Kickstart: Professional

Skills

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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Professional skills and employability
3. Professional skills in the qualification
4. Options changes
5. Exam support and next steps
6. Q&A

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Accounting for a better world:
Our profession

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Every accountant has a vital role
to play in creating a better world
▪ Many of us are seeking careers with purpose where we can make a
positive impact
▪ Accountancy is a great career choice with unlimited opportunity
▪ The ACCA Qualification develops the forward-thinking sustainable
business and finance professionals the world needs

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Professional skills in the qualification

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Professional skills in the qualification

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Professional skills and PER
▪ Practical Experience Requirement includes:
▪ 36 months in a relevant role
▪ 9 Performance Objectives (5 Essential / 4 Technical)
▪ Work on linked POs and exams together where possible

▪ Professional Skills are relevant and transferrable to all POs

▪ Head-start on demonstrating professional skills, attitudes and
behaviours in the workplace
▪ Access to opportunities to complete range of POs
▪ Skills to reflect and create performance statements

▪ Enhance your employability with Professional Skills

▪ Stand out from other candidates
▪ Ready to add value in the workplace

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Options exam changes
Video
Options exams summary
▪ In September 2022, we started to introduce professional skills marks into the
ACCA Strategic Professional Options exams.
▪ These changes are designed to help you develop into an expert finance
professional, enhance your employability and ensure the ACCA Qualification
continues to meet the needs of the profession.
▪ These changes were first incorporated in September 2022 in the following
exams:
▪Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)
▪Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
▪Advanced Performance Management (APM)
And from June 2023* will be included in the following exam:
▪Advanced Taxation (ATX)

*Changes to ATX-MYS variant will come into effect from the December
2023 exam session.
▪ In addition, there will be some changes in exam structure for ATX from June
2023

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Options exams assessment
▪ The Options exams have 20 marks awarded for
professional skills which are demonstrated
throughout the exam
▪ The exam duration has not changed, allowing you to
more effectively manage your exam time to answer
the 80 marks allocated for showing mastery of your
technical specialism.
▪ The professional skills are;
Communication
Commercial acumen
Analysis and evaluation
Scepticism (and judgement*)

*Scepticism includes ‘judgement ‘for Advanced

Audit and Assurance only, as it is a defined
requirement for auditors.

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Options exams what we know so far
▪ Sample exams for AFM, APM and AAA were
published for both S22 and D22
▪ Corresponding examiner reports were also
published
▪ Examiner reports contain guidance on professional
skills – some general advice as well as specific
guidance for each subject
▪ Examiner reports are a vital resource which should
be used in conjunction with the sample exam
available on the ACCA Practice Platform

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Professional Skills marks SBL and SBR
▪ No changes to SBL or SBR
▪ SBL – 20 professional skills marks
▪ SBR – Four professional skills marks (two in Section
A and two in Section B)

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Options exams resources
Now:

• Web page and videos on each professional skill for each exam
• 'Read the Mind of the Marker' articles (Interactive)
• ACCA Practice Platform - Specimen and sample exams
• Previous session In Focus webinars – on demand

Support for June session:

• June session In Focus webinars

• Starting w/c 8 May
• Mock exam and debrief videos for June 23 session (New)
• Available 15 May

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ACCA Learning Journey
Video
Study journey and key resources

Planning Studying Final prep Results

• Pathways videos • Get Ahead session • Mock exam • Progression / pathways

• Get Ready Modules • InSession emails • Debrief videos • Back on Track
• Practice Platform • InSession Live (Insta) • Practice Platform
• Compass Planner • InFocus webinars
• Practice Platform

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Q&A

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Thank you

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