Passed All ACCA Exams? What Would You Do After Completing ACCA?

Completing all your ACCA exams is a significant milestone, but it’s not the end of your journey. It’s the start of your professional transition from planning to action, applying your knowledge in the real world and embracing your career path as a professional rather than a student.

Once you’ve passed all thirteen papers, there are several paths you can take, from starting your career as an ACCA Affiliate to becoming a full ACCA member. This blog explores the options available to you after completing the ACCA exams, providing insights into job opportunities, next steps, and ways to further enhance your qualifications.

Next Steps After Completing ACCA Exams

Once you’ve passed all your ACCA exams, here are the three paths you can choose from:

Start Working as an ACCA Affiliate

What does it mean to be an ACCA Affiliate?

Upon clearing all 13 exams, you become an ACCA Affiliate. This means you’ve completed the educational requirements but are yet to fulfil the work experience and ethics module required to gain full ACCA membership.

While being an Affiliate allows you to access a wide range of job opportunities, you won’t be able to use the ACCA designatory letters after your name until you become an ACCA member. An affiliate also achieves additional honorary degrees after clearing certain exams which you can use to get employed.

Work as an ACCA affiliate

To become a qualified ACCA, an affiliate has to upload 36 hours of work experience as one of the requirements to membership. They can start working in a wide variety of roles in the finance and accounting sectors.

ven if an affiliate decides to not get an ACCA membership, they can start working in myriad industries. Clearing ACCA papers deems you competent to handle the work employers need. The roles available allow you to build your experience and earn a good income while working toward becoming a full ACCA member.

Become an ACCA Member: Complete Your Work Experience & Ethics Module

What Does Completing ACCA Really Mean?

Completing ACCA means more than just passing exams—it’s about being ready to take on leadership roles in the finance industry. To achieve full ACCA membership, you need to complete three key components:

1. Clear ACCA exams: ACCA has 13 exams in total, divided in 3 levels.
2. Ethics & Professional Skills Module (EPSM): A 20-hour module that helps you develop the ethical and professional skills essential for modern finance professionals. It is a self-learning course that can be completed at your individual pace. You can either start it while giving your exams or working towards completing your work ex.
3. Work Experience (PER): You must accumulate 36 months of relevant work experience in a finance-related role. The 36 months of work experience ACCA requires allows you flexibility of uploading it in parts or at a stretch. In simple words, you can choose to work at the same company for 3 years straight and earn the work ex or take breaks in between or even work for a while you are giving your exams in one firm and then work at another place. As long as you fulfil the objective of the PER you can choose your own path to do so. ACCA also permits you to upload your previous work if relevant.

Once you are done with your exams, you need to achieve the 2 remaining components to get your ACCA membership. These steps ensure that, once you become a member, you’re not just academically qualified but also professionally prepared.

Becoming an ACCA member gives you the ability to use the ACCA designatory letters after your name and access to senior-level positions in finance.  The members, spread out across the globe, also enjoy many benefits including collaborations, continuing professional development (CPD), access to latest content and more.

Also Read – ACCA Membership Made Simple: Steps To Get Started Now!

Journey after becoming an ACCA Member

Once you achieve full ACCA membership, you have several career options:

• Start working: ACCA members are in high demand globally. You can work in senior roles like Management Accountant, Finance Manager, or even Chief Financial Officer (CFO), either in India or abroad.
• Pursue additional qualifications: Many ACCA members opt to enhance their expertise by pursuing additional degrees such as an MBA, which can open up leadership positions in finance and management.

ACCA Affiliate Future Opportunities

As mentioned above, an ACCA Affiliate is someone who has passed all the exams but has not yet completed the PER and Ethics module required for full membership.

Job Roles for ACCA Affiliates

Even as an Affiliate, you can work in various entry-to-mid-level roles, such as:

• Accounts Assistant
• Financial Analyst
• Junior Auditor
• Tax Assistant
• Finance Officer
• Management Accountant Trainee

These roles allow you to gain the work experience needed to complete the PER while establishing your career in accounting and finance.

Also Read – 10 Trending ACCA Job Profiles In India

What Else to Do After Completing ACCA

Once you’ve become a full ACCA member, you can pursue a wide range of career options:

• Work in Finance and Accounting: Roles such as Management Accountant, Financial Accountant, Finance Manager, Fund Accountant, Finance Director, CFO, Forensic Accountant, and Auditor are available to ACCA members.
• Start Your Own Business: With a strong foundation in finance, ACCA members can also start their own consulting or accounting firm.
• Become a Consultant: Many ACCA members go on to work as financial consultants, advising companies on best practices in financial management, tax planning, and compliance.
• Work for a Non-Profit: If you’re passionate about social impact, many ACCA members find rewarding careers in the non-profit sector.
• Pursue Further Studies: After becoming a member, some professionals opt to pursue further qualifications like an MBA or CFA to diversify their skills.
• Teach: With the ACCA qualification, you could also consider teaching, helping the next generation of finance professionals achieve success.

Also Read – MBA with ACCA: Why it’s a winning combination

Global Opportunities for ACCA Members

The ACCA qualification is globally recognized, which means that you can work in over 180 countries. ACCA members are in high demand in India, the UK, Canada, the Middle East, and many other regions. This global recognition gives you the flexibility to pursue a career almost anywhere in the world.

Conclusion

Passing all your ACCA exams is a huge accomplishment, but it’s just the beginning of a world of opportunities. Whether you choose to start working as an ACCA Affiliate, complete the journey to full membership, or pursue further studies, the future is bright. The ACCA qualification opens doors to high-paying roles in finance and accounting, both locally and globally.

FAQs

What career options are available for ACCA members?

ACCA members can pursue roles such as Management Accountant, Finance Manager, CFO, Forensic Accountant, and more across a variety of industries.

Should I pursue further qualifications after becoming an ACCA member?

It depends on your career goals. Many ACCA members pursue additional qualifications like an MBA or CFA to advance in their careers.

Can Proschool help me with career advancement after ACCA?

Yes, Proschool offers career counselling, job placement assistance, and coaching to help you secure the best roles in finance.

What are the benefits of ACCA membership?

Membership gives you the right to use the ACCA designatory letters and access higher-level roles and salaries in finance and accounting globally.

How long does it take to become an ACCA member after passing all exams?

It typically takes about 36 months to complete the work experience requirement and the Ethics & Professional Skills Module needed to become a full ACCA member.