Where are you currently working?
I’ve been working in audit for over a year and am an audit assistant for KPMG Tanzania.
How did you decide a career in accountancy was for you?
My background has been firmly invested in accounting, although it wasn’t actually intentional. I ended up excelling in my IGCSE exams, so I went on to continue with the subject at A level and then eventually through to my university studies.
What made you decide to study ACCA?
When you study with ACCA you also become part of a network of over 200,000 members and 500,000 students. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a network that allows for such diversity in its members’ backgrounds.
Tell us a little about your journey so far
The biggest lesson I learned is that you cannot succeed at ACCA without putting the work in. ACCA wants everyone to pass, which is why they offer resources beyond the syllabus.
I now know, thanks to experience, that intelligence and study alone are not enough to be a successful finance professional. Consistent practice is essential, along with the crucial element of acquiring knowledge relevant to but outside the syllabus.
Having relevant experience can also go a long way in enhancing the exam experience, especially the practical aspects of the papers that require you to do what a professional would do in the real world.
How did you find ACCA’s Strategic Business Reporting exam?
I recently passed the exam, and one thing I really liked was that it incorporated leadership, governance and the soft skills you actually require in the workplace, so it’s something that’s very relevant.
ACCA has computer-based exams for Strategic Professional, and as you’re expected to be conversant with the digital working environment, it’s just brilliant practical experience – especially for students who have not worked yet.
What do you feel are the benefits of studying for the ACCA qualification?
Employers want hard-working and dedicated individuals in their workforce. ACCA is a fantastic place to start preparing the right mindset to become a world-class professional. The Strategic Business Reporting and Strategic Business Leader exams cater to the professional skills needed by employers. Accounting is no longer simply a number-crunching profession but one that requires the individual to move beyond the traditional calculations.
ACCA has addressed the recruitment needs of employers by including elements of strategy, innovation, governance and leadership in its syllabus. It is preparing students who attain the qualification to become more than individuals who are just skilled for jobs in finance and accounting; it is cultivating competent leaders that are able to continually adapt to changing industry trends.
I personally think ACCA should be seen to be more than just exams and a route to achieve a title. It is – and in my view should be – treated as a way of life. This means embodying a constant pursuit of self-improvement. ACCA monthly magazines, articles and research gives us a look into such things as where the future of our profession is headed and the implications of fast-changing technology – a great starting point!
Since this interview, Happiness has passed her ACCA finals and become head of digital innovation and IT for Mwananchi Communications in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
