Now progressing through the ACA qualification, trainee accountant Charlie Sharp explains how completing ICAEW CFAB helped provide the foundation for his success.
Charlie Sharp hadn’t initially thought about a career in accountancy. While completing his A-levels, the careers staff at Charlie’s school made the connection between accountancy and his skillset, and the rest was history.
Charlie was accepted onto an AAT Level 3 apprenticeship at Duncan & Toplis and soon realised accountancy was the career for him, going on to study the ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB).
“I realised that I wanted to play to my strengths and work towards becoming chartered,” Charlie explains. “I thought ICAEW CFAB made sense because if I planned to go down the chartered accountancy route, then this is a reputable course, and I’m doing it with the same company and the same training provider.”
Comprising the Certificate Level exams of the ACA qualification, ICAEW CFAB equips students with essential knowledge in business, finance and accounting. Charlie started studying for ICAEW CFAB in September 2023 and completed it 14 months later.
“It gives you a foundation of business,” Charlie says. “It covers a lot more than accounting. There are topics on law, business, technology and finance. You get a bit more of a feel for what other people do.”
I wanted to work towards chartered status and ICAEW CFAB is a reputable course
Learning about yourself
ICAEW CFAB can be started at any time, studied on its own or alongside other commitments. “Duncan & Toplis provided me with dedicated study time but everything else was on my own time. It’s about planning and preparing,” says Charlie.
“Initially, it was quite tough. There’s lots of content to go through, but it’s about breaking it down and going through it at your own pace” he adds. Learning new subject areas came as a challenge too: “It was a bit of a shock because it’s all brand new.”
Despite the learning curve, Charlie says completing ICAEW CFAB taught him a lot about himself, learning how to balance work and revision as well as carving out free time for himself. “It’s about knowing when you’ve done enough work and having the confidence that you can do it,” he says.
“You’ve got to back yourself and trust what you’ve learned. If you can do that, then you’re ready to take the exams. And you can show what you’ve learned in your job,” Charlie explains.
His other key tip for completing ICAEW CFAB is planning: “You’ve got to be clever with it, especially when you’ve got other deadlines to keep up with.” And, finally, he says it’s important to keep a level head: “You’ve got to let stressful periods pass. It’s not permanent - it comes in peaks and troughs.”
ICAEW CFAB helps you discover the areas you really like and want to specialise in
Foundation for the future
Those who complete ICAEW CFAB can go on to pursue the ICAEW Business and Finance Professional (BFP) designation as well as the ACA qualification. Charlie has built on his success at AAT Level 3 and ICAEW CFAB by choosing to progress with the ACA, having already passed his first two exams at Professional Level.
Completing ICAEW CFAB has proven a strong foundation for taking on the ACA qualification. “The format of the exams, as well as the end-point assessment, is very similar and all the same software is used,” he says. “Having already used the software, I know how it all works and that takes away some of the pressure.”
Charlie sees ICAEW CFAB and the ACA qualification as a springboard for his career. “I’m not just confined to working in one area, I can explore different paths thanks to what I’ve learned. I’ve taken a longer route to the ACA, but it felt right for me. Now, I can see the progression and what I’ve got out of all the learning so far, and it’s really rewarding and fulfilling.”
He’d “massively” recommend ICAEW CFAB to anyone looking to start their career in accountancy. “It’s been very helpful,” he explains. “It helps you discover what areas you really like and want to specialise in, as well as the areas you don’t like as much. It’s very broad.”
Visit the ICAEW CFAB hub for resources and support during your studies.
