Becoming ACCA qualified: CFO Graham Cross

Here at CT, we're committed to supporting our people gain various professional qualifications. 

One of the qualifications that our team can work towards is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification. Our CFO Graham Cross undertook the ACCA qualification and, from there, garnered 15 years of experience in professional services businesses, as well as software development and SaaS (Software as a Service). 

Below, Graham shares his experience into becoming ACCA qualified.

Could you tell us a bit about the ACCA qualification and why you decided to undergo this qualification?

ACCA is a professional accounting qualification set at master’s degree level and recognised around the world. I chose ACCA because the flexibility around the syllabus and study methods fitted in best in with my career aspirations and because it’s going to open doors for you throughout your career, particularly around senior accounting roles as you progress.

How is this qualification structured?

There are three parts to becoming ACCA qualified. First up are the formal professional exams covering a range of topics across accounting, tax and law. You then also have a professional and ethical module to complete. You can do that while sitting your exams before, during or after. Finally, you need three years’ worth of relevant practical experience and have that signed off by another ACCA member or similarly qualified person. Those criteria cover mandatory and optional things across accounting, tax and audit, so you can tailor your practical experience around how you want your career to develop.

What has been your favourite thing about undergoing the ACCA qualification?

Qualifying as ACCA is not easy and the achievement of going through that process is something that I’m still proud of today. I love being part of a worldwide organisation that signifies the strength and depth of your experience and professional knowledge.

Have you been able to apply your learnings to your role at CT?

Starting at CT, I’ve been able to use the knowledge gained from the financial reporting exams of ACCA to prepare our consolidation adjustments and statutory cash flow statements in our accounts. These are not skills that I had used much prior to this point in my career, so it’s good to know that the knowledge I learned many years ago is still helpful today.

How do you maintain a healthy work / study life balance?

For me, it’s all about planning and ring-fencing time to study. So, book in the time that you’re going to study, make a plan, stick to that plan and don’t be afraid to build in breaks and some personal time. You need that time to refresh and reset so you can take in that learning you’re doing as you study. You can’t work and study all the time. So, having that personal time is helpful. 

Also with ACCA, the exams are every three months, so you don’t have to sit an exam at every sitting. If something important in your life is coming up, a holiday, a wedding, something like that, don’t be afraid to skip a sitting of exams and then you can work towards the one in the following three months’ time.

What benefits do you feel aspiring accountants can gain from undergoing their ACCA qualification?

The ACCA qualification is a badge that demonstrates you know how to handle and can deal with complicated accounting transactions and tasks. It is a qualification that’s recognised worldwide, so it can provide you with opportunities to travel to other countries and work in other places, if that’s something that’s interesting to you. Perhaps most importantly, if you want a long and rewarding career in accounting and progress through roles as you grow and experience things in accounting, the ACCA qualification and qualifications like that can become a mandatory requirement for to even be considered for more senior accounting roles.

How can CT support people studying for the ACCA qualification?

Unfortunately, I’ve been qualified for too long before joining CT to get any direct support myself, but for our current students we offer paid time off to study and to sit exams as well as covering the cost of training classes online, training materials and the exams themselves. Perhaps more importantly, we also work with each student to prepare a plan for their Practical Experience Requirement, their PER, which is part of getting signed-off and fully qualified that allows them to develop the real skills required to be a professional accountant and become ACCA qualified.

Do you have any tips / advice for aspiring accountants looking to undergo their ACCA qualification themselves?

I personally learned by doing, so I found it helpful to be working as a trainee accountant while I was studying and sitting my exams. So, my suggestion for budding ACCA students would be to look for a job at CT through our graduate scheme. Look for those recruitment opportunities because we can train you and give you real life practical experience around things like audit, tax and financial reporting to really bring those exams and that studying to life as you progress.