Student Accountant - ps1-1

student accountant issue 23/201015silver medal winnersimon turner, ukSimon Turner, silver medal winner, passes on his top tips for examsuccess and talks about his future plansTypical working dayI am currently an audit executive forRSM Tenon. We have a large rangeof clients and as such each day isdifferent to the next. In the mainmy day is littered with planning andcompletion meetings with membersof the management and directorteam alongside on-site audit workat client offices but often includesbeing in the office to completecomplex consolidations and reportingpacks to the auditors of overseasparent companies.Top exam tipsMy first tip is to start working asearly as you can. The sooner you giveyourself a head start the easier theexam process seems.My second tip is to try and keepdoing normal things within your sociallife. It is hard enough juggling a fulltime job and exams without gettingstressed as a result of having no timeto do anything beyond the mundaneof double entry bookkeeping. I alwaysfound studying was far easier thenext day if I’d managed to relax thenight before.Developing personal skillsThe main thing for me has beeninterpersonal skills. I have met a lot ofnew people during my studies and aspart of completing my PER and thisskill set is really imperative to buildingrelationships with clients as well asothers within RSM Tenon as I look toprogress in my career.ACCA membershipThe Professional level exams were thefinal element I needed to complete andas such I have applied and obtainedmembership already.The ACCA lettersThe ACCA Qualification is arguably thehardest thing I have achieved due to thework/study/life balance. Therefore, Iam proud of having achieved the ACCAletters and that I managed to persevereand manage my time effectively enoughto get through first time.Professionally, it seems to have madequite a difference already as peopleseem to have a bit more confidence inmy ability. In addition, as I don’t haveany study time I am able to get involvedin more at work and have recentlyorganised a young person’s networkingevent as well as being involved in sometechnical projects with regards tofinancial reporting standards.On getting the silver medalGetting the silver medal is a greatfeeling and makes all those darknights looking at inheritance taxseem worthwhile.In the short-term getting the silvermedal has definitely provided mewith a step up the ladder and somenew opportunities. It is a great dooropener as a newly qualified but goingforward it’s important to continue todevelop and move forwardin my career on itsown meritsas examsuccesscan onlytakeme sofar.‘GETTING THE silver medalHAS definitely providedME WITH A step UP THEladder AS WELL AS someGREAT OPPORTUNITIES.’