How important are your ACCA exams for your ACCA livelihood?

This could be the $64m question asked by many or even most part qualified ACCA students, as they approach the conclusion of their ACCA student life-cycle, can easily see light after the preverbial tunnel, and is all set to face a brand new challenge dawning in the distance. Namely, the battle of passing all their ACCA exams, finally qualifying after all these years and acquiring that desired accreditation to the internationally recognised ACCA, and now having to find suitable and regular work in the accounting field.

Obtaining a job in accountancy is not an effortless feat; it is a very ambitious and hungry environment. ACCA students commence their ACCA student career with a vision of easily obtaining a high paying position in accountancy at the end, since their qualification holds great weight. Have an ACCA qualification is virtually a pre-requisite lately to achieve a suitable standard of job role. As the University Degree became more common place on the CV of candidates looking for everyday jobs, as has the ACCA qualification become the standard amongst job-seeking qualified accountants. Without a qualification, life would be much harder.

Role of Audit

The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and even energy conservation.

Audit in Accounting

Audits are performed to ascertain the validity and reliability of information; also to provide an assessment of a system's internal control. The goal of an audit is to express an opinion on the person / organization / system (etc) in question, under evaluation based on work done on a test basis.

Audit is a vital part of accounting - that is an undeniable fact. We interviewed one ACCA student, studying at professional level, who was kind enough to share his experience; “Wherever we went (to audit clients) we have been received with respect. Our clients believe that we are able to do something that they don’t. Families and friends seek our opinion in non-accounting matters. So with the respect that this profession has, I believe that firms and auditors should be more sensible and responsible”.

As an auditor, we sell our trustworthiness to clients. Damaging that expensive commodity might affect the business. Some auditors believe that the scope of audit could even be extended from simply giving an opinion on financial statements alone to engaging on issues such as risk management etc.

What are your views on Audit? Why not talk about it on the TonySurridge.co.uk forum?

Want a job in auditing? Have a look at the TonySurridge.co.uk Jobsearch.

Get Shortlisted for your next ACCA job... with your Cover Letter

Secure that ACCA job with a decent Cover Letter

1. Your cover letter is your first sales pitch
2. Purpose of your cover letter
3. The ‘golden rule’ of writing a cover letter
4. The contents of your cover letter
5. General guidelines

1. Your cover letter is your first sales pitch

The letter sent with the CV - the ‘Cover letter’ - is a candidate’s first sales pitch to a prospective employer, yet fewer and fewer candidates seem to be taking the time to carefully craft one, especially in this day of e-mailed job applications. A good cover letter introduces you to the recruiter and makes clear why you are so admirably suited for the ACCA job role. It can serve to highlight you accomplishments, call attention to special abilities you possess and showcase your excellent writing skills. It’s simply an overview of ‘you’ - how you and your skills relate to the ACCA position as well as providing an essential first impression of your personality and level-headedness. Remember, you do not get a second chance to make a first impression and you want that impression to be very positive.

2. Purpose of your cover letter
It is essential to keep these goals in mind when creating your cover letter. A cover letter serves to:

- Create that vitally important favourable first impression
- Introduce yourself
- Show your communication skills
- Display your professionalism
- Demonstrate your personality

ACCA Job adverts and ACCA job descriptions often list “good communication skills” and here is a chance to demonstrate the skills you have. Make sure to use proper grammar, punctuation and capitalisation – this is not the place to exercise your ‘IT text’ skills.

3. The ‘golden rule’ of writing a cover letter

The ‘Golden rule’ is that a cover letter should not be a rehash of your CV. One of the biggest mistakes ACCA job applicants make is to simply copy things straight from their CV. A CV itemises your skills, abilities and experience while the cover letter strategically fills in unexplained gaps, clarifies things, and justifies lapses in your CV. The cover letter should enlarge on your CV and emphasise two important points:

- what you can do for the company, and
- what the company needs that you have to offer.

4. The contents of your cover letter

Your cover letter should have four general sections. The first short paragraph should demonstrate your interest and commitment, and explain why you are writing. It should state the title of the ACCA job (or type of position) you are applying for, as well as how you heard about the company and the position. In this first paragraph you should also refer to your enclosed CV, or to mention that a CV has been delivered separately by electronic means.

The second paragraph should explain your interest in this type of position. You should highlight those qualifications and strengths you possess that are particularly relevant to the job opportunity, and use action verbs to describe your experience. This paragraph should be brief. Be specific in what you have to offer the company. Even though your CV contains a wealth of information, you must select 2 or 3 key points - whether qualifications, experience, aptitude or personal attributes - which match your understanding of the company’s needs, gathered through studying their advert, job description, or website. (For ideas on the use of action verbs please refer to the http://www.tonysurridge.co.uk/job-search free guide, '20 Ways of Getting your CV in the Yes Pile’.)

The third paragraph should briefly explain gaps in your CV, clarify things in it that may not be clear and justify certain actions that you have taken in your career, such as why you only stayed eight months in one particular position. Remember, the essence here is one of brevity!

The fourth part is the closing paragraph. In this you respectfully request action, such as an appointment, an interview, or some other outcome. Make things easy for the recruiter by listing the best times to call you, the best number to call you on, and/or your e-mail address. Close by restating your interest in the company, and the position (if appropriate).

5. General guidelines
The following points should help you in writing an effective cover letter:

- The cover letter should not be more than one page. Use A4 sized paper. Use no more than seven lines per paragraph.

- Your cover letter should not look like it has been distributed as a standard form letter to numerous employers. It should be customised to the needs of the employer. Address your letter to the person who can employ you. If you do not know the name of the person, call the company and find out the name and title of the person to whom to address your letter. This shows initiative and resourcefulness and will impress the recruiter that you figured out a way to address him/her personally But – use name and title and don’t try to guess their gender – don’t even try to get into the minefield of ‘mrs’, ‘ms’ or ‘miss’!

- The cover letter should not appear self-centred but rather job or employer-centred. Downplay “I” and emphasise “you”. Try to convert “I haves” into “you wants” for the employer. Put across the feeling of ‘ What can I do for your rganisation’. This is where your research comes in. Make it clear that you didn’t just pick this company out of an advert. You know who they are, what they do, and you have a definite reason for choosing them. Also, make sure your letter doesn’t project an overly condescending, belligerent and obnoxious tone. Don’t be too cocky!

- There should be no grammatical, spelling or typing errors. Proofread the cover letter, and have someone else proofread it as well.

- It should look professional in form, structure and design. Use block style with one inch side margins. Make sure the letter sounds like you, not something out of a book. Don’t be too informal. Your letter should be as close to a business proposal as possible to get – not a plea for an interview. Your letter should be an accurate reflection of your personality. Employers are searching for enthusiasm, knowledge, ability and focus.

- It should not be handwritten but rather typed or word-processed. Use the same font and type size as used for your CV.

- Do not use inappropriate stationery or the wrong envelope size. Match CV stationery if sending hard copies.

- Be sure to include contact information - a return address, phone number and e-mail address.

- The primary goal of the cover letter is to get an interview. Be sure to request one at the end of the letter.

- And finally, be prepared to instigate a follow-up telephone call a week later. Let your prospective employer know you will be doing this in your cover letter. This may be just enough to get them to hold onto your cover letter and give it a more thorough reading.

For advice on how to improve your chances of obtaining a work position refer to the http://www.tonysurridge.co.uk/job-search/ Boost Your Chances’ free guide.

Alternatively head to our website to see a range of ACCA jobs available throughout the UK from ACCA job recruiters

Resign with panache

1. Resignation – is it the right decision?
2. Balance your options
3. Give notice
4. No obligation
5. What to say
6. Write a Resignation Letter
7. Ask for a reference
8. Don't forget to tie up the loose ends
9. Return company property

Handing in your resignation isn't always easy. Look at the circumstances. You hate your job, hate your boss and know you’re about to be fired. Or, perhaps you like your job and like your boss but you’ve found a new job and can't wait to start it. Whatever your circumstance, it can be difficult to resign tactfully, and with style. First of all, it’s sometimes difficult to be sure that you really do want to quit. Then, you need to manage your resignation as carefully as you would handle any other career event. It's always wise not to burn bridges - you never know when you will call on your present employer for a reference.

1. Resignation – is it the right decision?
Before you make the decision to resign, be absolutely sure that this is the right decision. There are lots of cases where people have left and then regretted it, sometimes only one day later. They quickly find that they hate the new job and want to go back to their old position. But usually the old position is quickly filled and the person is out of luck. If you're not sure about the position you’ve been offered, ask if you can spend a day or so in the new role, before you give a firm undertaking to accept it. The experience may bolster your decision to take the position or help you decide you don't want it. Also, consider very carefully the benefits of being in your present position.

2. Balance your options
Have you been offered another job? If so, weigh the ups and downs of the new job against your current position. Consider the work environment, the people you work with, flexibility, salary and benefits in addition to the job responsibilities and its career potential. If the new job comes out in front on all counts and you feel positive about this career change, then go for it.

No new job secured? Before you quit, consider a few basic facts. It may take any time between one month and six months, sometimes longer, to find a new position. Unless you quit for a valid cause, you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. Do you have enough savings or other income to live on? Even if your employment situation is not a happy one, you might want to consider staying with the job you have, as well your pay cheque, and looking for a new job before you resign. The old adage that "it's easier to find a job, when you have a job" does ring true.

3. Give notice
If you have an employment contract that states an agreed period of notice, abide by it. Otherwise, it's usual to offer two weeks notice.

4. No obligation
If your employer asks you stay on beyond two weeks (or whatever the time period is in your contract) you have no obligation to stay. Your new employer will be expecting you to start as planned, at the agreed date. What you could do, is offer to help your previous employer, if asked, after hours and in your own time.

5. What to say
Don't say much more than the fact that you are leaving. Highlight the positive and talk about how much you have benefited by your association with the company, but state that it's time to move on. Offer to help during the changeover and after it. Don't be negative. There's no reason - you're leaving and you want to leave on good terms.

6. Write a Resignation Letter
Even if you resign verbally, still write a resignation letter. A resignation letter can help you preserve a positive relationship with your old employer, while paving the way for you to separate from the company. You never know when you might need your current employer to give you a reference, so it makes sense to take the time to write a refined and professional resignation letter. Use the few sample resignation letters we provide, for suggestions on what to write.

7. Ask for a reference
Before you leave, ask for a letter of recommendation from your manager. As time progresses and people move on, it's easy to lose track of previous employers. With a letter available, you'll have written evidence of your credentials to submit to future recruiters.

8. Don't forget to tie up the loose ends
Find out about the benefits and salary you are entitled to receive upon leaving. Collect your P45 tax form.

9. Return company property
Return any company property you have - including documents, computers, keys, phones, and anything else that does not belong to you. The company does not want to chase you to get back their property, and you don't want to be held responsible if it's not returned and accounted for in a suitable manner.
For advice on how to improve your chances of obtaining a work position refer to the tonysurridge.co.uk/job-search/ ‘Boost Your Chances’ free guide.

Your 'Thank-you-for -the-interview'

1. Boost your chances by sending a follow-up thank-you note
2. Tips on how to write a Thank-You note

1. Boost your chances by sending a follow-up thank-you note

You’ve written a great CV and survived the crucial interview. So what do you do now? Just sit back and wait until the company contacts you? Wrong. Give a boost to your ACCA job application by following up with a thank-you note. Since less than 10% of interviewees ever follow-up with a thank-you note, by doing so you can be sure that you will rise that much higher through the list of candidates. A thank-you note always leaves a favourable impression with a prospective employer. It shows that you are an interested, committed and considerate person. The thank-you note is something that should not be overlooked in today's competitive job market, and it is to your advantage that many other applicants tend to ignore this small but significant gesture.

2. Tips on how to write a Thank-You note

The following are some tips to bear in mind when writing a thank-you note.

A mailed hard copy note.
You should plan to send a thank-you note within a day or so of your interview. While some professions such as those in the technology industry would accept e-mailed thank-you notes as norm behaviour, it is likely that employers in the finance profession would prefer a mailed hard copy. If you want to be ‘first’, e-mail a thank-you note and follow-up with hard-copy. Type your thank-you letter in a standard business format, although a hand-written note adds the nice touch (providing, that is, your hand-writing is good). Avoid using “Thank You” stationery (cards, etc.) or business letterhead when writing your thank you. Just use standard plain paper – preferably the same paper you used when printing out your CV.

Personalize it.
You will probably be one of numerous interviewees most of whom will also have the ACCA qualification, so you need to set yourself apart from the other applicants in a way that your prospective employer will remember you after the interview. In your thank-you note, emphasise a key point from your interview that you think the interviewer will recall, and therefore know who thethank-you note is coming from. Mention the day of the interview and job title,this will also aid recall.

Additionally, if you are interviewed by more than one person, perhaps a panel of
interviewers, consider sending them all thank-you notes, each one slightly different. This is not only polite, but you may not know exactly who in the group will be making the recruitment decision, and so it will be ‘good politics’as well. Try to get a business card from each interviewer as this will help you with names and titles when you write your thank-yous.

Keep your note brief and courteous.
Keep the thank-you note brief and courteous. It should be no more than one page. Show courtesy by expressing your gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the prospective employer, and thank him/her for taking the time to talk with you.

Express your enthusiasm for the job.
Express your interest in and enthusiasm for the company, department and the job-position for which you interviewed. Try to be precise about why you are interested and how you are so right for the job. Resist the urge to sell yourself, the interview is the time you should have done that.

Address unresolved issues.
Address any points or questions that arose during the interview that you feel you did not fully answer or give jstice to. This thank-you note may be your last chance to resolve doubts in the mind of your interviewer and leave him/her with a positive impression.

Reiterate your strengths and highlight your successes
For instance that you have passed through the robust ACCA exam programme. If the
interviewer stressed particular issues, needs or challenges, use your thank-you
note to explain how you can meet those requirements. Similarly, if the interviewer spoke about the ideal qualifications and personal qualities required for the position, use your thank-you note to highlight how you meet or surpass those qualities.

Proof-read, and then proof-read again.
Now is not the time to make spelling or grammatical mistakes Make sure your thank-you note conveys a professional image by ensuring it is error free.

Keep a copy.
Keep a copy for your records, especially if you've used your thank-you note to restate, elaborate, or clarify points raised on the interview. Also,keep copies of any replies, so that you have an entire history of your employment application.

For template examples suitable for ACCA applicants of 'Thank-You' notes refer to the free-of-charge tonysurridge.co.uk/job-search/ ‘Thank-You-For-The-Interview' template examples.

Thank you - ACCA Paper P3

It was very nice to receive a message from one of my ACCA students, Samyak M. Shah. He writes as follows:

'Please note that by God's Grace and blessings of wellwishers like yourselves, I have passed Paper P3 with 59 marks.

Sir - your teaching and training is simply marvellous.

You have taught us a lot and we owe you a gratitude for the same.

Probably - the words will never be sufficient to express the gratitude.

With regards ...'

Well done Samyak!
.

What are employers expecting from ACCA job applicants?

We are all aware of the uncertain economic conditions throughout the world and how difficult it is nowadays to get appointed in the organisation of our choice. A responsible ‘white collar’ job is everyone’s dream especially after passing the qualifying exams of ACCA or CIMA. People often choose a finance and accountancy career as they believe that it will give them interesting and satisfying responsibilities and often presents a short-cut route to senior management positions. Keeping in mind the emerging demand of ACCA members and other professional accountants, people often get a picture in their minds that after completion of the ACCA qualifying exams they will go directly to the higher positions. Indeed, some candidates are hired on a ‘fast-route’ basis, but this is not the case for the majority of applicants. What’s the reason behind this?

The probable reason is that most ACCA job applicants are not aware of their employer’s expectations. Studies leading to professional qualification like that of ACCA, CIMA etc. lack considerably on the ‘softer skills’ although they are well versed on the technical aspects. It has been seen that evidence of personal skills and personality traits cannot be seen in many
ACCA job applicants even though they hold professional qualifications which are renowned throughout the world. Analysis of the current economic situation throughout the world shows us that the first objective of most organisation is one of cost cutting. Employing managers will be looking for applicants who are competent and versatile in every aspect required and who promise good value for money for investment in them. ACCA and CIMA professional applicants who demonstrate good communication skills along with strong business etiquette, team spirit, negotiation skills and social graces are people who are most successful in obtaining professional positions and reaching high positions.
.
For this reason, it is important that ACCA and CIMA applicants have a knowledge and skill base that extends beyond their professional examinations. Knowledge grooms personality and leads to confidence - important requirements in modern organisations. An important need therefore, is to extend study beyond normal course books and to embrace business newspapers, business magazines and well written business books. This will help sharpen your business perception and softer http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifskills. It is personality that counts high when it comes to the promotion of one individual from a group of people with similar technical skills who all compete for the position.

Organisations are very aware that employees play an important part in maintaining relationships with their customers and developing a successful business. For this reason, soft skills have a great impact on clients, often greater than the technical skills. We cannot say that technical skills are not important but we all know that the balance of soft and technical skills is vital in today’s professional environment. It is unlikely that an ACCA or CIMA professional will advance far without a strong demonstration of skills in both.

ACCA Papers F1, F2 and F3

The syllabus for ACCA Paper F1, ACCA Paper F2 and ACCA Paper F3 will change for exams taken from 1st December 2011 onwards. The current e-books published by Tony Surridge Online will remain for students taking the exams up to and including 30th November. This is appropriate as many students only study these subjects for a few months. We intend to publish new books in September 2011 for students taking exams from 1st December 2011. We will then run both publications in parallel (to meet the needs of both types of studens - those sitting the F1, F2, and F3 ACCA exams up to 30November and those from 1st December) and we will then will withdraw the current editions on 1st December.

ACCA Paper F8 Diagnostic Questions and Answers

Following masses of requests from students who have used our ACCA Paper F5 and ACCA Paper F9 Diagnostic Questions and Answers we are currently preparing further publications based on the ACCA Diagnostic Test platform which has proved so successful. Currently we are developing our ACCA Paper F8 Diagnostic Questions and Answers and details of download availability will be announced as soon as possible.

Accounting Jobs available on the TonySurridge website

For those of you who may be unaware, the TonySurridge.co.uk offers an active and up to date Accounting and Finance specialist job board. With latest vacancies posted from numerous recruitment agencies throughout the UK, the TonySurridge.co.uk job board is more like a spring board to help with your ACCA career.

Have a look now on our website and see what new accounting jobs we have.

ACCA F9 Diagnostic Test – practice questions and answers E-book soon to be made available from TonySurridge.co.uk

ACCA F9 Diagnostic Test – practice questions and answers E-book soon to be made available from www.TonySurridge.co.uk

The much anticipated ACCA F9 practice questions and answers E-book, as authored by the TonySurridge.co.uk team is soon to be released for public purchase. Register now at www.TonySurridge.co.uk for more up-to-date alerts and be the first in line to purchase the new coveted ACCA Study E-book, designed to prepare you for your upcoming December 2010 ACCA exams.

The TonySurridge ACCA F9 Diagnostic Test E-book will cover the necessary topics, offering an arsenal of practice questions and answers for the respective ACCA student to solidify their F9 syllabus knowledge.

Previous Q&A E-book titles from www.TonySurridge.co.uk covered ACCA subjects including P3 – offering a variety of section A and B exam style questions providing a truly simulated style of exam preparation, as well as ACCA F5 Diagnostic Tests which provided approximately 350 “quick fire” questions to help drill in the 14 topics in that ACCA subject. TonySurridge.co.uk also sells CBE style question papers for those ACCA beginners looking to pass their ACCA F1 and ACCA F2 exams.

The award winning accountancy lecturers and publishing team at www.TonySurridge.co.uk have published numerous titles to help with your ACCA studies, covering a variety of subjects, and offering E-books under their categories of 1) Exam Study text, 2) Practice Questions and Answers, 3) Revision Mnemonics and Charts. In addition to ACCA study materials, the accountancy resource website also offers an active accountancy and finance job board displaying the latest industry vacancies and a comprehensive ACCA based forum for ACCA students to discuss topics and problems amongst like-minded peers.
Have a look now at www.TonySurridge.co.uk

ACCA study / Accountancy Jobs / Business seminars / ACCA topical forum / Industry news

ACCA Job Interview - General Tips – Prepare correctly for your Accounting career

I know many of you have already read various general interview tips but let me reiterate the issue. Let me put you in the Employers’ shoes for a moment. Just imagine you are an accountancy employer, either working for a big firm or even a small independent accountancy practice, looking to take on that newest ACCA part qualified staff member to join your team, and you’re looking forward to interviewing respective candidates… but the following happens:

• He/she enters into the room with a smell of smoke and chewing gum in his/her mouth. How much would you be impressed? What does this say about the candidate? (People often chew gum before an interview to maintain fresh breath, but you’d be surprised how many people actually forget to take the gum out before walking in! And resist the urge to smoke before an interview, the smell is overpowering!)
• He/she is not wearing a proper suit, or worse yet, wearing jeans. (You are interviewing for a professional accounting career… you need to dress accordingly)
• He/she only has one single copy of their CV with them. (Take multiple copies to give out in case they need one again. You don’t yet know if it’s a multiple-seated interview panel.)
• He or she is fifteen minutes late. (Never, ever be late for your interview! If you appear late for one of the most important meetings, this suggests you won’t even care about other business meetings in the future)
• Their information in their CV, and information the applicant provides during the interview are totally different. First thing on your mind? Doubt! (Always make sure your CV is factual and you know it inside-out)
• The candidate has called you by your first name without permission (how would you feel in this professional setting?) and even worse, they’ve pronounced your name wrong! (always use their formal name until you are told to call them otherwise. Listen to how they introduce themselves when you first shake hands. It will be an indication of how they want you to address them)
• The candidate is yawning and more interested in a view outside the window, not even bothering to make eye contact with you. (If you don’t want to pay attention or act interested, then this is not the job for you. Don’t waste your time or the time of the interviewer)
• He/she sits before you even ask. (Wow! Do you feel empowered?… because the interviewer could feel like they are on the back foot before they’ve even started… watch out!)
• No professional conduct and no sense of humor (your staff is going to hate you for hiring them). (Always act professionally, and you want to come across as if you can work in a team. It will be an important issue for the interviewer to review overall)
• The candidate conducts inappropriate or weak body language. (Not everything is measured verbally - think of your upright posture, your smile, your arms and hands etc)
• His/her answers are like a never ending speech and he took you for granted (presuming himself the only applicant). And still you are wondering why are you even interviewing him/her? (this is a 2-way process… they need to ask you their questions to see if you fit. Allow them to ask, then it’s your turn at the end. Wait until then)
• They start debating on Politics or Religion. (This is a job interview, not a current affairs debate, unless the state of the economy and government has some significant bearing directly relating to the job role)
• And before leaving, they assume they already have the job and ask you how much you’re willing to pay them? (Always let the interviewer bring up the discussion of salary. They may have to go away and think about it, or perhaps they haven’t offered it to you at all because they won’t be offering you the job. In either case, appear too pushy and most interviewers won’t like that)

Yes, I know you are completely frustrated if you could imagine the scenario above and as an employer you know what should not be done. So, respectively, if you really want to fail an interview, follow all the steps above.

However, look at these 5 top tips to hold yourself with a fighting chance.

Five tips for a top ACCA interview

• Be prepared
  Learn as much as you can about your potential company, who they are, their services and their strategic direction. Make sure you can articulate how your strengths and career goals align with the company, and why you think you’ll succeed in that particular organization.
• Be proactive
  Prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s) so you can assess whether the company is the right place to launch your ACCA career. Ask them questions about the organization (they would be pleased to tell you more) but be specific about the role, the clients you will be expected to take on, the opportunities they can offer you and what you can expect from them in general. (All of these points should not be questions which you can find the answers about on their website – see research point above, “be prepared”)
• Be yourself
  Try to relax and remember that companies are interested in the real you. When preparing, it’s helpful to think about how you’d like to communicate certain points but avoid over-rehearsing, as it may come across as impersonal.
• Be professional
  Take pride in your presentation. Companies adore professional traits like how you dress, how you speak and what you tell them about yourself. You will, after all, be representing them in meetings, with clients etc. They want to make sure you represent them well in appearance and tone.
• Be aware
  Throughout the interview take a quick moment to think before you act. Be aware of how you are sitting, your posture, your body language, don’t yawn, keep eye-contact etc. Don’t just blurt out any response simply to answer the question quickly, make sure you understand the questions and answer them accordingly and thoughtfully. If you’re speaking too fast, slow down.

For more tips and techniques in preparing for your ACCA job interview, please see the Tony Surridge “Boost Your Chances” section. www.tonysurridge.co.uk/boost-chances

For the latest ACCA and other general accounting jobs throughout the UK, please go to the Tony Surridge specialist job board. www.tonysurridge.co.uk/job-search

Here's a little article from one of our writers. It's all about Telephone Interviews. If you've thought you don'tneed to prepare for your telephone interview, think again!

RING RING – Telephone Interviews for your ACCA job


Ring!!!!Ring!!!!

• “Hello?”
• Sir/Madam we are calling from DD Audit Firm.*
• “Okay, and how may I help you? (meow, background noise of pet cats)
• Sir/Madam you submitted an online CV for an ACCA accountancy related job on our website.
• “So?”
• We need a telephonic interview before we ask you for a face to face interview…


The background pet cat was the least I mentioned. People even have more terrible experiences for their telephone interviews. Yes, many accounting companies are now starting to prefer telephone interviews before they call you onto their premises. Reasons could be many, but in light of growing accountancy applicants, many recruiters now need to be more efficient when finding their ideal candidate.

With the changing technological advancements, companies are one step ahead of us in using them. There are stories of people who were rejected just because their Facebook profile does not seems fit or show an inappropriate behavior. So next time, before you do anything inappropriate or extremely stupid on Facebook, don’t think your actions are going un-noticed. Accountancy companies are now even hiring their potential employees on social networking websites, especially, Linkedin. (Read our other articles on social sites like Linkedin, this could be your biggest advantage if you are serious about your career).


So, How to Tackle a Telephone Interview?

People form opinions and make judgments about us in the first 60 seconds they see us. People also make judgments about us based on the way we sound on the telephone. (For more on this topic I will strongly, and may I say very strongly, suggest you the book of Malcolm Gladwell, BLINK.

Because these accountancy recruiters cannot see us over the telephone they will form these opinions based not only what we say, but also on "how" we say it. In fact the message we communicate over the telephone is based primarily on these two important qualities;
(1) "What" we say (Verbal) and (2) "How" we say it.

There are many ways to handle the telephone interviews. Here are just a few thoughts...
To see our FULL article for free, click here

Be a Friend with LinkedIn – good for your ACCA career

I was never into internet. With just one email address and checking it only once a month, I was trying to avoid it. Why? I don’t exactly know why, but one big excuse was that at the time I was way too busy with my ACCA Studies.

One day my friend forces me to be more active on internet. “It will help you find ACCA Jobs and make new contacts. Plus as you’ve been a teacher, you can also impress others, make new connections and it would be good for your ACCA career”, he said in a mocking tone.

I gave it some thought when it came time to try it out I was confronted by numerous social websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Before I knew it, my fate was decided – I experienced a new career in digital media. No longer did I check my emails only once a month, I was reading them constantly, and now I am reaping the rewards of these technological advances. Sometimes I regret I should have started it earlier.

I decided for Facebook first. From time to time I'd get invites and messages. Often I ignored them, or put them off for another day. Since Facebook seemed more fun, with its photos and games and fan pages, I spent much more time there, accumulating more than 300 "friends," revising my bio several times, and posting various article links.

Then 3 months ago I started covering leadership and ACCA careers, and every career expert I talked with, from coaches to headhunters to campus recruiters, told me that LinkedIn was an essential job search tool. Great for your ACCA career! A LinkedIn profile can serve as a passive job magnet, since accountancy recruiters and hiring managers use the site as a gold mine for locating ACCA qualified candidates.

I met ACCA students and ACCA professionals alike, who shared their experience about how they get their jobs through Linkedln. “It’s a new experience. I wrote an article in a local newspaper and a newspaper editor, after going through my article hired me in a permanent position”, told one of my LinkedIn connections.

So my best advice for ACCA students (after their June attempt) is to set up a profile on LinkedIn and update their CVs accordingly.

Think professionally and act in a professional manner with LinkedIn. Facebook is a different kettle of fish, more fun and perhaps more informal. But we’re talking about a professional community for professionals read by the professionals. And potential accounting employers won’t be pleased with stupid status updates or your teenage adventures. (this is what they might see with your Facebook page – think before you act or show your Facebook profile publically!) So look out for potential opportunities and do not give yourself any excuse (like I did) not to use these social networking websites. Who knows you might be getting a new ACCA career while making new acquaintances on Linkedln.

LinkedIn is not the only place to search for ACCA Jobs, or to upload your accountancy CV. Try specialist accountancy job boards, make sure you can upload your CV for free, ensure that you are allowed to apply for jobs for free, and see if they offer free tips and techniques to help you with your chances. All of these can be found at the specialist accountancy and finance job board, at http://www.TonySurridge.co.uk/job-search

Increasing ACCA Numbers

Increasing ACCA Numbers?

By Ali Ahmad on 29th April 2010 for TonySurridge.co.uk

Sitting with a friend at a coffee shop discussing about the current global crunch and wondering when things will take good shape, I came to know that our accountancy body, i.e., ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), has grown by more than 400,000 students. This number is huge enough to fill 4 stadiums equivalent to 4 and a half Wembley Stadiums, London.

I rechecked the statistics and came to know that my friend was wrong. The figure is actually 404,000 students, according to one corporate group*, a rise of almost 10% from last year. According to the website, ACCA also opened offices in Brussels, Bangladesh, Chengdu and Macau.

So the question in my mind was, can we really accommodate all these ACCA students?
With the global economy growth rate of less than 10% and with the student’s growth rate of more than ten percent seems to widen the gap. I talked with Mr. Asrar ul Haq of Alhamd Academy about this issue and he denied to give any comments on global effect but he mentioned that in Pakistan, things are getting worse for even accountants. Reasons? He said that with growing cost of business and high competition from neighboring countries, companies started to cut their expenses and unluckily accountants, in their perception, is a luxury which they cannot afford now. But Mr. Asrar also believes that if the accountancy community started to behave more proactively and prove that they are visionary and trust worthy, things could change for both, the businesses and accountants.

Despite claims from the industry that there is a rise in demand from accountants, many still doubt it. I talked to a group of students and they said that before they entered into the qualification, there was less competition than now. We believe that now we have to equip ourselves with additional skills because of the demanding employers taking advantage of current economic turmoil. We talked with Mr. Bilal Siddiqui, resident editor of Pakistanacca.com in Karachi. He rejects the claim from the students about the employers taking advantage of the situation. “Actually the world is moving fast due to its technological advancements. No one knew about Youtube and Facebook a few years ago and now IT students are learning new courses to develop applications and games on these new mediums. The demanded IT area in year 2007 were Facebook application developer, which never existed two years before that. How can we (accountants) stay away from not meeting the requirements of advancing needs of economy, he added.

He further argues, “Students, worldwide, are just considering that a single qualification is enough. They have to realize that this is not the matter of filling jobs. It’s not like the companies are JUST filling positions. If they cannot find a competitive manager, they simply leave the post unfilled.

So do you think these future four hundred thousand potential ACCA accountants could be employed? We asked him.

“I am not sure about everyone and any particular region but the beauty of ACCA is that students can move anywhere in the world and global crises are not exactly global anymore. If there are few jobs in one region then there are more jobs in another. Things are not as bad as we sometimes believe”.

So, when I conclude the discussion in a nut shell, I see that the question wasn’t set right. It should not be discussed whether companies can provide enough jobs to employ all those future affiliates, it should be more like, Can we train our youth to think themselves as a future Job producer (entrepreneur in short) instead of job seeker. But again, one more question which disturbs me, is does our field have any capacity to innovate new services? Just give me five new services that accountancy related companies could introduce?

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