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Director of Treasury Operations and Pensions Strategy, IBM

'The choice of ACCA was easy. The technical excellence of the qualification, combined with the ability to study while gaining practical experience in industry meant there was no real competition. I still feel the same today - I qualified in 1980.'

Damian Glendinning recalls that it was while studying a degree in languages at Oxford University that he became interested in accountancy: 'During one of my summer vacation jobs, I was given the opportunity to work in overdue accounts receivable for a factory in England that made septic tanks. In the short time I was there, I got to know more than almost anyone else about how the company really worked. I realised that the accounts department is where you see everything that happens in a company, and if used properly, this information can get you into different areas.

'Towards the end of my time there, the owner gave me a really good piece of advice: languages by themselves are good but if you can ally them with a good professional qualification, you significantly increase your options.'

Following graduation, Damian went to work for Unilever in London where he began to study the ACCA examinations. On qualifying, he was sent to Unilever in France where he worked in internal audit and had the chance to undertake several audits in French speaking West Africa including Cameroon, Benin, the Central African Republic, Gabon and Togo.

After a short period with Schlumberger, an oil field services company, Damian joined IBM in 1984 and embarked on an international career which has taken him from positions in Europe to Asia and now the US. For the last ten years he has worked in treasury and held the position of treasurer for the Asia Pacific region in Singapore before moving to IBM's corporate headquarters in New York to take on his current role of director of treasury operations and pensions strategy with a worldwide responsibility.

'I have found that a good accounting qualification gives an excellent grounding. This has been borne out by my experience of working with colleagues of the highest quality from many different backgrounds. Now working in treasury, I still find my knowledge of accounting a major asset, and one which often gives me a comparative advantage.'

He rates the flexibility which comes from being a qualified accountant as the greatest benefit of his ACCA qualification: 'I have worked in several industries from margarine and toothpaste, via oil field services to the world's premier IT company. Not many professions enable you to move in this way between industries.'

Looking to the future, Damian recognises that the profession faces many challenges not least in the area of accounting standards. He comments: 'The move towards the international integration of accounting standards is vital, as are the many debates over the reform of standards. The important thing to keep in mind is the core requirements for accountants to ensure excellent training, to develop the skills and processes which help them adapt to changing needs.'