Earn while you learn to avoid student debt
STUDYING while working can kill two birds with one stone – you gain the qualifications you want without building up a debt.
Anna Jafferali is a higher apprentice in government and public sector assurance with accountancy giant, PwC.
The trainee associate, f rom Manchester, opted for on- thejob training instead of going to university after gaining A-grades i n her French and maths Al evels and a B in chemistry at Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire. She joined pwc’s twoyear apprenticeship t r aining scheme in 2013.
‘I didn’t study anything related to accountancy at school, but after getting some accountancy work experience, I realised I wanted to go into a professional services firm,’ says Anna.
‘It’s possible to study finance or accountancy at university, but getting a degree would take four years and then you still need to become chartered, which would take three years.
‘I did some research and saw t hat I c ould f ast- t r ack and s t udy f or ACA, a chartered accountancy qualification that takes four years.
‘It meant I wouldn’t build up a loan debt from university, I’d be paid and also have hands- on experience in one of the big four accountancy firms.’
Anna will reach associate level at PwC’s Manchester offices this autumn and become a chartered accountant in t wo years. ‘I consider it to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ve met a diverse range of people, and I really enjoy it on a day-to- day basis,’ she says.
‘From day one, it’s hands-on and you go to a client’s site, but you’re guided through all of it. And as you’ve also got exams, you can take time out to study.’
Last year, the accountancy profession launched an ambitious drive designed to provide greater opportunities for talented students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
FOUNDING partners of the scheme include AAT, Deloitte, grant Thornton, KPMG, PWC and ICAEW. Access Accountancy provides a minimum of 750 work placements a year f or target students across the profession.
Marianne Fall on, head of corporate affairs at KPMG, who started the scheme along with the ICAEW, said: ‘There is no doubt we all need to do more to provide entry routes into the profession for a wider range of young people.
‘ We want t he accountancy profession to reflect the society it serves.’