12 LEARNING CENTRE
TALKING TECHNOLOGY
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
GET THAT IMPORTANT JOB INTERVIEW – OPTIMISE YOUR CV FOR ELECTRONIC SEARCH TOOLS
Words, words, words.
Accountants may be
among the most numerate
professionals in the world,
but if you want your CV to
work for, rather than against
you, it’s important to also
focus on words – and some
of them are more important
than others.
When employers and
recruitment consultants are
looking for potential candidates
a significant part of the search
now takes place electronically,
particularly during the early
stages of the process. Databases
of CVs proliferate online and
off, and HR departments and
recruiters are using increasingly
sophisticated tools to search
through them. If your CV doesn’t
contain the right keywords, it may
never get read.
Just as you can visit the
websites of employers, recruiters
and job boards (which aggregate
job advertisements from multiple
sources), and search what’s
available to find what you’re
looking for, employers and
recruiters can search through the
CVs of available candidates to
find those that best meet their
needs. So when you write your CV
think carefully about the words
you include.
Start by identifying the key
words, phrases and job titles
being used in advertisements for
the sort of job you hope to get,
and try to include them in your
CV. Recruiters will be searching
(often through multiple CV
databases) for a particular set
Look for questions such as ‘Do
you have a proven track record
of…’ and phrases such as ‘Key
accountabilities will include…’
and make sure you have them
covered. If you have any general
finance or sector-specific skills
mention them.
keywords If you have used
skills
International Accounting
Standards or US GAAP,
worked with spreadsheet
pivot tables, maintained
accounting records,
presented financial
statements, and so on,
be sure to mention it.
It is important
to never claim
experience
of criteria and skills
based on that you
words, phrases, do not
and job titles, and it will be have.
CONTAIN THE RIGHT KEYWORDS, IT
easier for them to find you if you But if
MEAN THAT IF YOUR CV DOESN’T
can use keywords to clearly and you want
ELECTRONIC CV SEARCHES CAN
cleverly outline your skills and to be
experience within your CV. considered for roles that are a
If you are seeking a role step-up on the career ladder, you
in management accounting, for need to find a way of conveying
instance, it will help to include your potential, and the personal
phrases such as ‘commercially profile section of your CV is the
MAY NEVER GET READ.
oriented’ and ‘decision making’, ideal place.
and mention words such as Here, you can include
accruals, analysis, budgeting, references to expertise and
performance, planning and personal skills that you want to
reconciliation – though acquire or develop, or target job
it’s worth noting that some of titles that you aspire to – but
these words could be equally keep it realistic.
appropriate if you were looking When your CV is a match for
for a financial analysis role. the search terms being used by a
Skills such as communication, recruiter or potential employee,
presentation, mentoring or you want this to open the door to
management are always worth career opportunities, not get it
mentioning too. closed in your face.

WORK–STUDY BALANCE
WORKING WITH FELLOW STUDENTS
DON’T GO IT ALONE – MAKE NEW FRIENDS BY STUDYING WITH KINDRED SPIRITS
You’re not alone – there are
currently some 362,000 ACCA
students globally. Whether you
communicate in class or over the
internet, somewhere, there will
be a kindred spirit with whom
you can share the challenges,
frustrations, joys and tribulations
of working and studying. Here
are some suggestions:
1 Start a study group – find
willing students, in your class
or via the worldwide web,
with whom you can organise
to focus on specific papers
or topics (see also the ‘How to’
column in the September 2009
issue of Student Accountant).
STUDENT ACCOUNTANT 11/2009
13
2 Add ACCA to your social 4 Use ACCA’s online forums
CHAPTERS AMONG TRUSTED FRIENDS, THOSE WEIGHTY TOMES BECOME
networking profile – you’ll – start or join in discussions
be surprised how many on everything from tackling
working ACCA students are ethical dilemmas in the
LESS OVERWHELMING WHEN OPENED UP AFTER A HARD DAY’S SLOG.
already finding each other workplace to fitting a job
on Facebook and Twitter search around your studies.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER – BY ALLOCATING CHUNKS OF TEXTBOOK
(but remember to keep it 5 Follow ACCA student blogs –
professional). ACCA students from around
3 Set mutual goals – arrange the world spill the beans on
to complete coursework their top work and study tips.
or work through certain 6 Start your own blog – this
past papers in tandem with needn’t cost anything (and
a friend or colleague; it’s can even be anonymous);
much harder to duck out of you can then invite fellow
a commitment because work students to comment
gets in the way, if you know and contribute.
you’re going to let someone 7 Divide and conquer – by
else down. allocating chunks of textbook
chapters among trusted
friends, those weighty
tomes become a lot less
overwhelming when opened
up after a hard day’s slog.
8 Chum up with colleagues
more advanced in their
studies – they may
appreciate the opportunity
to act as a buddy or mentor
for you.
9 Meet with students in
your local ACCA branch
or chapter – with enough
numbers, you may be able to
persuade more experienced
members to attend an
informal event to network
and share tips on combining
work and study.
10 Plan your joint celebrations
– letting your hair down
in person or virtually with
fellow students will give you
an added incentive to push
yourself towards the final
hurdle of the exams.
14 LEARNING CENTRE
THE 15 MOST COMMON CV WRITING
MISTAKES: HOW TO AVOID THEM
JAMES INNES, AUTHOR OF THE CV BOOK, THE INTERVIEW BOOK AND BRILLIANT COVER
LETTERS AND FOUNDER OF THE CV CENTRE (WWW.INEEDACV.CO.UK), OUTLINES HOW
NOT TO WRITE YOUR CV.
I have seen many thousands
of CVs, covering pretty much
every possible kind of job, and
the difference in them is vast.
However, the same common
mistakes crop up time and time
again. Too many jobseekers miss
out on their dream job because
of a small number of easily
avoided blunders.
While writing The CV Book,
I conducted a comprehensive
analysis of over 2,500 CVs to
derive a ‘Top 15’ of the most
common CV writing mistakes.
1 Photographs
People often include photos of
themselves on their CV. In the
UK, and in many other countries,
unless you are applying to be
a model or wish to work as an
actor/actress then including
a photo with/on your CV is
not recommended.
2 Inappropriate heading
Your CV should be headed with
your name – and just your name
– boldly and clearly – before
any other details – contact
details, etc. They should no
longer be headed ‘Curriculum
Vitae’ or ‘CV’. It’s very
old-fashioned.
3 Missing or inappropriate
email addresses
While having no email address
at all on your CV is clearly a
problem, it’s not something I see
very often. Far more common 6 Writing in the first person
THE SAME COMMON CV MISTAKES CROP UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
is the use of fun or jokey The words ‘I’ and ‘me’ are often
email addresses. used repeatedly in homemade CVs.
BECAUSE OF A SMALL NUMBER OF EASILY AVOIDED BLUNDERS.
While these may be fine for CVs should be written exclusively
corresponding with friends in the third person. It might seem
and family, employers will unnatural to write a document
probably regard more ‘serious’ about yourself and yet never use
TOO MANY JOBSEEKERS MISS OUT ON THEIR DREAM JOB
email addresses as simply either ‘I’ or ‘me’ but recruitment
more professional. experts conclusively agree that this
is the best way to do it. Don’t give
4 Superfluous personal details at your reader I-strain.
the top of the CV
My clients often feel that it is 7 Lack of a proper
compulsory to include details Professional Profile
such as their marital status, A Professional Profile is a brief
nationality, number (and ages) statement at the very beginning
of children/dependants, etc. of a CV which, in the space of
Although it certainly used a few short lines, conveys to the
to be the norm to include this reader an overall impression
sort of information on a CV, it of your key personal and
is now increasingly rare, given professional characteristics.
modern anti-discrimination It’s essentially an introduction
legislation, to find these and should give the reader an
sorts of details on a CV. They overview before they read on in
simply aren’t relevant. If in further detail.
doubt about convention in
your region, check with a local 8 Inappropriate section order
recruitment consultant. It’s extremely important to
choose an appropriate order
5 Lack of clear section headings/ for the various sections of your
separation of sections CV. For example, the decision
It is vitally important for your CV whether to put your Education
to be easy for the reader to scan and Qualifications before or after
quickly and, to this end, clear your Career History is critical.
section headings and separation It all depends on what is your
of sections is essential. greater selling point.
I often recommend the use
of lines or other graphic devices 9 No bullet pointing
in this respect, although there In today’s fast-paced world,
are other ways of achieving a recruiters no longer have the
clearer separation. time to read large, solid blocks

CV
of prose. They need to extract
the information they need – and
they need to do it fast. Long
paragraphs of prose are tiresome
for a recruiter to read right
through and, as a result, many
simply won’t bother. And this is
where bullet pointing comes in...
10 Reverse chronological order
not used
It is a standard convention on
CVs to use reverse chronological
order, ie to present your most
recent information first, followed
by older – and consequently less
relevant – information.
11 Excessive details of interests
You should aim to keep your
interests section brief. As with
every other aspect of your CV, do
include what you feel will count
in your favour – but be selective
about it. Choose carefully. You
may indeed have a passion for
model railways – but do you really
want the recruiter to know that?
STUDENT ACCOUNTANT 11/2009
15
12 Date of birth
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CV TO BE EASY FOR THE READER TO SCAN
For UK candidates, I often get
asked whether or not you should
CV DOS
QUICKLY AND, TO THIS END, CLEAR SECTION HEADINGS AND SEPARATION
include your date of birth (or
age) on a CV. No, you shouldn’t.
Not since the introduction of
OF SECTIONS IS ESSENTIAL. CLEARER WAYS OF SEPARATION OR EVEN
The Employment Equality (Age)
SIMPLE HEADER Regulations 2006. Outside the
UK, check convention with your
local recruitment consultant.
CLEAR SECTION
HEADINGS 13 Referees included
Details of referees generally
shouldn’t be included on your
NO REFEREES
CV. They’re a waste of valuable
space. They clutter it up and,
WRITE IN THE more importantly, you will find
THIRD PERSON that your referees get pestered
unnecessarily by time wasters.
By the time they have handled
SHORT LENGTH their umpteenth enquiry of the
day, they are a lot less likely to
say nice things about you.
GRAPHIC DEVICES ARE RECOMMENDED.
14 Spelling, grammar and typos
It is impossible to stress enough
how important this issue is.
CV DON’TS Spelling and grammatical errors
are among the most irritating
errors a recruiter sees, among
the most damaging errors you
PHOTOS can make – and are also the most
easily avoided. The answer is to
check, check and check again
FUN OR JOKE – and then have someone else
EMAIL ADDRESS check for good measure.
EXCESSIVE 15 Length
INTERESTS This is one of the most common
problems I see when people
SPELLING prepare their CVs – they’re simply
too long. I have seen CVs over
ERRORS/TYPOS 30 pages long with photocopies
of certificates on top of that.
DATE OF BIRTH It’s not an autobiography
you’re writing. It’s a CV: it’s a
lot shorter.
16 LEARNING CENTRE
STUDENT AMBITIONS
MAHESH AMRARASINGHE
The global recognition enjoyed
by the ACCA Qualification is very
important to trainee accountants,
especially those who want to
travel. For ACCA student Mahesh
Amrarasinghe, this international
reputation has also helped
him develop his career in the
NAME Republic of Maldives, working
MAHESH AMRARASINGHE for foreign-owned companies
operating on the islands.
JOB TITLE Mahesh started his finance
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT career in his native country
of Sri Lanka, where, at 20, he
EMPLOYER gained his first accounting job
AYCAN PVT LTD, REPUBLIC with a construction company,
OF MALDIVES and began an accounting
technician course. He moved on
to a freight forwarding business
before joining the Colombo
office of Ernst & Young in 2002,
and then Richard Pieris & Co
plc in 2006. ‘Richard Pieris
is a major Sri Lankan blue
chip conglomerate,’ explains
Mahesh. ‘By the time I joined
the company I had finished my
accounting technician exam and
had begun to study for Chartered
Accountants of Sri Lanka
qualification, which led to an
exemption for the first stage
of ACCA.’
Mahesh moved on again at the
end of 2007, this time relocating
to the Republic of Maldives to
take up the post of accountant
with a tourism company before
joining his current employer,
Aycan Pvt Ltd, in 2009. ‘I
am chief accountant for both
Aycan Pvt Ltd and its sister
company Ecochem Pvt Ltd,
reporting directly to the general
manager and indirectly to
the two directors,’ says Mahesh.
Aycan operates in the food
sector, running both retail and
wholesale outlets, while Ecochem
handles chemicals. Customers
for both companies are mainly
resorts and hotels across the
Maldives. Aycan helps me with
my ACCA studies in a number
of ways, such as granting study
leave,’ he adds, ‘and my aim is
to finish my exams by the end
of 2010.’
ACCA membership will help
Mahesh realise his ambition.
‘My ACCA exams have already
helped me gain employment
in foreign-owned companies,
as ACCA is internationally
recognised,’ he says. In
terms of longer-term career
ambitions, Mahesh wants to
be recognised as a leading
professional working within a
large conglomerate. ‘I want to
show that I can strategically
direct the overall operation of a
company, using my abilities and
multidimensional knowledge
of accounting, finance
and management.’
‘AYCAN HELPS ME WITH MY
ACCA STUDIES IN A NUMBER OF
WAYS, SUCH AS GRANTING
STUDY LEAVE. MY AIM IS TO FINISH
MY EXAMS BY THE END OF 2010.
MY ACCA EXAMS HAVE
ALREADY HELPED ME GAIN
EMPLOYMENT IN
FOREIGN-OWNED COMPANIES,
AS ACCA IS INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNISED.’

how to
study at the last minute
WITH WEEKS TO GO TO EXAM TIME, IT MAY ONLY BE DAWNING ON SOME STUDENTS
THAT EARNEST REVISION SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY LONG AGO. IT’S NOT TOO LATE.
Making an emergency study plan
shouldn’t need to be on your
agenda – but if that’s where you
find yourself, don’t beat yourself
up. Let’s get down to it.
First things first: between now
and exam day is ‘me time’ – big
time. That means blocking out all
but the most essential non-study
activities. Friends and family
can wait.
Lists, lists and more lists
Don’t panic; keep your cool
and make lists, breaking your
tasks down. Which areas of the
syllabus require most revision,
so should be started now? Which
can be comfortably parked
until nearer the exam? Which
might you need to ask your
tutor about (ie requiring time
STUDENT AccOUNTANT 11/2009
17
with last-minute studying – by
BIG TIME. THAT MEANS BLOcKING OUT ALL BUT THE MOST ESSENTIAL
Googling the title of an ACCA
paper, you might quickly be able
FIRST THINGS FIRST: BETWEEN NOW AND EXAM DAY IS ‘ME TIME’ –
to identify students with whom
you can discuss the syllabus and
exchange ideas. But remember,
their moral support is all very
well but what you need is to pass
the exam: now is not the time
NON-STUDY AcTIVITIES. FRIENDS AND FAMILY cAN WAIT.
to be in the market for new best
friends. Focus on discussions that
help you get to the heart of your
subject matter.
Start making your own revision
notes for reading when you’re
out and about, or travelling to
and from work or college. If
necessary, use mnemonics or
images to help embed them in
your memory.
considerations), and which can You still need to relax – 24/7
you study under your own steam study is doomed to fail. But be
(eg at home or at night)? Are selective. Quick-fix activities that
there some which would benefit suit last-minute study include
from peer group consultation? breathing exercises, short walks
Which lend themselves best by or exercise and listening to
practising with past papers, music. Identify ways to relax
requiring ordering or printing? that won’t place temptation in
By listing out your aims and your way (watching television
priorities in easily digestible can be a killer – channel-hopping
‘chunks’, everything will start to is the enemy of any emergency
look much more manageable. revision plan). Meet up with
However, be mindful of the friends strategically, telling
therapeutic nature of list-making yourself you must leave by
– at some point, the lists have to a certain time, and sticking
stop and the work has to start. to it. Write down that time
commitment, and tell someone
Engage in discussion in the group that you can trust
Use the internet as a one-to-one to remind you – it will become
revision resource. Many students much harder to break.
chat to their peers elsewhere in There are still a few weeks until
the world about specific issues exams start. Don’t delay!
18 LEARNING CENTRE
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK AT
NATIONWIDE, UK
Nationwide is a mutual building
society which means that the
organisation, unlike a bank, is
owned by and run for the benefit
of its members (those who
have either a current or savings
account, or a mortgage with the
Society). In its current form,
Nationwide is the result of over
a hundred mergers which have
taken place over the past 160
years, and which have resulted
in Nationwide becoming the
world’s biggest building society.
Currently, Nationwide employs
around 19,000 people, deployed
in the head office, regional
centres and around 1,000
retail outlets around the
UK. Not surprisingly,
accountants
play a fundamental role in As part of its training
NATIONWIDE, AND WITHIN ITS FINANCE TEAM
the organisation, and within and development strategy,
ACCOUNTANTS PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN
its finance team Nationwide Nationwide has been a Platinum
IT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 34 ACCA MEMBERS,
currently employs 34 ACCA level ACCA Approved Employer
AND 14 ACCA STUDNETS AND AFFILIATES.
members, and 14 ACCA students since 2007.
and affiliates. ‘By supporting our students
Nationwide is very proud through their studies, and
of its reputation for training by making sure we give
and development. It has been them a wide range of work
awarded the UK Government experience, we create a pool
funded ‘Investors in People’ of qualified accountants who,
accreditation 17 years running, in time, progress through
and has recently become the the organisation and become
first organisation in the financial future leaders of the finance
services sector to become an team,’ comments Simon Cory,
‘Investors in People’ champion, Nationwide’s Head of Financial
an accolade which reflects both Management Products. ‘The
excellence in performance and long-term benefits are also
a commitment to extend best significant because we continue
practice to other organisations. to work with individuals after
Nationwide has recently been qualification to ensure they
awarded Gold Champion status continue to be motivated
in recognition of its approach to perform at a
to people management. Only high standard.’
1% of organisations
working with the IIP
standard have been
recognised in
this way.
 STUDENT ACCOUNTANT 11/2009
Nationwide supports its
ACCA students throughout their LAURA HOLMES
studies by providing a generous Accountant, Group Distribution
package which includes paid Financial Management
study and exam leave, paid After completing her A-levels,
training courses, access to a Laura Holmes left school to take
sponsoring senior manager, up a two-year apprenticeship
and an internal mentoring with Corus Steel in South Wales.
programme. This level of support ‘During this time I studied for my
is evidence of Nationwide’s AAT qualification and got to grips
wider commitment to supporting with the world of manufacturing.
employees who are studying I also started to learn more
MEMBER AT NATIONWIDE
for professional qualifications. about finance functions such as
As Marie Nettley, a member accounts payable, payroll, and
of Nationwide’s Leadership cost accounting, all of which
and Professional Development provided valuable experience for
team, comments: ‘We believe my ACCA exams.’
in supporting people who have While working for Corus during
the desire to develop, and we the week, Laura also worked
know that Nationwide can benefit as a Saturday assistant at her
immensely from the added skills local Nationwide branch. ‘Seeing
and knowledge that people can how a mutual organisation
bring back to their roles within worked was a very different
the organisation, and which experience for me,’ she says.
help us achieve our business ‘I was very attracted by the
LAURA HOLMES
objectives.’ The support provided ethos of Nationwide, and by
also improves staff motivation, the importance placed on its
says Marie Nettley: ‘Investing relationship with both customers
in people helps raise levels of and staff. As a result, I left Corus
morale and results in better and moved to Nationwide’s
motivation and commitment Financial Control team in
to Nationwide.’ Swindon, first as a finance
technician, then into mortgage
and savings pricing, then working
on investments and life cover.
During this time I completed my
AAT studies and moved straight
on to ACCA.’
As an accountant, Laura now
looks after the finances for
Nationwide’s Branch Investment
Programme. ‘I appraise projects
from a financial perspective
to see if they make sense for
Nationwide,’ she explains. ‘I
calculate net present value (NPV)
and income and expenditure on
19
a daily basis, assessing what
we want to spend in the context
of the return we could expect. I
then track actual spend against
approved budgets and report any
deviations by presenting a variance
analysis to major stakeholders.
As I manage a multimillion
pound budget I receive requests
for additional funds and so, as
well as monitoring those jobs
we are committed to, I have to
understand the investigative and
preparatory work necessary before
a request can be approved. I also
have to assess any risk caused
by changes to project scope, and
assess the capital treatment of
each project.’
Laura passed all her ACCA
exams first time and believes
that both her determination to
succeed and the technical skills
gained have greatly contributed
to her career success. ‘My ACCA
studies definitely helped me
attain my current position,’ she
says, ‘especially the knowledge
I gained from the financial
management and control paper,
which centred on NPV and IRR.
I also believe that my exam
progress demonstrated my
determination and desire to
succeed, and gave me the chance
to demonstrate the breadth of
my commercial understanding,
built up by passing exams in a
wide range of topics, from law
to information systems, financial
reporting to tax. Becoming an
ACCA member showed that I
could rise to a challenge and
clearly demonstrated my desire
to become a well rounded, well
respected accountant.’
20 LEARNING CENTRE
STUDENT IN 60 SECONDS
SOPHA MIN
NAME
SOPHA MIN
JOB TITLE
BRANCH MANAGER
EMPLOYER
ANZ ROYAL BANK, PHNOM PENH,
CAMBODIA
ACCA student Sopha Min
has worked for Cambodia’s
leading bank ANZ Royal for
over four years, and has seen
his responsibilities change
significantly over that time
– yet his ACCA studies still
remain relevant.
Sopha began his finance
career with a degree in
accounting in 2002, and
started working in accounts.
Sopha then joined his current
employer, ANZ Royal Bank in
2005 as operations support
officer and was promoted
to operations manager the
following year.
‘ANZ Royal’s parent company
ANZ is one of the top 50
banks in the world,’ he says.
‘It opened its first office in
Cambodia in 2005 and is
now among the top four banks
in the country.’
Sopha did not stop there as
far as personal and career
development
is concerned.
He completed a masters
degree in finance in 2008
and was also appointed to a
new role as branch manager,
which required him to develop
his skills in service, sales and
people management. Sopha
has to oversee the efficient and
effective running of the branch
and ensure it meets international
standards of governance. He
is in charge of 26 members of
staff and has to ensure that his
team are motivated to deliver
superior sales and service.
‘My role has developed from
numbers and calculations into
operations, process compliance,
business strategy/execution
and team leadership, which I
find enriching.’
Sopha is sure that ACCA has
helped his career develop so
successfully. ‘It has really helped
me consider a wider career path,’
he says, ‘and greatly broadened
my perspectives’.
‘MY ROLE HAS
DEVELOPED FROM
CALCULATIONS
INTO OPERATIONS,
PROCESS COMPLIANCE,
AND LEADERSHIP.
ACCA HAS HELPED
ME CONSIDER A
WIDER CAREER PATH,
AND HAS GREATLY
BROADENED
MY PERSPECTIVES.’
Go the extra mile for
your ACCA exams
Our ACCA revision courses have one aim – to make sure you’re ready for the exams. Attend a revision
course to revisit key topics and apply the knowledge you’ve learnt, so you pick up maximum marks.

Take advantage of the revision phase to:

 recap and identify any knowledge gaps before your exams
 work through past examinations to perfect your exam technique
 qualify for FREE Pass Assurance – just in case your exam doesn’t go according to plan

Visit www.bpp.com/acca/rev
Call0845 075 1100 for courses at London centres and distance learning options
or 0845 226 2422 for courses at centres outside London.

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