Training to become an ACA is no picnic at the best of times, but for many young people it sometimes proves to be even more of a challenge as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Yet they grit their teeth and carry on.
Their outstanding courage and determination in the face of adversity are recognised through the ICAEW Foundation and CABA Global Inspiration Awards, now in their second year. And this year's winners are no exception. Their stories stood out among nominations sent in from all over the world by ICAEW members, staff, district societies, regional offices, practising firms and tutorial organisations.
Ellie Caroe, who is training at PwC in Cambridge, has faced huge time constraints and family issues, yet has passed all six of her knowledge papers and her first three application papers first time, while Yan Jie, a senior auditing manager with an accountancy firm in Liaoning Province in China, has juggled a demanding job with caring for elderly relatives, huge financial burdens and a difficult language barrier while studying to become an ACA.
Both Iain McIndoe (KPMG, Liverpool) and Craig Willis (PwC, Newcastle) are wheelchair users as a result of devastating accidents. Yet both have persevered with their studies and passed their exams with flying colours.
A fifth award winner has asked for anonymity, something that they are entitled to do. It's a decision both the ICAEW Foundation and CABA understand and respect. The awards were introduced last year by the ICAEW Foundation and CABA (Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association).
Open to ACA students both in the UK and internationally, they are designed to reward those who have demonstrated exceptional qualities in overcoming significant personal, social or financial difficulties to maintain or complete their studies. The awards are also aimed at inspiring others to persevere when things become tough - not giving up at the earliest opportunity. Each winner receives a certificate, an engraved glass trophy and a cheque for £5,000.
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The ICAEW Foundation is shaping the future of the profession by creating life-changing opportunities for the disadvantaged, commissioning ground-breaking research that inspires business confidence, and establishing ties between academia and the profession. To find out more or to make a donation or please call + 44 (0)20 7920 8647.
CABA
CABA's help is available to ICAEW members and their dependants wherever they may live. Former ICAEW members may also approach CABA for support, as can ACA students with a training contract. Support can be practical, emotional or financial, depending on individual circumstances. For further information
Gaining a precious resource
Yan Jie
If you had to pick two characteristics to describe Chinese ACA trainee Yan Jie, they would be 'determined' and 'hardworking'. She has overcome almost insurmountable barriers to pass her exams at first sitting and is in line to qualify in December this year.
Despite her background - she comes from a poor mining family - Yan Jie was determined to better herself. She gained an economics degree from Liaoning University in Shenyang and went to work in hospital administration. But the lack of promotion prospects led her to change career and study for the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants' qualification. 'To be honest, it was really hard for me,' she says, 'because my major was not very relevant. I had to study most of the knowledge by myself for there was no training for the CPA at that time and I did not have any relevant work experience.'
However, she persevered, gained her qualification and is currently a senior audit manager with a small CPA firm. But her ambition didn't end there: as soon as the ACA training programme reached Liaoning, she signed up. 'I felt I should learn some international knowledge and I wanted to get a high level overseas accounting certificate to improve myself.'
It was not an easy option. Although her employers signed her ACA training contract, they could not afford to give her study leave or financial assistance. So Yan Jie had to juggle a busy job, caring for her elderly father and sick parents-in-law and study time. She also faced a language barrier (the ACA course is in English) and severe financial difficulties: on top of the medical bills, mortgage and the cost of the ACA fees, she saw her salary decreasing as the global financial crisis impacted on the firm's business.
It was all worth it, she says. Not only did the ACA course enhance her confidence and improve her English, but it has given her the opportunity to train in the UK, 'which will expand my vision and horizon', and to develop a network of fellow ACAs. 'I believe these things will become my precious resources and experiences which will provide more resources in my future career.'
Carrying on as normal
ICAEW CEO Michael Izza presents Iain McIndoe with his Global Inspiration Award
Iain McIndoe had been with KPMG just five months when he broke his neck diving in shallow water on holiday in Spain. Due to start his exam studies on his return to the UK, he found himself instead in hospital in Spain for six weeks, followed by a 46-week stay in hospital in England and a year's recuperation.
Despite being paralysed from the shoulders down, he was determined to carry on as normally as possible and KPMG was supportive right from the start. Colleagues helped his family to find accommodation while he was in Spain and, back in the UK, they not only visited him regularly but also took part in a fun run to raise money towards the cost of his electric wheelchair.
McIndoe had always led an active life before the accident. A bio sciences graduate, he taught in France and Spain for a while before joining Fyffes, the banana business, a move that did not match expectations.
'I then had a second think about what I wanted as a graduate, and realised that having a concrete skills set, working with my brain and doing a job that was challenging and offered something to business was going to be important in a career.' In order to do the ACA training, McIndoe has had to learn to write again and, although he uses support workers in the classroom to help him, he takes his own study notes. So far he has passed four exams with flying colours. The positive way he embraces his studies, one of his nominators says, is a 'great inspiration'. He sees winning the award as a privilege but also humbling, 'as I'm sure there are a great many more deserving people who were never put forward'. He also pays tribute to KPMG for its encouragement, not just of him, but of other people with disabilities in the firm. 'I count myself very lucky to have had such support.'