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Completing this year's CPD

25 Aug 2008

Everyone learns in different ways. As a result, ACCA constantly gathers and analyses feedback from members in order to provide a comprehensive range of learning and development resources.

So what are the learning resources and opportunities that are available to you to make sure your CPD is both highly achievable and easy to manage? Take a look through the following activities and decide which ones best suit your personal learning style.

E-learning

E-learning is an extremely convenient way to learn and enables access to courses beyond the traditional constraints of time and place. In recognition of this, ACCA offers both a range of ACCA-bespoke courses, which are free of charge to members, and a range of e-learning courses provided by our expert e-learning partner, BPP. Courses are available in the following areas:

• Financial Reporting
• Taxation
• Succession Planning for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
• Strategic Planning, and 
• Management.

CPD face-to-face events

Our extensive network of national offices and Registered CPD Providers help ensure that a host of CPD events are regularly organised worldwide. These events are specifically developed to meet local needs and cover a wide range of topics including technical, IT, business and soft skills. Our global events calendar is available for your convenience.

The Open University

ACCA has partnered with the Open University (OU) to offer a series of modules designed specifically to meet the development needs of finance professionals. Delivered online with tutor support, completion of any one course (within one CPD year) means that you will automatically meet your full verifiable CPD requirement for the year. Current modules available include:

• Influencing Strategic Thinking for Finance Professionals
• Leadership for Professionals.

Additional ACCA qualifications

ACCA has a range of qualifications for members who want to specialise or expand their knowledge and skills. For convenience, each qualification has been allocated CPD units that take into account the time required for study and assessment. The following qualifications are available:

• MBA
• Diploma in International Financial Reporting
• Certificate in International Financial Reporting
• Certificate in International Auditing.

Specialist qualifications from ACCA's partners

In recognition of the diverse career opportunities open to its members, ACCA has partnered with a number of renowned organisations. This provides members with access to a wide range of specialist qualifications spanning a variety of subjects that will assist members in achieving their career aspirations.

Click here and select the partner resources section for full details on the qualifications available from ACCA's partners.

Ethics resource

It is important to remember that good conduct is good for business. Making the right decision based on a code of conduct can be good for you as well as your clients, colleagues and organisation. An ethical declaration also forms part of your annual CPD return.

ACCA's dedicated online ethics resource offers a variety of tools to ensure that you can confidently declare yourself in compliance with the ACCA Code of Ethics and Conduct and to assist you with CPD. This includes:

• free online courses and podcasts
• case studies
• CSR - ACCA's perspective on corporate social responsibility, and 
• guidance on how to create codes of conduct.

Knowledge Library

ACCA produces a wide range of technical and business-related reference materials that can aid learning and development. Our online Knowledge Library draws these together in one highly-searchable resource and includes:

• technical updates
• research reports and consultation responses
• commentaries, opinion pieces and magazine articles, and 
• accounting and auditing standards (see below for more details).

Online accounting standards

ACCA's exclusive online service provides members with free access to International Accounting and Auditing Standards and UK Accounting and Auditing Standards. Developed in partnership with LexisNexis Butterworths, the online standards automatically incorporate updates as soon as amendments are issued or new standards introduced, making it one of the most reliable sources available. Accessed via ACCA's Knowledge Library, time spent reviewing and updating your knowledge and understanding of accounting and auditing standards can count as CPD, if it is relevant to your role.

CPD in the workplace

Many of the activities that you complete in the workplace can count towards your CPD requirement. Taking on new responsibilities or changing your role offers members opportunities to develop their skills. Involvement in coaching or mentoring colleagues - for example, being a workplace mentor for ACCA trainees - or being coached or mentored yourself, will also develop new skills or maintain existing skills.

You may also sit on a committee or working party, or be part of an industry group or network. ACCA will recognise these activities as CPD if they have contributed to your individual development and learning needs.

Research

Conducting research to acquire new information about a subject or issue is an excellent way to maintain and develop your knowledge and can make a valuable contribution to your CPD, providing learning and development relevant to your role has taken place. There are several different ways to conduct research including:

• using the internet, libraries, knowledge banks, intranet or other sources of information
• reading Accounting and Business and AB Direct, and 
• interviewing and discussing topics with experts and colleagues.

ACCA networks

ACCA facilitates networking between members through local groups and panels. These groups arrange a variety of events and activities including CPD courses and business lectures. It is also a great opportunity to meet like-minded peers and share ideas and opinions. For further information on ACCA networks, please contact your nearest ACCA office.