Simpson Scholarship 2015: meet the winners

Artsrun Nshanyan, Armenia

Why did you decide to enter for the Simpson Scholarship?
I saw it as an unmatched opportunity to achieve ACCA membership without imposing any financial burden on my family. Seeing that I met the eligibility criteria due to my previous exam results, I went ahead and applied for it.

What was your reaction when you found out that you had been awarded the scholarship?
I was completely overwhelmed with joy and a real sense of achievement. Despite my self-confidence and assurance, I was still profoundly surprised at the news.

Could you very briefly summarise the key points you made in your winning essay on how the Simpson Scholarship would help you realise your full potential?
In my essay I emphasised how the scholarship would make an expedient contribution to my future career progression. Furthermore, I explained how it would provide both a unique catalyst and inspiration to me on my life journey.

When do you hope to become an ACCA member, and what plans do you have for your future career? 
I hope to achieve ACCA membership in four years. I am also planning to take the BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University. Currently, I am undertaking an internship at an international auditing company in Armenia. The auditing profession really appeals to me. 

What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
I believe persistence and confidence are importants traits to have. Only through hard work, along with being able to overcome the odd hurdle, can a person succeed in today's competitive world. I would also advise students to pay particular attention to how they plan their activities and to think ahead, as ACCA's motto suggests.

What made you want to become an accountant?
As I mentioned in my winning essay, it is the responsibility of true professional accountants and auditors to eradicate corruption, money laundering and inefficient governance in their countries. Armenia has had its own fair share of such challenges, with some dire repercussions. Thus, I consider it my responsibility as an Armenian citizen to become a valued specialist who is able to help solve these problems.

Phuc Ho, Vietnam

What was your reaction when you found out that you had been awarded the Simpson Scholarship?
I screamed like crazy with excitement! Then I couldn't wait to share my news with my family and colleagues.

When do you hope to become an ACCA member, and what plans do you have for your future career? 
I hope to have become an ACCA member by March 2017, when I can start making real progress in my career. Ultimately, I would like to become an auditor/financial controller. 

Have you had to overcome any challenges on your path to ACCA membership?
Yes, of course. For me, there have been some challenges like a lack of funds for studying, time pressures and achieving a balance between work, study and social life.

What advice would you give to other ACCA students?

1. Try to set aside as much time as you can to your studies. In my case, I spent at least three hours each and every day on my studies in the three months before the exams. Please don't think you can simply turn up and pass an exam without having put in the necessary preparation.
2. Figure out a way to balance your studies, work and social life because, at some points along the way, you might feel overwhelmed and pushed to your limit. 
3. Have a disciplined, consistent and positive approach to your studies. The ACCA Qualification demands a lot of effort, so take your studies seriously.
4. Finally, never give up. There is a saying – 'no pain, no gain' – and the ultimate prize of becoming an ACCA member will justify all the effort.

Who has been your inspiration while doing your ACCA studies?
My financial director, who is the perfect example of how strong and talented an ACCA member can really be.

Bhesh Raj Khatiwada, Nepal

What was your reaction when you found out that you had been awarded the scholarship?
I was excited to receive the email telling me I had won. Of course, financial support matters a lot to me but, more than that, there was a real sense of achievement and excitement about becoming one of the five scholarship award recipients. Winning will provide some extra motivation for me in my efforts towards completing the ACCA Qualification.

Could you very briefly summarise the key points you made in your winning essay on how the scholarship will help you realise your full potential?
My winning essay was about motivation. My dream was to study for a chartered accountancy course as soon as I had completed my bachelor degree some 20 years ago. The course was unavailable in Nepal at the time and, due to various reasons, I realised that it was unlikely I would ever get the opportunity to study it. The passion to study, however, remained deeply instilled in me.

Some time later, I realised that the ACCA Qualification was a better option – not only is it globally recognised, but it also offers much flexiblilty. The ability to study for it while working was a real benefit. It was while deliberating whether or not to actually go ahead and register as an ACCA student that I remembered this saying: 'It's never too late'. So I went ahead and registered. And that was the main theme of my winning essay – 'It's never too late' – a saying that has provided much motivation to me over the years. 

When do you hope to become an ACCA member, and what plans do you have for your future career? 
I plan to become an ACCA member in five years. The knowledge I have gained so far in my ACCA studies has come in useful in my job, and I am confident that achieving ACCA membership will ultimately help me realise my career aspiration to become a banking professional.

What advice would you give to other ACCA students?
ACCA is a globally recognised and flexible qualification. While consistent hard work and much dedication is required to succeed, becoming an ACCA member will offer rewarding career opportunities in the future.