ACCA PER | How To Get ACCA Practical Experience | Are 36 Months Enough? What Are The Objectives?

If accountancy is your future, consider the ACCA as your present. This certification can gift you a prominent accounting career with tremendous work opportunities with some of the top companies around the world.

A highly acclaimed, well-designed and globally recognised program, The Association of Chartered Accountants is responsible for creating some of the most respected and reputed accountants. Since its inception in 1904, this course has grown to support over 200,000 members in over 160 countries.

Interested? Why wouldn’t you be? This program is the defining benchmark for all financial and management accountants. It could launch your career and give you an edge over your peers who don’t have this certification.

Which means, it won’t be an easy course to clear. You have to put in time, effort and commitment to achieve your qualification. Once you pass your exams, you’ll be ready for the next step — the practical experience requirement, also known as ACCA PER.

The ACCA board requires all certified students to gain work experience in relevant accounting jobs. This is imperative if you want your ACCA membership. So let’s look into ACCA PER and find out what you need to fulfill your work requirement.

What is ACCA PER?

While theoretical education is important, the ACCA organisation also believes in the value of learning on the job. Work exposure gives you a different perspective towards your training as an accountant. PER helps you to develop your skills, improve your practical knowledge and become a well-rounded professional.

There’s more. The ACCA PER also enables you to:

• Apply your course training in the real world, corporate environment.
• Bridge any gaps in your education.
• Let you make rookie mistakes and learn from them while under supervision.
• Observe and analyse how accountants work on a day-to-day basis.
• Self-reflect on the type of professional you aspire to be.

Also Read – Top things to learn and time required for each ACCA papers

Features of the ACCA PER

Now that you realise just how important your work experience requirement is, let’s understand all the characteristics and details of the ACCA PER.

1. Time frame of ACCA PER

The ACCA course is very strict about the practical experience requirement. Only of 36 months or more of work experience will allow you to get your membership. This adds up to 3 years in total. The reason the ACCA board mentions months instead of years is to give you a little flexibility. You can work part-time or full-time or for different companies, and as long as the months add up, it is fine.

The ACCA organisation will also accept previous work experience you may have had before you did the course. As long as you work in a position that is relevant to accountancy. You will be required to register the number of hours you work per week on the ACCA MyExperience tool. The board recommends you enter 35 hours a week to reach your target without delay and fulfil the objectives of the ACCA PER.

Looking for ACCA Offline Coaching In Your City? 

2. You will need a practical experience supervisor

Think of a practical experience superior as your mentor. This is a professional who will be in charge of overseeing your work. They will help you identify your performance objectives, evaluate your abilities and support your development as an accountant.

The supervisors serves as a link between the ACCA board and you. They will sign off on your performance objectives as you achieve them and confirm the number of hours you have worked for the ACCA PER.

So who are practical experience supervisors? Professionals who are established senior accountants and a member of the IFAC or the International Federation of Accountants. It is possible to have more than one supervisor, but the ACCA board recommends you not appoint a family member or friend as it could lead to a conflict of interest.

Also Read – 10 Trending ACCA Job Profiles In India

3. The MyExperience tool

The ACCA website offers students a special facility called the MyACCA. You register and log in to access the MyExperience tool. You can add details about your employer, and previous and current roles and regularly update your hours. Please note only your actual working hours count. Full-time employees cannot use their vacation days or sick leave as hours.

The ACCA recommends that you update your progress as you work.

There are also five essential and a minimum of 4 four technical objectives to accomplish for the ACCA PER evaluation. The board is very flexible about how you choose to achieve these targets. You can do several together or spread them apart. It is up to you. You will also have to write a 200-500 word reflective statement to describe the process of achieving these objectives.

Here is the full list of all performance objectives:

Essential Objectives:

• Ethics and professionalism
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Strategy, innovation and sustainable value creation
• Governance, risk and control
• Leadership and management

Technical Objectives:

• Corporate and business reporting
• Financial management
• Management accounting
• Taxation
• Audit and assurance
• Advisory and consultancy
• Data, digital and technology

Each of these categories has options within them. You can choose four technical objectives out of a total of 17.

5. The ACCA PER is a very flexible program

While it is imperative to complete the PER to get your membership, the board is fairly open to how you achieve it. As mentioned earlier, you need 36 months’ worth of experience, but you don’t necessarily need to complete them in one shot. It is okay to take a break before you continue your work experience.

You can also change jobs while working toward the PER. All you have to do is approach your new manager to be your experience supervisor.

The ACCA board is also willing to let professionals work part-time or full-time. Just be aware that doing a part-time job will take longer to complete your work requirement. Many experts advise to choose part-time if there are circumstances beyond your control.

Also Read – Countries where ACCA holders have the signing authority

About Proschool’s ACCA course

Proschool is one of India’s leading coaching institutes and an approved partner of the ACCA. This is the right place to be if you want to excel as a global accountant. Proschool’s teachers are experienced accountants who are experts in their field. These professors understand the industry well and use innovative learning methods that bring real-world scenarios and case studies into the classroom.

It’s not enough to know the theory and concepts, the ACCA course is all about practical training. Proschool ensures all students master the skills, tools and abilities needed in accountancy, including how to successfully complete the ACCA PER.

Why Proschool’s ACCA course is the best:

• Proschool has many coaching centres across major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata.
• There is also an option to enrol for online classes.
• The professors are known to engage in lively interactive discussions and offer doubt-clearing sessions.
• There is a strong focus on soft skill development, which is a significant aspect of your professional presentation.
• You have access to over 600 practice papers in all ACCA subjects to help you nail your exams.
• Proschool has an in-house placement team to help you find your aptitude, write professional resumes and learn interview technques.
• All certified students can apply for various jobs on Proschool’s placement portal.

FAQs

• Can I apply for ACCA membership if I have passed my exams but not completed PER?

No. If you haven’t completed the ACCA PER, the board will not accept your membership application. You have to clear your exams and finish the practical experience requirement to be considered eligible. This is non-negotiable.

• Does my previous work experience qualify for ACCA PER?

Yes. If you have worked in the accounting industry in relevant positions, you can get your former manager or supervisor to acknowledge your experience on the MyExperience tool.

• Do internships count for ACCA PER?

Yes. Even if you haven’t been paid, your work experience is counted. Just register on the MyACCA tool and ensure you regularly update on MyExperience.

• Who can be my practical experience supervisor?

In most cases, your direct supervisor or manager can take the role of practical experience supervisor. This professional should be a member of the IFAC and can’t be your subordinate.

• Do I qualify for ACCA PER if I am self-employed?

You need a qualified accountant to supervise your work and verify the completion of all objectives. This may be difficult if you work alone or are self-employed.

• Does my work experience as a teaching professor count towards ACCA PER?

Yes, the ACCA board permits candidates to register for up to 12 months of lecturing experience. It is imperative to note that the lecturing must be at a level that is equivalent or higher to the ACCA Applied Skills course. You must teach relevant accounting and finance subjects.

• When can I start my ACCA PER?

You can begin working towards completing your ACCA PER after you clear your ACCA exams. In some cases, any relevant experience you had before taking the ACCA course can also count if you register your ex-manager as your practical experience supervisor.

Conclusion

If you want your ACCA membership, you must take the ACCA PER seriously. Look at it as a golden opportunity to work in a relevant accounting field, develop important skills, hone your expertise and evolve as an accountant. Achieving your objectives will also enhance your abilities and make you a well-rounded professional. It is the perfect way to start your career.