The 2013 Simpson Scholarship winners hail from Saudi Arabia,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Student Accountant meets the winners and finds out how the scholarship will help them achieve their potential
The Simpson Scholarship was set up in 1997 after ACCA member Muriel Simpson bequeathed in her will a scholarship to recognise the achievements of high-calibre students. It has been running in its current form since 2008 and has so far helped 30 ACCA students from 21 different countries.
For the chance to be awarded the scholarship, applicants must have excelled in the exams they have already sat, and submit a 1,000-word essay on how the scholarship would help them achieve their full potential. As part of their prize, the five winners that are selected each year will have their exam fees, annual student or affiliate fees, and membership admission fees paid for them by the scholarship fund for up to five years, or until ACCA membership is achieved – whichever happens sooner. BPP Learning Media, ACCA’s Platinum Approved Learning Partner – content, also provides the winners with study materials for every ACCA paper they are studying.
What made you want to become an accountant?
A love for numbers and limited career options, to be quite honest!
How will the scholarship help you realise your full potential?
The Simpson Scholarship will help me to make a real impact in my career and realise that nothing will hold me back.
When do you hope to become an ACCA member, and what plans do you have for your future career?
I do not want to rush the experience; I would rather proceed at a steady pace, working around my family obligations and other responsibilities. I feel duty‑bound to serve my country, which has given me so much. I want to help create a platform for women in Saudi Arabia, with equal opportunities for all for further study.
What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
Patience and perseverance are vital; don’t ever give up just because you may not pass every exam at the first attempt.
What made you want to become an accountant?
My childhood dream was to become a professional accountant and I admired the career progression of many influential business leaders. Today’s accountancy profession has not only become more competitive and demanding, but a more vigorous level of professional qualifications and skills are now required from finance professionals. Having the ACCA Qualification will bring me into the rank of global accountancy professionals.
What plans do you have for your future career?
Gaining the ACCA Qualification will mean that I am not limited to the auditing and assurance profession, but that I have control over my future career. I see the ACCA Qualification as creating the entrepreneurs of the future and tomorrow’s business leaders, which is something that I aspire to.
Have you had to overcome any challenges on your path to ACCA membership?
I grew up in Zimbabwe and decided to move to South Africa to further my studies. Leaving my family and friends behind and settling in a new country was difficult while preparing for my first exam sitting. Also, keeping motivated is not always easy and you must be prepared to often sacrifice your social life with friends and family, but it will be worth it eventually.
What made you want to become an accountant?
The passion I had for accountancy during my A-level studies made me want to pursue it as a career. Being an accountant will help me diversify and further my knowledge and skills in the different fields and enable me to deal with different business situations.
How will the scholarship help you realise your full potential?
Aside from the financial benefits, winning the scholarship will motivate and inspire me to work even harder and achieve better results in my future studies, and this will lead to a successful and fulfilling career in the accountancy profession. Receiving this prestigious scholarship will be a stepping-stone to achieving my goals and making a positive contribution to my career and community.
Have you had to overcome any challenges on your path to ACCA membership?
The biggest challenge I have had to overcome so far is the lack of time to start revision well ahead of the exams, as I have had to take on part-time work to fund my education. Therefore, I have had to manage my time effectively as the ACCA Qualification requires significant commitment and focus.
What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
Try and plan when you want to complete your ACCA Qualification even before you begin studying. It is important to give priority to your studies regardless of what situation you are in. Aim to pass your exams at the first attempt, as it would be a waste of your precious time to have to resit. However, if you do have to resit, pick yourself up, assess your weaker subject areas and work hard on those. Believe in yourself and keep going. Aim high and work hard, and success will come.
What made you want to become an accountant?
I became an accountant purely by chance. However, I have since grown to really enjoy my role and I am proud to see the significant role played by an accountant and financial consultant in adding value to a business.
Why did you decide to enter for the Simpson Scholarship?
I wanted a source of financial support so that I could concentrate on my studies.
How will the scholarship help you realise your full potential?
Thanks to the scholarship, I am more confident of reaching my goal of becoming an FCCA. It will enable me to obtain a solid knowledge base, which is essential for my career aspiration to become an international finance expert. It will also help improve my professionalism through completing personal performance modules, as well as nurturing a principles-based approach through networking and best practice sharing via ACCA’s network.
I hope to build a sustainable career in finance and also to help develop a strong finance community in Vietnam and, ultimately, support the transformation of our financial market.
What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
ACCA is a tough qualification, but I have enjoyed it so far. It is very satisfying whenever I learn something new or complete a paper. It is a demanding but rewarding journey.
What made you want to become an accountant?
An inner drive to help and work with small and medium enterprises and a desire to show young females that there are equal opportunities for all in many sectors.
How will winning the scholarship help you realise your full potential?
Winning is an outstanding accolade, and gives me a competitive advantage now and in the future as it acknowledges my performance as a student.
What do you hope to do in the future?
When I become an ACCA member I plan to work with SMEs in my country. Working with and helping them to establish sound ethical policies will enhance the profession’s credibility. It will allow the public to appreciate the role played by the accountant in nurturing small businesses and seeing them grow and compete with larger enterprises.
Winning the scholarship as a Zimbabwean will also increase ACCA’s profile and will help my fellow countrymen discover more about the qualification and what it has to offer.
Have you had to overcome any challenges on your path to ACCA membership?
My finances meant that I couldn’t always afford the study materials that I needed. But thanks to the scholarship, I can now set aside more resources to join various study programmes now that the funding of my study materials is being met.
What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
The ACCA Qualification is not easy: much study planning and exam preparation is inevitable. It is important to maintain your focus if you want to achieve.