and customer contact from the start
Working with senior managers and executives
This slide is designed to help you demonstrate to students the range of different levels they can reach depending on their ambitions. It is important to highlight that earnings vary considerably throughout the profession and that a career as an ICAEW Chartered Accountnant has a number of benefits as illustrated in the slide.

12. Become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant
We have covered what an ICAEW Chartered Accountant is and what opportunities the career can offer so now we will move on to how you could become one. To have a successful career as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you need the right mix of knowledge, skills and on-the-job experience. The ACA qualification from ICAEW is one of the most advanced learning and professional development programmes available. It shows you’ve got the ability and commitment to perform to the highest level. It sets you apart and gives you a competitive edge.
BUSINESS WITH CONFIDENCE
icaew.com/careers

13. The ACA Qualification HOW TO BECOME AN ICAEW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Key slide
The ACA is a world leading professional qualification, which provides a combination of technical knowledge, professional skills and practical The ACA is a world leading professional qualification, which provides a combination of technical knowledge, professional skills and practical experience. It equips talented individuals to perform at the highest level in accountancy, finance and business and involves four key parties;
You – it’s your career and you are central to your ACA training, only you know what you can and want to achieve;
Your employer – who will be committed to supporting you throughout your training
Your training provider – who will ensure you develop the technical knowledge you need to become and ICAEW Chartered Accountant
ICAEW – who will support you throughout your training and then through your career once you become a fully qualified member.

14. How it works HOW TO BECOME AN ICAEW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Key slide
The ACA consists of integrated components which are completed as part of a training agreement with one of our 2,850+ ICAEW authorised training employers. The training agreement is separate to your employment contract and will ensure you receive the highest quality and standard of training possible. It will outline you and your employers commitment to your ACA training including; study leave, time off for exams, mentor support, tuition etc.
Because ACA training is done on the job, you get the opportunity to learn while in employment. But you don’t have to wait until you have a training agreement to start the ACA qualification – you can start while you’re studying at university or searching for a job with an authorised training employer.

15. What you actually do KEY Slide THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS WHAT THE ACA IS
The ACA is a professional qualification which means it combines knowledge, skills and experience. Each of the components of ACA training are integrated, allowing you progress with confidence through the qualification (that’s the four bits in the middle).
Professional development prepares you to successfully handle a variety of different situations that you’ll encounter throughout your career.
ICAEW Chartered Accountants are trained to be transparent and honest in all business relationships so that their judgment is not compromised through bias, conflict of interest or undue influence. Ethics and Professional scepticism is a fundamental part of ACA training and ensures you have an attitude that includes a questioning mind and being watchful of conditions that may indicate possible error or fraud.
Practical work experience (or on-the-job training) allows you to put theory into practice. You’ll need to gain 450 days of work experience as part of your training agreement which takes approximately 3-5 years
For ICAEW Chartered Accountants to be able to provide helpful and accurate financial advice, they need to have in-depth knowledge across accountancy, finance and business. This gives you a competitive advantage no matter where your career takes you. Our modules cover a range of subjects from business and finance to strategy, law and
taxation.

16. Professional development
You’ll develop your ability and performance in seven key areas:
Adding value
ICAEW Chartered Accountants are not confined to a desk: you could find yourself representing your organisation to win business, working at client premises, joining a project team or presenting analysis.
Professional development prepares you to successfully handle a variety of different situations that you’ll encounter throughout your career. You’ll work closely with your employer to ensure you develop your abilities in seven key areas which define you as a professional. Your Professional Development is flexible because we all know everyone is different, therefore the speed at which you will progress through the programme will vary depending on your ability; you may find you progress through the communication stages much quicker than the problem solving ones.
Background information:
Example competencies
Communication – Negotiation, uses resources to present information, able to use persuasion, shares information and knowledge.
Team Working – Can manage a project involving others, can allocate resources effectively, uses team structures to meet performance objectives.
Decision Making – Analyse data to predict outcomes, evaluates risk to ensure data is reliable, can maintain position under pressure, can show how data can aid decision making.
Consideration – Uphold the reputation of the organisation for which you work, can identify an ethical conflict or breach and report it, demonstrate an awareness of CSR.
Adding Value – Lead by example, use creativity to solve a problem, demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning, show independence.
Problem Solving – Can solve a problem that exceeds the expectations of the organisation, can make well though out recommendations, analyse a problem and identify all options, use practical experience to help others.
Technical Competence – Can solve a complex technical problem, show proficiency in a range of software applications, relate practical issues to examination studies, demonstrate an awareness of regulatory requirements.
Consideration
Communication
Decision making
Problem solving
Team working
Technical competence

17. Ethics and professional scepticism
Ethics is more than just knowing the rules about confidentiality, integrity, objectivity and independence…
…you’ll learn how to identify an ethical dilemma, understand the implications and behave appropriately.
ICAEW Chartered Accountants are trained to be transparent and honest in all business relationships so that their judgment is not compromised through bias, conflict of interest or undue influence. For instance if someone offers you a present as a way of looking favourably at their accounts or in order to pursuade you to continue doing business with them.
Professional scepticism is an attitude that includes a questioning mind and being watchful of conditions that may indicate possible error or fraud. So for instance if you can see that there are certain amounts of money leaving a company's accounts and there are no invoices to illustrate where the payments were going – you would investigate what the payments were being made for. Or if one member of staff is receiving more bonus than others on a regular basis, you may choose to investigate the reasons why.
Ethics can even come into your daily life – how many people decide to tell the people in a shop they are eating out when actually they are eating in just because it is cheaper? That is an ethical decision because actually you are not paying the tax you should on the food you buy!
As a result ethical development is integrated throughout your ACA training to help you identify issues early enough to behave appropriately and recommend suitable controls.

18. 3-5 years practical work experience
On-the-job training of 450 days puts theory into practice….
…and you gain experience in one, or more, of the following:
Accounting
Audit and assurance
Financial management
Information technology
Insolvency
Taxation
Practical work experience (or on-the-job training) allows you to put theory into practice. You’ll need to gain 450 days of work experience as part of your training agreement which takes approximately 3-5 years depending on you and your employers agreement. Your experience could be gained in any one of the following areas:
Accounting
Audit and Assurance
Financial Management
Information Technology
Insolvency
Taxation

19. 15 accountancy, finance and business modules
Case Study
ADVANCED
LEVEL
Corporate Reporting
Strategic Business Management
Business Planning: Taxation
Business Strategy
PROFESSIONAL
LEVEL
Audit and Assurance
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Financial Management
Tax Compliance
Background information – Please summarise as appropriate
15 accountancy, finance and business modules
You will gain in-depth knowledge across a broad range of topics in accountancy, finance and business. The ACA qualification does not have optional modules, you cover all 15, which gives you greater flexibility and variety in your career. This is also highly valued by employers around the world. There are three levels – certificate, professional and advanced – however modules may be taken in any order (except the Case Study which must be attempted last).
CERTIFICATE LEVEL
There are six modules introducing you to the fundamentals of accountancy, finance and business. They each have 1.5 hour e-assessments which can be sat at any time.
Most individuals complete the first six modules within the first year of their training agreement. However you can take some Certificate Level exams before you start a training agreement, either through our Certificate in Finance Accounting and Business (CFAB) or credit for prior learning. If you have studied accounting, finance or business at degree level or through another professional qualification, you may be eligible for credit.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
The next six modules build on the fundamentals you have already learnt, and tests your understanding and ability to apply technical knowledge to real life scenarios. Each module has a hour exam, which are examined four times per year.
These modules are flexible and can be taken in any order to fit with your practical experience. The Business Planning: Taxation and Business Strategy modules help your progression to the Advanced Level.
ADVANCED LEVEL
The Corporate Reporting and Strategic Business Management modules test your understanding and strategic decision making at a senior level. They present real life scenarios, with increased complexity and implications from the Professional Level modules.
The Case Study tests all your knowledge, skills and experience gained so far. It presents a complex business issue which challenges your ability to problem solve, identify the ethical implications and provide an effective solution. The Case Study is fully open book, so it replicates a real life scenario where you have all the resources at your fingertips.
How the modules interlink – This is background information and is only provided for further understanding.
Accounting – Financial Accounting and Reporting and the 3 advanced level papers all ensure you have the ability to undertake financial reporting
Audit – Audit and Assurance and the three advanced stage modules assess audit and assurance abilities.
Tax – Principles of Tax – Tax Compliance – Business Planning: Taxation and 3 advanced level papers. UK tax is concentrated in the certificate and professional level, the Advanced level will include Tax but it won’t necessarily be UK tax as ICAEW Chartered Accountants will need to be able to understand tax of any jurisstiction.
Business – B&F, law, MI, Business Strategy, Financial Management, Strategic business management and Case Study.
Accounting
Assurance
Business and Finance
Law
Management Information
Principles of Taxation
CERTIFICATE
LEVEL

20. Did you know? You can do the ACA after A-levels
You don’t need a degree
You can qualify by the age of 21
There is more than one route to the ACA
You can study any A-levels you want
You do not need a degree
You can do the ACA after A-levels
41% of our trainees are female
There is more than one route to the ACA
You can study any A-levels you want
38% of our ACA students are female
Here are some of the most common misconceptions about the accountancy profession.
You can qualify by the age of 21
You will earn a competitive salary as you train

21. What are the ACAdemic requirements?
First or 2:1 degree
Minimum 300 UCAS points
2 A2 levels (or equivalent)
3 GCSEs grades A-C including Maths and English
Key slide
You do not have to have studied a relevant degree to be eligible to study for the ACA qualification. Employers requirements varies but as a guide we recommend that you have:
At least 3 GCSE’s grades A-C. Most employers will require you to have achieved an A*-B in both Maths and English.
You will also need to have achieved a minimum of 2 full A-levels – ; most employers will require you to have achieved a minimum of 280 UCAS points, however some employers will accept less and some will require 300+
If you choose to go to university most employers will require you to have achieved a 1st or 2:1 in your chosen degree subject.
© ICAEW 2012.

22. Entry routes to the ACA School leaver Higher Apprenticeship
ICAEWs Certificate in Finance Accountancy and Business
AAT-ACA Fast Track
Graduate
Strategic university degree programme
Key slide
There are a range of entry routes to the ACA qualification, the route planner in our brochure and on the website will help you, but the slide summarises the variety of entry routes available.
If you are not using the following detailed slides the below summarises the routes:
School Leaver - There are an increasing number of organisations which offer ACA training opportunities straight after completing your A-levels. Your training agreement may last over a longer period to ensure you gain the relevant practical work experience you need.
Higher Apprenticeship - The new Higher Apprenticeship in Assurance/Audit will help you to develop technical skills to enable you to understand the accounting and technical theory as well as putting these skills into practice while working for your employer during the programme. It gives you an excellent grounding in Professional Services and is an ideal steppingstone to the ACA.
AAT - If you don’t want to go to university, you can choose to do the AAT qualification which can lead to the ACA. We work with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) to provide the opportunity to qualify as a chartered accountant in as little as four years. You can study for the AAT Accounting qualification after your GCSEs or A-levels as a full-time course at college or while you’re in employment. If you are working for one of our authorised training employers, we can also count some of your work experience towards the ACA.
CFAB – CFAB is a great way to start your journey to the ACA qualification. It covers six of the professional stage modules of the ACA, and will give you all the essential business knowledge you need. There is no minimum age or entry requirement either, so no matter what grades you have you can start CFAB straight away.
University - Most employers accept applications from any degree discipline, so you don’t have to do a business or accountancy related degree. They generally look for graduates who have high marks in their degree, so choose a subject you enjoy and will do well at. Training for the ACA as a graduate will usually take three years. However, if you are looking to do a business, finance or accountancy related degree we do have a number of partnerships with employers and universities that will help you kick-start your journey to becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
For more information on any of these entry routes visit icaew.com/careers and visit our entry routes pages.

23. Do you want to go straight from school?
There are an increasing number of organisations which offer ACA training opportunities straight after completing your A-levels. Typically training agreements last between 4-5 years which is slighty longer than graduate schemes but it ensures you have time to gain the relevant practical experience and knowledge you need.
BUSINESS WITH CONFIDENCE
icaew.com/careers

24. School leaver programmes
Ernst and Young
BDO
Deloitte
PwC
KPMG
and many more……
Via Higher Apprenticeship or AAT
Some of the school leaver programmes that have been launched recently are named here. Training opportunities are listed on the training vacancies website which but a summary of some of the larger organisations are listed on the slide.

25. Higher Apprenticeship in Assurance/Audit
Developed in consultation with employers
Combination of on and off the job learning
Develop technical skills, business skills and wider competencies
Counts as an entry route to the ACA
Earn while you learn
The Higher Apprenticeship in Assurance/Audit is open to anyone who is 18 years old and above; whether you’re just leaving school, have been working for years, or are seeking to start a new career. You just need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.
You will develop technical skills to enable you to understand the accounting and technical theory as well as putting these skills into practice while working for your employer during the programme. This combination of work experience and technical knowledge will mean by the end of the programme you will have the knowledge and skills you need for a successful career in the professional services sector. This option is closely aligned with ICAEW’s Certificate in Finance and Business qualification (CFAB), which means you also achieve a professional award as part of your apprenticeship.
Securing an Apprenticeship place with an employer is a competitive process, so you will need to show that you’re committed and aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the company who would employ you. You’ll need to be happy to work as part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.

26. Do you want to do the AAT?
If you don’t want to go to university, you can choose to do the AAT qualification which can lead to the ACA.
BUSINESS WITH CONFIDENCE
icaew.com/careers

27. About the AAT-ACA Fast Track
Developed in partnership with the AAT
AAT can be taken as an accountancy apprenticeship
Knowledge, skills or experience gained can count towards your ACA training agreement
An integrated approach
Can take as little as four years!
We work with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) to provide the opportunity for students who choose to study for the AAT to progress and qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in as little as four years.
You can study for the AAT Accounting qualification after your GCSEs or A-levels as a full-time course at college or while you’re in employment. The ACA will build on the knowledge you gain during the AAT and if you are working for one of our authorised training employers during the final stages, we can also count some of your work experience towards the ACA.

28. How does the AAT-ACA Fast Track work?
Working for an ICAEW authorised training employer during the AAT Technician stage
Not working for an ICAEW authorised training employer during the AAT Technician stage
AAT
Diploma Level 3
AAT
Diploma Level 4
ACA Professional Level
ACA Advanced Level
Final year of training agreement
Practical work experience year one
Practical work experience year two
Practical work experience year three
CLICK TO START SLIDE - THIS SLIDE IS ANIMATED AND DOES NOT REQUIRE CLICKS UNTIL READY TO MOVE ON
If you are working for an ICAEW authorised employer this is how the Fast Track works.
Year one – Diploma Level 3 of the AAT. Look here at the modules chosen if want to go on to the ACA so that you can minimise the number of ACA exams you have to sit (Credits explained in the next few slides)
Year Two –While completing your AAT Level 4 Diploma this years work experience can count towards the 450 days of work experience required for the ACA – you can register to be an ACA student at this stage.
Year 3 – is the first year of the ACA exams, and is year 2 of work experience
Year 4 – final year of the ACA for both exams and work experience, all students will sit these exam as these are no credits for this level.
This means you may be able to qualify in as little as 4 years!
If you are NOT working for an ICAEW authorised employer during your TECHNICAIN STAGE - this is how the Fast Track works. Click
You will not be able to count any work experience until you enter into an agreement with an authorised training employer. This means the process may take an additional year.
NEXT SLIDE 28

29. ACA exam structure Case Study ADVANCED LEVEL Corporate Reporting
Strategic Business Management
Business Planning: Taxation
Business Strategy
PROFESSIONAL
LEVEL
Audit and Assurance
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Financial Management
Tax Compliance
If you decide to train for the ACA after doing your AAT Accounting Qualification, you will be able to claim credit for prior learning, or exemptions, which is available for some of the ACA Certificate Level modules.
Credit available for completion of the Level 4 Diploma in Accounting - MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, ACCOUNTING and BUSINESS AND FINANCE.
Credit available for completion of External Auditing at Level 4 Diploma in Accounting – ASSURANCE
Credit available for completion of both Personal and Business Tax at Level 4 Diploma of Accounting - PRINCIPLES OF TAXATION
Accounting
Assurance
Business and Finance
Law
Management Information
Principles of Taxation
CERTIFICATE
LEVEL

30. Do you want to go to university?
If you do decide to go to university there are a few things you will need to know…
Most employers accept applications from any degree discipline, so you don’t have to do a business or accountancy related degree. They generally look for graduates who have high marks in their degree, so choose a subject you enjoy and will do well at. Training for the ACA as a graduate will usually take three years. However, if you are looking to do a business, finance or accountancy related degree there are some things for you to consider.
Credit for prior learning – we work closely with universities around the world to see which areas of the ACA are already covered in a particular degree. So, if you’re considering a business, finance, accountancy or law degree you may be able to apply for credits for up to eight ACA exams. Visit icaew.com/cpl to see if your chosen degree is listed and the credits that may be available to you.
University partnerships – we also have partnerships with some universities for some of their degrees. You could have up to a year’s experience to count towards your ACA training agreement and a number of credits towards the ACA qualification. Details of all of these schemes can be found at icaew.com/partnerships.
BUSINESS WITH CONFIDENCE
icaew.com/careers

31. What degree do you need?
Most employers accept graduates with any degree to train as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, although some employers may have a preference. What they look for is genuine enthusiasm for the topic you’ve studied (often demonstrated by a high mark) and skills that will give you the leading edge in the workplace, such as being a good
team player and having excellent communication skills.
ICAEW Chartered Accountants come from a diverse range of backgrounds and are not just accounting graduates. Our 2011 students took degrees in:

32. So let’s recap…… a successful and rewarding career
the qualification for those with ambition
an integrated approach
a range of entry routes
So let’s just recap on the ACA qualification and the available entry routes before we continue:
Becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant can offer a highly rewarding career full of opportunities
The ACA is a qualification for those with ambition - It will give you the Knowledge, Skills and Experience to perform at the highest levels – whatever your ambitions.
There are a range of entry routes enabling you to shape your career in a way that suits you.

33. What else do you need to know?
Employers need to see that you are committed to your career. Demonstrate on your CV and in interviews the following:
Development of employability skills (list example skills)– through extra curricular activities, i.e. Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise, BASE (ICAEW’s national business game competition) and part time / voluntary work. 33

34. What do employers want from your application?
The right qualifications relevant to the role
Don’t copy and paste
Do your research
Check your spelling
Use formal language and grammar
Use real-life examples
Attach a relevant and short CV
What employers want from applications
Make sure you qualifications match those required
Don’t copy and paste
Do your research
Check your spelling
Use formal language and grammar
Use real-life examples
Keep your CV short and relevant
Spend 2 hours per application form- quality not quantity
Highlight your other interests, i.e. societies, sports etc
Quality not quantity
Include external interests 34

35. 1 2 3 4 Next steps… Choose how you are going to get there…
Find an authorised training employer… 3
Complete your training for the ACA qualification… 4
Become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant…
Key Slide
1. Choose how you are going to train…
• University
• CFAB
• AAT-ACA Fast Track
• Straight from school
Higher Apprenticeship in Assurance/audit
2 Find an authorised training employer (ATE)
Any organisation can train you to become a chartered accountant. You can train and work in practice (a firm of chartered accountants), industry, financial services, not-for-profit and the public sector. - DEDICATED WEBSITE TO HELP YOU. CLICK ON TV LINK.
WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR
You should expect to undergo a rigorous recruitment process – it’s all part of ensuring ACA students meet the highest standards.
Employers will be considering your academic abilities, willingness to learn, commitment and motivation. They will also be looking for softer skills such as team working, oral and written communication, problem-solving and commercial awareness.
You will probably already have some experience of these through your existing work experience, or through non-academic or voluntary work. As well as a CV, it’s worth preparing examples for interviews and applications, showing how your skills and experience match employers’ needs.
3 Complete your training for the ACA qualification
• Professional development
• Ethics and professional scepticism
• 3-5 years practical work experience
• 15 accountancy, finance and business modules
4 Become a chartered accountant
Once you have completed your training agreement, passed your exams and met the technical work experience requirements, you can become a member of ICAEW and use the letters ACA after your name.

36. Find out more… ACAdemy@icaew.com KEY SLIDE
Pick up a brochure or go visit our website icaew.com/careers for more information. You may also like to subscribe to our e-newsletter which is sent out bi-monthly.

37. Find a training vacancy
Published 3 times per year
Online – full time ACA vacancies and internships
Upload your CV
Manage your own profile
Receive regular updates
Searched by employers
Training Vacancies is also a valuable resource. Published 3 times and year in hard copy format and available throughout the year online, it is an essential resource when looking for an ACA Training Agreement. There are lots of functions to help you and some great hints and tips to give you a helping hand. Visit icaew.com/careers and click on the Training Vacancies link and take a look for yourself.
© ICAEW 2012.

38. facebook.com/icaewstartingpoint
Please promote our Facebook page!
facebook.com/icaewstartingpoint

39. Any questions?