ICAEW and the ACA qualification
Founded in 1880, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a professional body with more than 145,000 members in 155 countries.
ICAEW runs the globally recognised ACA qualification, enabling those interested in a career in finance to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
To qualify students must undertake at least three years' on-the-job training alongside passing a series of rigorous exams.
This means that ICAEW Chartered Accountants are highly sought after and command higher salaries than those with other accountancy qualifications.
Graduate routes to the ACA
There are a number of different ways in which university students can complete the ACA qualification and become ICAEW Chartered Accountants, both during their studies and after they've completed their degree.
There is no requirement to have studied a finance-related undergraduate degree as employers are recruiting students from a variety of backgrounds.
In 2015 more than 16% of ACA students has studied an Arts subject at degree level before starting their accountancy training (see below).
Events
ICAEW’s student recruitment team support events introducing students to a career in accountancy throughout the year at universities all over the world.
Business games
Designed to emulate tasks that students may face during assessment centres, these events test their analytical skills and business knowledge. Teams of students are put in the shoes of an ICAEW Chartered Accountant for the day and tasked with identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed to a fictional company making business recommendations via a presentation at the end of the session.
Employability workshops
These workshops are focused on helping students to create engaging CVs and on interview preparation. Students are shown how to demonstrate to employers they have the skills needed using examples from their day-to-day lives. In particular, the workshops focus on showcasing: communication and teamwork skills; commercial awareness; integrity; and resilience.
Careers fairs
ICAEW attends careers fairs on campus to talk to students about what a career in finance looks like. Often we are supported by ICAEW members who share their experiences of a career in chartered accountancy with students.
Speed networking
These events enable your students to meet and mingle with professionals from the accountancy, finance and business world. Alongside hearing the real-world experiences of chartered accountants, these events provide students opportunities to make links with potential employers.
Commercial awareness sessions
Employers are looking for commercially savvy employees and these events give students an opportunity to consider their current awareness and how to develop it. The sessions are designed to boost students’ ability to analyse situations from a business perspective and recognise what makes an organisation successful.
How we can help you
Free resources
We have a range of free online resources to support your students develop key skills, including:
ICAEW Careers Advisers’ Day
Keep up to date with what employers are looking for from graduate applications at ICAEW’s Annual Careers Advisers’ Day.
Every year ICAEW brings together representatives from businesses, accountancy firms and non-for-profit organisations to share their insights with careers advisers and university tutors.
The day-long event also offers opportunities to network with peers and employers, as well as speak to ICAEW’s student recruitment team on how they can help you.