Internal Auditor, Al Ahalia Money Exchange Bureau

Inspiration and Journey: I started my ACCA journey right after I completed my Cambridge IGCSE. I was ambitious to have a career as a Chartered Accountant. After my IGCSE, I chose to study for ACCA.  When I researched about ACCA, I came to know how prestigious qualification ACCA is and the value of an ACCA in the corporate world.

I had cleared all my ACCA papers in the first attempt except 3 papers (F5, F6, F8). I couldn’t handle my failures, it was difficult when I failed these 3 papers but I did not give up. I worked really hard and got through them in the second attempt. Although I faced failures in the foundation level, I cleared all the Professional papers in the first attempt which was very surprising for me. Practice was the key to my success. I would also like to mention a huge thanks to my parents, my tutors who guided me, and encouraged me during this journey. It was a long journey for me but in 2018 I was proud to call myself an ‘ACCA AFFILIATE’. Many of them told I was lucky to become an Affiliate at the age of 21. I wouldn’t call myself lucky because I achieved this at a young age only due to hard work, dedication and commitment.  It was a dream come true moment which I will always cherish for the rest of my life.

Career: I started off my career with Internships.  I was able to secure a permanent position in 2019 as an Assistant Accountant. Although I did not have sufficient experience, I stood out from the crowd as I had completed ACCA. A year later, I was promoted as an Internal Auditor. I feel privileged to be a part of ACCA and now I can proudly say that I am very closer to obtaining the membership as well. I firmly believe that having ACCA behind my name will open a lot more opportunities for me in the near future.

Lastly, I would like to give a tip for anyone who is aspiring to be an ACCA, Do not give up! The journey might be long for some of us but it is always worth it in the end. The feeling of being an ACCA Affiliate is surreal. Failure is not the end. It is a reminder for you to practice more and work harder. Commitment is the key to success. The commitment that you make at the start of your journey should be the same till you are an Affiliate.