Cicy Wu, ACCA student and financial management trainee at General Electric China, in Shanghai, talks to Student Accountant about the benefits of working for an ACCA Accredited Employer
When asked about her current career path, Cicy Wu says that it: ‘seemed to be my destiny to become an accountant!’ Not so surprising when you learn that Cicy’s grandmother is an experienced accountant, and her father is an accountant as well. ‘I’ve always had an affinity with numbers,’ says Cicy, ‘and so a career in accountancy is a perfect fit.’
Cicy started her career by taking an accountancy degree at Fudan University, and began her ACCA studies while still an undergraduate. ‘ACCA has a very good reputation in China,’ she explains, ‘so I was keen to register as an ACCA student and start studying as soon as possible. I wanted to broaden my experience of both theory and practice, to gain both the knowledge required to become an accountant, and the ability to manage and work with other people within the accounting function. Initially, I must admit that the financial rewards on offer to qualified accountancy professionals were certainly very attractive. I knew that ACCA members could be found in senior positions in many fields, and earning good salaries. This was even more important to me as I funded myself through university.
‘However, my opinion has changed as I’ve grown older, and I now appreciate the international nature of ACCA. My studies give me a broader view of the accountancy profession, and will hopefully enrich both my professional and personal life. I’ve also gained an appreciation of the role of the accountant and the importance of this role not only to business but also to society as a whole.’
Cicy has already achieved great success with her studies – while still at University, Cicy became a star ACCA student at her first attempt. In 2003, Cicy gained the highest marks in the world (97%) in Paper 1.1, putting her success down to energy, determination, and an analytical mind.
Cicy is currently a financial management trainee at General Electric (GE) China, the company she joined immediately after leaving university. She is part-way through a two-year Financial Manager Programme (FMP), after which she will choose a job with one of the GE businesses. ‘I chose General Electric because it has a very good reputation for training. I considered this very important, especially as I was fresh from university with no real work experience.’ Most importantly, Cicy is continuing her ACCA studies, only now with the support of GE, as the company is an ACCA Accredited Employer. She finds the provision of study leave especially helpful, allowing her to focus properly on the forthcoming exams.
Cicy is currently enjoying her ACCA studies – especially reading Student Accountant – and already has a clear understanding of the benefits ACCA membership will bring. ‘The FMP takes two years to complete, and once I finish the programme I will move to a new position within the company. I believe that the training I receive from General Electric – together with my ACCA qualification – will make me an excellent accountant with very good prospects.’