Finishing school is an exhilarating feeling--after thirteen years of structure you’re suddenly free to move on, to pursue your dreams and ready to get the most out of life. Now that it’s time to step into the real world, you need to decide what you are going to do with the rest of your life-definitely no small decision to make .This is therefore a good time to start thinking about a concrete plan which will in turn determine the course of your professional life.

As you try to decide upon the direction in which your life will take you, how do you choose a career that is right for you? Today many options are open to you and the decision of choosing a right career is crucial as your whole future depends upon it.

But what exactly is a rewarding career? A career with a high salary? A career which has a respected position in society? A career with mobility and excellent prospects? The accountancy profession offers all of these opportunities, as well as a challenging and varied work environment.

Accountants are a vital part of any organization’s operations. In fact, most successful entrepreneurs started out as accountants. The knowledge they gained in this line of work eventually paid off and a majority of them have today, built successful business empires, and accounting continues to remain one of the top positions searched for by companies these days.

However, more and more employers are looking to recruit people with “employability skills” that consist of a combination of an accountancy qualification and the right technical skills and competencies. This is a result of increasing market expectations where the industry is thus demanding high quality graduates .Therefore one of the key requirements is to obtain an accountancy qualification that is respected, recognized and endorsed by the corporate world.

A qualification where the sky’s the limit
So what if there is an accountancy qualification that provides opportunities for talented people, whatever their background or prior learning, to progress to become a professional accountant , is both cost effective and increases knowledge and professionalism ,where you not only gain specialist knowledge in finance and accounting, but also acquire valuable skills in organizational management and strategy.
It is with such an idea in mind , that ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) which has become a global benchmark of accounting excellence, recently launched Foundations in Accountancy (FIA).

This qualification consists of awards, including certificates, diplomas and revised Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification which focuses on the core skills of financial accounting and management accounting and the wider role of accounting in business at a higher level, making it the most attractive and relevant choice for employers today. The qualification was created after detailed consultation with employers, learning providers, members and other professional accountancy bodies and regulators, to meet the ever increasing demand for professionally qualified accountants who have both a practical as well as ethical knowledge required for today’s business.

Foundations in Accountancy is divided into four parts that include : Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting, Intermediate Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting, Diploma in Accounting and Business and the Certified Accounting Technician Qualification (CAT) which includes specialist papers and work experience in audit, tax and financial management and provides a grounding in financial and management accounting, with professionalism and ethical behaviour at its core - two attributes necessary in the fast moving environment in which the accountancy profession works.The syllabuses also span the key elements of financial and management accounting at all levels offered, and include an Accountant in Business exam at the Diploma level which gives knowledge into a legal, economic and regulatory context.

Getting started is easy
Foundations in Accountancy also sees certification awarded at each level, helping you to monitor your progress, with flexible entry requirements, offering study options that can be planned around business needs. You can now choose which level award you wish to take, based on your past experience and level of ability.

This qualification offers so much flexibility, that with the introduction of Foundations in Accountancy; those who do not meet the minimum entry requirements for the ACCA qualification can register for Foundations in Accountancy and start studying at any level, including the Diploma in Accounting and Business. There are no requirements to complete these papers within a given time frame to progress into the ACCA qualification. In addition, they do not need to go through all the levels in any prescribed order. You can simply sit exams on demand, as computer based or paper based exams, in June and December at any of the 380 exams centres around the world.

If you wish to progress to the ACCA qualification, you may choose to take the Diploma in Accounting and Business which is an award that is suitable for anyone looking to do an introductory qualification in accounting and finance. Those who wish to become Certified Accounting Technicians and use the designatory letters CAT after their name will need to complete nine of the 10 available exams, including two of three options from Foundations in Taxation, Foundations in Financial Management and Foundations in Audit. Additionally, they need to complete the Foundations in Professionalism module and a year of practical work experience.

International job opportunities
The advantage about this qualification is that it is recognized in over 170 countries making it possible to train and work anywhere in the world. The breadth and depth of the qualification means that you develop the fundamental knowledge to work across all sectors before specializing on the core technical skills necessary for your role and any company you want to work for will know that you have the skills and knowledge to do your job to the highest standards. This will help you to become a professional accountant capable of building a successful career across all sectors, from practising in accounting firms, to the corporate, financial services and public sectors and will allow you to apply to a wider selection of accounting vacancies, making you a more valuable asset to your employer and adding more variety to your working life.

Therefore as an ACCA graduate, one can look forward to a rewarding accounting career in a variety of fields such as accountancy, auditing, financial management, taxation, business development and management. Employers value highly the all-round financial expertise provided by the ACCA qualification, which is why over 8000 organizations worldwide are accredited ACCA Approved employers. ACCA works closely with more than 235 registered tuition providers .With 404,000 students,140,000 members, and a network of 83 offices, ACCA has the widest international reach of all the accountancy bodies.

With a range of career options available, allowing you access to a broad range of challenging and interesting roles, Foundations in Accountancy may be the stepping stone for you to a great career in accountancy, which will not only ensure a sustainable career for your future but will also provide you with a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment and a life that is authentic, vibrant, and fulfilling.