INFORMATION FOR

ACCA STUDENTS
COMING TO THE UK

ACCA UK
ORIENTATION
GUIDE
 Welcome
to ACCA UK. We are one of ACCA’s largest national offices with
over 80 staff working with UK-based students, affiliates and
members, as well as a wide range of other stakeholders including
tuition providers and employers.
The UK is a diverse, vibrant place to live, study and work and is
rich in history and culture. We wish you a fantastic experience
whilst you are here and look forward to supporting you
throughout your international ACCA career.
Wyn Mears, Director, ACCA UK

2 WELCOME
CONTENTS
Introduction 5

Coming to the UK Checklist 6

Entering the UK 7

Living in the UK 8

ACCA Tuition 9

UK Employment Market 11

ACCA UK Services 14

Leaving the UK checklist 16

Recommended Reading and 17

Further Information

ORIENTATION GUIDE CONTENTS 3

 Every effort has been
made to ensure that the
information in this document
is accurate and up to date
at the time of publication.
ACCA accepts no liability
for inconvenience or loss
caused by the publication of
any out of date or inaccurate
information, November 2009.

4
INTRODUCTION
There are over 75,000 ACCA students and affiliates and nearly
60,000 ACCA members currently in the UK. ACCA has statutory
recognition and is the fastest growing professional accountancy
body in the country.
We work with a large network of learning providers who offer ACCA
tuition through a variety of methods in locations all over the UK.
Many British ACCA students work full-time and study on a part-
time basis. However full-time tuition is possible and there is a large
international student community.
ACCA members and students work in organisations of all sizes, in
all sectors of employment from private companies to government
departments. Almost 7,500 organisations hold ACCA Approved
Employer status.
ACCA UK is engaged in a number of initiatives to support students
and members in the UK, as well as working closely with both
business and government. We offer a range of events nationwide,
and also operate ACCA offices for Wales and Scotland that work
specifically with and for members and students in those areas.
Information specifically for students and members in the UK can be
found on the UK website – www.accaglobal.com/uk

If you have any queries concerning ACCA, please contact our global
customer service centre:
ACCA Connect
2 Central Quay
89 Hydepark Street
Glasgow G3 8BW
Tel: +44 (0)141 582 2000
Fax: +44 (0)141 582 2222
Email: students@accaglobal.com

ORIENTATION GUIDE INTRODUCTION 5

 þ COMING TO THE UK

CHECKLIST
Before you arrive:

þ

research visa/work permit requirements and ensure you have
any necessary visas or permits to enter the UK

þ

research information about living in the UK – in particular
banking, accommodation, transport, language and other
essential information

þ research tuition options and find a learning provider

þ

research the UK job market – if applicable and possible,
secure a job before you leave. (ACCA does not place students
or members into employment. It is the responsibility of the
individual student or member to find appropriate work).

When you arrive:

þ

notify ACCA of your change of address (and employment
details if applicable) via ACCA Connect or myACCA on the
website

þ set up all essential living necessities – bank account etc

þ

research places to visit, cultural differences, possible
activities – make the most of your UK experience

þ find work or work experience (if applicable)

þ

consider opportunities to improve your skills / gain additional
qualifications

þ

be aware of ACCA UK activities, publications, societies and
events.

6 CHECKLIST
ENTERING THE UK
STUDYING IN THE UK • make your arrangements for travel to the UK. Please ensure
that you have your learning provider’s acceptance letter with
There has been significant changes to the UK visa requirements
you. UK immigration may require confirmation of this when
and it is important that you familiarise yourself with visa
you arrive in the UK.
requirements rules before travelling to the UK to study. You will
need to know whether you require a student visa and, if so, how to ACCA UK is not involved in any aspect of administering or issuing
apply for one. For more information visit www.bia.homeoffice.gov. Student Visas. This is managed by the Home Office Border &
uk/studyingintheuk Immigration Agency.
Below is a list of important points to remember when planning to For further information and guidance on UK visa requirements and
study in the UK: application procedures please visit
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk
• firstly ensure that the tuition provider you are considering
for your ACCA study is a licensed provider. See http://
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-
WORKING IN THE UK
students/approved-education-provider/ for further details
The Home Office Border & Immigration Agency website has clear
• if you are not yet an ACCA student, ensure you register with
information about the various routes open to non-UK nationals who
ACCA directly (your learning provider can’t do this for you)
want to work in the UK.
• complete an enrolment form for your chosen ACCA learning
The UK Government wishes to manage legal migration in the
provider (see page 9). Enrolment forms should be available to
interests of the UK economy, and there are opportunities for
download on their website. In order to satisfy current student
people with different types and levels of skills. However, in some
visa requirements you need to complete 15 hours per week
instances, it is not you but your employer who has to obtain the
of formal tuition
correct work permit for you.
• receive your acceptance pack from your learning provider.
ACCA UK is aware that some students find it very difficult to
The pack should contain relevant information about fees and
find employers willing or able to obtain work permits for them
entering the UK on a student visa
for training purposes. The UK job market is very competitive and
• to apply for a student visa, you must have a valid passport employers can often easily source candidates for training positions
and meet the British immigration requirements. Once you from EU (European Union) states who do not require work permits.
receive your acceptance letter from your learning provider, Many ACCA students who require work permits utilise the hours they
you should request an interview for application for a are permitted to work on a student visa and then return to their home
student visa with the local British Embassy or British High countries on completion of UK studies to obtain the remaining relevant
Commission. You must also have evidence of sufficient work experience required for ACCA membership. If they wish to
funds to pay your fees and living costs. At your interview you return to the UK to work, many will do this post membership.
will have to demonstrate that you have sufficient command of
ACCA does not place students or members into employment. It
the English language
is the responsibility of the individual student or member to find
• arrange your accommodation. The authorities may not grant appropriate work.
you a student visa without written confirmation of proof of
For full information on UK work permits please visit
address whilst you are studying in the UK
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk

ORIENTATION GUIDE ENTERING THE UK 7

LIVING IN THE UK
OVERVIEW
Arriving and settling in a foreign country can be challenging and it
may take time to adapt to your new environment. However, whilst
living in the UK you will come across many opportunities for new
experiences and many organisations to help support you.
Education UK, part of the British Council, has produced a
comprehensive guide to arriving and living in the UK. It includes
information on arranging visas and accommodation, working in the
UK, financial and legal matters, culture, food and health care.
To access this guide on the internet go to
www.educationuk.org/downloads/study_live_uk.pdf
8 LIVING IN THE UK
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING
For many students, one of the advantages of studying in the UK
is the opportunity to improve their English in an English-speaking
country. As well as many opportunities to practice English in
everyday situations, many students also like to take additional
English language classes.
ACCA has partnered Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of
Other Languages) – part of the world-renowned University of
Cambridge.
Together, our organisations have developed Cambridge ICFE
(International Certificate in Financial English). Cambridge ICFE is
an ideal qualification for anyone thinking of, or already pursuing, a
career in accountancy or finance. By focussing on accounting and
finance vocabulary and practical business situations, it will help
you to participate in meetings and discussions of a financial nature
and to express opinions clearly. It will also help with understanding
financial documents including statements, journal articles, letters,
reports and proposals – helping you to improve your performance
in the classroom and in exams. Studying for Cambridge ICFE will
help you improve your language skills and enable you to use them
in a wide range of accounting and financial contexts. For more
information, including a list of tuition providers and exams centres,
visit www.financialenglish.org
Not yet ready to take Cambridge ICFE? Then why not take
Cambridge ESOL BEC (Business English Certificate) Preliminary?
It’s an ideal qualification if you want to improve your business
English language skills and demonstrate your commitment to a
career in finance. For more information visit www.cambridgeesol.org
ACCA TUITION
If you are planning to study towards the ACCA Qualification in the
UK then you must ensure that you enrol with a tuition provider and
obtain the correct visas.
Before you enrol with a tuition provider it is important that you
register as a student with ACCA. This will mean that (if applicable)
you have the correct exemption information to pass onto the tuition
provider to ensure you study towards the right papers.  that is right for you.
You will not be able to enter for any ACCA exams unless you
are a registered ACCA student. If you intend to enter for ACCA’s
June exam sitting you must register as an ACCA student by 31
December. If you intend to enter for the December exam sitting you
must register as an ACCA student by 15 August.
It is your responsibility to enter for exams with ACCA. As a
registered student, if you intend to sit paper-based exams, the
exam entry deadlines are 15 April for June Exams and 15 October
for December Exams.
Computer-based exams (CBEs) are available for certain papers
in the CAT and ACCA qualifications. CBEs offer flexibility as they
can be sat at any time and do not restrict you to the June and
December sittings. However, you will not be able to sit CBEs
unless you are a registered student with ACCA. Visit http://www.
accaglobal.com/students/exams/cbes/ for full details of CBEs and
how they operate.
ORIENTATION GUIDE
UK TUITION PROVIDERS
It is important that you make the right decisions
when preparing for your exams. ACCA courses
are taught by over 280 learning providers
throughout the UK, so it can be
difficult to select the one
ACCA strongly
recommends that you
opt for a provider that
is registered under
ACCA’s Approved
Learning Partners (ALP)
scheme, as you can be sure that
they:
• are monitored by ACCA
• meet the minimum quality criteria
• receive up-to-date information regarding ACCA
• will be subject to an investigation in the event of any student
complaints.
Gold Approved Learning Partners have to demonstrate to ACCA that
they meet certain performance targets around the way they manage
their institution – such as the provision of comfortable premises and
adequate facilities, carefully monitored attendance and retention, and
financial viability – and the way they manage and deliver their ACCA
courses – such as having a knowledgeable and experienced teaching
team, a structured teaching programme and providing students with
advice on study options and tutorial support.
Platinum Approved Learning Partners, in addition to meeting the
Gold performance targets, have to provide evidence of continual
improvement and innovation, and must consistently meet exam
results targets, set by meeting or exceeding ACCA’s worldwide
pass rates.
ACCA TUITION 9
ACCA TUITION CONTINUED

You can access an up-to-date list of UK tuition providers on

the ACCA website: http://www.accaglobal.com/students/study/
search. This list includes details of ALPs as well as other institutions
teaching towards ACCA exams, but who are not part of ACCA’s ALP
accreditation scheme.
Costs for tuition vary depending on the method of study and
individual learning provider. Payment for tuition takes place directly
between you and your learning provider. ACCA only controls costs
and payment for sitting exams.

VARIANT PAPERS (LAW AND TAX)

To support the international breadth of ACCA’s membership, we
offer students the opportunity to take law and tax papers that
reflect the law and tax systems of several countries. However
please note that if you are studying ACCA papers for law or tax
in the UK, it is highly unlikely that UK tuition providers will offer
courses for these papers in anything other than the UK variant.
While it is permissible to sit any available law or tax variant exam in
the UK, you will need to consider how you will study for a non-UK
law or tax variant paper in the UK.

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING PAPERS

You have the choice of answering exam papers in accordance
with either UK accounting standards or international accounting
standards. It is possible to find tuition for either type in the UK.
However, you are advised to consider the country in which you are
planning to work when you decide which accounting standards to
undertake. UK standards will not be applicable in most countries
outside the UK.

EXAM CENTRES
We have 45 exam centres located throughout the UK. Most major
UK cities will have at least one exam centre. Please visit http://
www.accaglobal.com/students/exams/centres/ to see where exam
centres are located.

10 ACCA TUITION continued

UK EMPLOYMENT
MARKET*
* This section has been produced
by GAAPweb, the UK’s leading
jobsite for accountancy and
finance professionals – www.
gaapweb.com. We would like to
thank them for their support
ORIENTATION GUIDE
ACCOUNTANCY MARKET OVERVIEW
The current economic climate has significantly impacted the UK
employment market. Jobs are no longer the fluid commodity that
they were a year ago; instead there is increased competition across
a number of sectors.
Despite this, there is still a demand for highly capable accounting
and finance professionals. Due to the nature of the accountancy
market this demand can fluctuate, so it’s important to keep an eye
on different types of opportunities.
For example, there has been an increase over the past year
in demand for interim and contract accountancy and finance
professionals, to help companies manage change in difficult times.
Rates of pay for interim work can be competitive with permanent
roles, often paying even more pro rata. It’s a great option for people
between roles or looking to get into a different sector.
Of course, there are still other opportunities out there – some of
them permanent positions. The permanent employment market
is usually boosted by budgets in the new financial year (from 6th
April onwards), whereas the temporary employment market is at its
peak towards the end of the financial year.
With the economic outlook showing very early signs of recovery, it’s
important to stay flexible and consider every opportunity.
CURRENT TRENDS
Corporate sector
There are certain industries that have remained largely immune
to the effects of the UK’s economic recession, including oil, gas
and utilities. The corporates within these industries are still hiring
at a steady rate. Other companies are moving towards hiring
contractors in order to reduce employee headcount and liability.
In general, corporates are looking for specific skills in IFRS, UK
GAAP, consolidations, management accounting and financial
accounting. The current market has also prompted a high demand
for strong credit controllers.
UK EMPLOYMENT MARKET 11
UK EMPLOYMENT
MARKET
Banking and Financial Services
Widely publicised as the cause of the credit crunch,
the banking and financial services sector has been hit
significantly by its aftershock. Although the summer months
have traditionally sparked the most movement in the
financial services temporary sector, this year has seen a
rapid slowdown.
There have been some early signs of recovery. A recent
report suggested that the employment market in London
was up 20% from the previous month in mid-2009. In
general, there is more competition for jobs in London,
but people working there are more optimistic about their
sector’s recovery than the rest of the UK.
Practice sector
Finding a role within the practice sector can be very
competitive, but at the moment there is a strong demand
for quality candidates with good experience in audit, tax
and advisory services.
Gaining experience at a top firm can be valuable, but there
are many small-to-medium firms that offer the opportunity to
undertake a wider variety of work for clients.
In general the practice sector is strong, although there are
high levels of competition for too few positions.
Public and not-for-profit sector
In the current climate, the public and not-for-profit sector
has come to be regarded as a good, solid, ‘recession-proof’
sector. Consequently, many more accounting and finance
professionals are switching over from the private sector.
The complex political and legal structure of the sector, along
with its many regulatory issues and red tape, has proved
to be a deterrent to jobseekers in the past. In addition,
specialist knowledge is often required, involving either previous
experience or further study.
Increasingly, NHS hospitals are becoming foundation trusts,
resulting in a higher demand for commercial accountants.
12
CONTINUED
FINDING A JOB IN THE UK
Types of vacancy
There are two main types of vacancy in the UK: permanent
and temporary. Previously permanent jobs were thought
to be more stable, as they offered long-term benefits and
security, but in today’s market, things are less certain.
At the moment, permanent jobs are proving harder to come
by, and so many people are turning towards temporary
jobs for a short-term financial fix. Temporary contracts are
sometimes referred to as interim roles or contract work.
Standard UK office hours for full-time positions are
9.00am to 5.30pm, whereas part-time employees work a
much shorter week – usually two to three days or another
combination of reduced hours.
The importance of work/life balance has led to a rise in the
popularity of flexi-time, where employees can choose their
start and finish times, as long as they work the required
quota of hours per week.
Where to find vacancies
It’s possible to access UK accounting and finance vacancies
before arrival in the UK, and the easiest way to do this is
online, via jobsites.
Jobsites can be split into two categories: generalist
and specialist. Generalist sites attract a high number of
jobseekers, and competition can be fierce. Specialist jobsites
are particularly useful for those in a particular industry or
sector. GAAPweb.com is an example of an industry-specific
specialist jobsite. These sites make it easy to see the
number of jobs available with the salary, location and full job
specification in one place.
Increasingly, online networking sites such as LinkedIn and
Facebook are being used to find jobs. Groups, forums, contacts
and recommendations act as online word-of-mouth tools, and
can provide useful access to accountancy and finance jobs that
otherwise would not have been advertised in UK newspapers,
trade journals or through recruitment consultants.
UK EMPLOYMENT MARKET
How to apply
To apply for any UK-based job, it’s always necessary to submit a
CV with a cover letter. In addition, larger organisations often require
the completion of an application form.
In order to write an interview-winning cover letter, CV or application
form, GAAPweb.com recommend the following:
• Make sure you align your CV to UK conventions. This
includes keeping it to a maximum of two pages and preparing
your references separately (don’t include them on your CV).
Organise professional and character references before you
leave your home country.
• Photos, salary details and peculiar fonts on application
documents are not common practice in the UK.
• Tailor your CV, cover letter and application form to match the
company you are applying for.
• Emphasise any accountancy and finance experience you’ve
acquired in your home country. Bear in mind that UK
employers might not be familiar with overseas companies,
qualifications or processes, so go into more detail if necessary.
• Demonstrate your value to a company by quantifying your
experience. Don’t just say that you achieved something, talk
about the difference you made to a company by producing real
results.
• When you email your cover letter with your CV, make sure you
attach both documents separately. Or, if you’d prefer, you can
write your cover letter in the body of the email.
• Double check spelling and grammar, particularly if English isn’t
your first language. Get someone with a good grasp of English
to read over your application.
• If you include phone numbers, be sure to include the relevant
international dialling code for your home country.
ORIENTATION GUIDE
What are the major challenges faced by international candidates?
There needn’t be any real obstacles facing international candidates,
providing candidates put in the required research and preparation.
Clearly, UK technical experience isn’t going to match exactly
experience acquired in other countries, which is why it’s important
to emphasise transferrable technical skills. UK employers will be
open to accepting similar skills, qualifications or experience, so
research the corresponding UK equivalent.
UK salaries vary depending on a number of factors, including
location, sector and job title. They are also likely to vary from
international salaries, so it’s essential to be realistic about salary
expectations before relocating to the UK.
EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS
Expectations, contracts and entitlements
UK employers will generally expect the following from international
candidates:
• an excellent grasp of written and spoken English
• a broad knowledge of the accountancy and finance sector,
both in the UK and abroad
• a period of work experience to match the amount of time
spent studying for the ACCA qualification.
In addition, being able to converse in another language is always
seen as an asset in any job application. Employers will, in general,
expect the same standard of numeric ability, problem-solving
and ACCA-related skills from all applicants, whether UK-based or
international.
Most employment contracts are standardised to comply with UK
legislation including holiday and pension entitlements, notice and
probationary periods, sick leave and redundancy rights.
UK EMPLOYMENT MARKET 13
ACCA UK SERVICES
INTRODUCTION
ACCA UK is one of ACCA’s largest national offices with over 80
staff working with and supporting UK-based ACCA students,
affiliates and members. We operate from offices in London, York,
Glasgow and Birmingham. Additionally we have separate national
offices for Wales and Scotland – ACCA Wales based in Cardiff
and ACCA Scotland based in Edinburgh. Our colleagues in ACCA
Ireland support students in both Northern Ireland and the Republic
of Ireland.
UK PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES
The ACCA UK website accaglobal.com/uk contains information
directly relevant to students, affiliates and members in the UK. It
contains information from all ACCA UK departments and advises
on the latest UK events, research, resources and hot topics.
Websites also exist for ACCA Wales at wales.accaglobal.com,
and ACCA Scotland at scotland.accaglobal.com and contain
information for students, affiliates and members living and working
in these countries.
Employment sector-specific publications are also produced for
members in the public practice and health sectors:
• To view our In Practice Online e-newsletter click here, or to
subscribe email inpractice@accaglobal.com.
• For more information on Health Service Review click here.
These are distributed directly to ACCA members working in these
sectors in the UK. Other member publications can be downloaded
at: http://www.accaglobal.com/members/publications/.
14
UK STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND EVENTS
In addition to global resources such as student accountant
magazine and resources found on the student section of www.
accaglobal.com, we provide a number of UK-specific services.
• For students who are planning to sit exams, we put together
a listing of study support events taking place from the end
of February to the end of April (for June exams) and from
the end of September to the end of October (for December
exams). All the events are available from Approved Learning
Partner (ALP) tuition providers across the UK and include
topics such as study skills, memory techniques and exam
techniques and events specific to certain ACCA papers and
subject areas. We also provide details of revision courses run
by Approved Learning Providers for each examination sitting.
• Details of learning provider open days can be found on the
ACCA UK website.
• ACCA UK holds a twice-yearly series of presentations on
ACCA’s Practical Experience Requirement (PER) which focus
on how to record experience and claim performance objectives
on the Trainee Development Matrix (TDM).
• We also produce a UK-specific e-bulletin published at key
points in the student year.
• ACCA UK and NUS (National Union of Students) have been
working together so that ACCA students can apply for the
NUS extra card, which gives cardholders access to products
and services from a variety of companies. The NUS represents
over seven million students across the UK, providing excellent
benefits and helpful research and information. The NUS
website offers students a range of facilities, including
information on NUS campaigns, education news, and advice
on issues relating to housing, education and health care.
ACCA UK SERVICES
 • ACCA has developed a series of podcasts which focus on
commercial awareness and how they can be translated across
different sectors. The podcasts were produced to enable
undergraduates to develop their commercial knowledge and
then use that knowledge when applying for employment. Click
here for more information.
• ACCA students can benefit from the Financial Times Education
programme, saving you up to 65% off a subscription to both
the Financial Times newspaper and FT.com. The Financial
Times is a useful resource for ACCA students, providing you
with a broad-based, in-depth knowledge of business and
industry. It covers global investing and international capital
market activity in full, and provides an exhaustive summary
of currencies worldwide, commodities and world stock
markets. It is also the leading newspaper for UK company
news and offers definitive coverage of the world’s biggest
corporate stories.

To subscribe to the FT and FT.com with your 65% ACCA

student discount, email fte.subs@ft/com or call 0845
602 3176 and quote ‘education association’. Details of
UK support services and events can be found at http://
uk.accaglobal.com/uk/students/
support_information/

KEEP IN CONTACT
If you move to the UK it is crucial that you remember to update
your address details through the myACCA section of the website.
Once we know you are in the UK, we will automatically notify you
of UK-related events, publications and initiatives.

ORIENTATION GUIDE ACCA UK SERVICES 15

 þ LEAVING THE UK

CHECKLISTBefore you leave:

þ

get contact details and references from your UK employer or
tuition provider (or introductions to others in your home
country if possible) – contacts can often create opportunities
for you

þ

research the best way of using your UK experience to your
advantage in your destination country (eg language skills,
work experience, qualification, contacts etc).

When you arrive in your home / next destination

country:

þ

notify ACCA of your change of address (and employer details
if applicable) via ACCA Connect or myACCA on
www.accaglobal.com

þ

contact your local ACCA office or visit their website to ensure
you are up to date with all local ACCA information and
services. Details of local offices can be found at
www.accaglobal.com/network

16 LEAVING THE UK
RECOMMENDED READING
AND FURTHER INFORMATION
USEFUL ORGANISATIONS AND LINKS
The British Council www.britishcouncil.org
Home Office (UK Border Agency) www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk
UK Council for International Student Affairs www.ukcisa.org.uk
(UKCISA)
Visit Britain www.visitbritain.com

ACCA WEB LINKS

ACCA UK website accaglobal.com/uk
ACCA Scotland website scotland.accaglobal.com
ACCA Wales website wales.accaglobal.com
Learning Provider database http://www.accaglobal.com/students/
study/search
Exam centre database http://www.accaglobal.com/students/
exams/centres/
ACCA Potential - a free electronic newsletter www.accaglobal.com/join/why_acca/
for prospective students that provides potential
information and advice about a career in
finance and accountancy

JOB SEARCH LINKS

Many useful UK job websites and recruitment agencies are available,
a selection of these are shown below:
Job vacancy websites Recruitment agencies
www.monster.co.uk www.hays.com
www.totaljobs.co.uk www.martinwardanderson.com
www.michaelpage.co.uk
www.roberthalf.co.uk
www.robertwalters.co.uk

ORIENTATION GUIDE RECOMMENDED READING 17

AND FURTHER INFORMATION
ACCA CONNECT
2 Central Quay
89 Hydepark Street
Glasgow G3 8BW

tel: +44 (0)141 582 2000

fax: +44 (0)141 582 2222
email: students@accaglobal.com