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The exam countdown blog is back! This time last year I wrote a weekly blog helping students to prepare for the ACCA exams in the December sitting.  Apparently, some of you liked it so I am back, and over the next 11 weeks I’ll be sharing with you some advice and tips to improve your chances of success in the exam.

For those interested in accountancy or already training to work in the industry, understanding what employers look for is crucial to landing your dream job. With over a quarter million members of accountancy bodies in the UK, it’s clear that competition is high. So, while your qualifications are important, it’s also necessary to consider some the skills that will be relevant for a career in accountancy. If you’re early on in your pathway towards accountancy or haven’t yet started, you also need to consider what kind of career in accountancy you are best suited to. Different accounting roles need different skill-sets, from those involving communication and teamwork to those requiring self-motivation and a willingness to work irregular hours.

In July, I was lucky enough to meet Joan Kago – one of our CIPD L&D Level 5 graduates. Joan had travelled all the way from Kenya to London, to deliver her presentation as a People Management Award nominee for the ‘Michael Kelly Outstanding Student Award 2018’.    Professionally, Joan has supported drastic changes in the way her company, Base Titanium, works with the local community and, nationally, she’s developed a project which can be replicated to improve employability and recruitment in Kenya.  

An Argument for Encouraging Staff Development in All Sectors When it comes to staff development in a workplace, there’s an old worry that accompanies it: “what if we invest in developing staff and they move on?” It can be countered with “what if we don’t and they stay?” It’s a classic “catch 22” situation.

This week I caught up with Claire North, one of our AAT graduates who’s completed levels 2 & 3 and is currently studying level 4. Here’s Claire’s story…

Did you know that becoming a Chartered Manager is the highest status that you can achieve in the management profession and it is only awarded by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)? We have created a step by step guide of how you can achieve this award and excel in your managerial role.

The pharmaceutical industry is fiercely competitive, and sales depend on highly-targeted customer communications. Having set a strategic goal to ‘put customer experience at the heart of our output’ our client identified a need to upskill and empower their team to become highly proficient marketers in the digital age.

Did you know that 1 in 10 UK Managers have been forced to take sick leave due to stress? Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)* found that many managers are becoming chronically overworked and stressed by continuing to work after-hours. 

This week I caught up with Sarah McCallum, one of our CIPD HR Level 5 graduates who worked in the RAF. With her qualification, Sarah broke into the civilian world of HR after being offered multiple job opportunities. She tells us about her experience with AVADO and how the qualification made a significant impact on her career opportunities.