At a recent event organised by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and sponsored by AAFAQ Islamic Finance, aspiring young finance professionals had the opportunity to hear from a range of experts and role models from the region about how exactly to land the job of their dreams.

The audience learnt that employers are looking for different things in new recruits but some common threads stand them in good stead. Being committed and passionate about what they want to do and caring about the work they produce is a critical starting point. From an error free CV to a knowledge of the role and company where you are applying, these things may be common sense but it was clear that all too many employers see people failing at these first simple steps.

If a candidate can demonstrate an ability and willingness to learn and they have the professional qualification such as ACCA that proves they have the technical competence they are off to a flying start. With panellists, presentations and stands from EY, Deloitte, InternsME, Crowe Horwath, Kaplan, INJAZ, BDO, British Council, Manchester Business School, Marka PJSC AND Ethics Plus Public Accountants the event also provided a fantastic networking opportunity for attendees with some even gaining that elusive interview offer there and then.

Senior ACCA members in CFO roles across the Emirates also talked about their own personal careers, and what is clear is that the journey to the top is never smooth and simple. There are knockbacks and hardships for everybody along the way, but knowing what you want to achieve, committing to it and being resilient in the face of adversity will stand any candidate in good stead.

Head of ACCA for the Middle East Lindsay Degouve de Nuncques said of the event This was a fantastic opportunity for our affiliates and students to hear about what really matters to career success; directly from those that make the key recruitment decisions and those that have been where they are now. Participants left energised with practical tips for them to make that next career move.

Notes to Editors

About ACCA
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. It offers business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports its 178,000 members and 455,000 students in 181 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 95 offices and centres and more than 7,110 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.