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Magdalena Kaliszewska

Chief Financial Officer, Elin EBG Elektrotechnika Sp. z.o.o., Poland

'Without successfully completing the ACCA qualification, I would never have made chief financial officer of Elin EBG in Warsaw just a few years after gaining membership,' says 28 year old Magdalena Kaliszewska, who passed both the ACCA and the Polish CPA examinations within 24 months.

Magdalena started her career in finance in 1999 as an assistant auditor at KPMG Poland and quickly saw her professional career take off. ' The application of ACCA know-how was a decisive career booster during my days with KPMG,' explains Magdalena, who was promoted to the position of auditor in charge within two years. She believes that the greatest benefit of her ACCA studies was gaining a practical knowledge of international financial reporting standards, which she considers a 'fundamental skill that every forward looking professional should master'.

The most memorable point in Magdalena's relatively short career came in 2003 when she switched from being an auditor to her current role of chief financial officer with a subsidiary of Austrian power management multinational VA TECH, a dynamic and fast growing organisation. In her first year, Magdalena successfully led her staff through difficult changes which saw a transition to a new profitability oriented and knowledge sharing culture. When asked about her plans for the future, she says 'I am aiming to develop my skills as a chief financial officer and I'm also considering acquiring a tax advisor qualification. Last but not least, I want to start a family.'

As for the future of the profession, Magdalena expects to see 'harmonisation of financial reporting standards in many countries to improve clarity of information. T his will ultimately lead to a more transparent reporting environment for investors and the general public.'