Q&A - PER

In order to gain your practical experience requirements (PER) for membership, you need to be working in a relevant role, and once there, find the right opportunities in order to fulfil your performance objectives - not always an easy task, we know. student accountant finds out from ACCA student blogger Angela Jeffrey how she recently found her role in finance, and how she plans to complete her PER.

Q: How did you find a relevant role in which to start you PER?
A: When I started studying in September 2006, I was working in the planning department for the Port of London Authority, the public body which looks after the River Thames. My work was economics and statistics-based, and my intention was to study for the ACCA exams while continuing in my current job, making sure that the change of career was what I really wanted to do.

After studying for 18 months I had managed to do well in the ACCA Qualification exams I had taken, and, more importantly, I knew that I was enjoying the topics I was covering and wanted to move to a financial role. I plucked up the courage and went to my boss and asked whether there were any opportunities for me to work in the finance department, and in doing so complete my practical experience requirements.

It must have been my lucky day because my boss just laughed and asked whether I could read his mind. Apparently my success in my exams had not gone unnoticed and the possibility of me moving to finance had already been considered by management. A desk was available in the finance department, and I grasped the opportunity immediately, packed up my things and moved to finance that day. I thought I'd better make a quick exit from my old department before somebody came up with a reason for me to stay.

Unfortunately, in moving, I lost my superb river Thames view in a spacious and quiet office. I now sit at a cramped desk from which I can only see the river if I stand up and strain across the office. But I am happy because it is such a joy to be working with people that have a love for numbers, and good to be no longer regarded as rather odd for my desire to become an accountant!

Q: What support are you getting from your employer?
A: My first concern on joining the finance department was whether I would be able to gain the depth of experience that is required while working for an organisation whose main function is not accountancy. My worries were quickly pushed aside as I began to understand the depth and breadth of accountancy work that takes place, which I expect is the case in many finance departments in medium-sized companies. In fact, it has already become evident that working in a smaller organisation will enable me to take on a great deal of responsibility from an earlier stage.

Luckily my employer has provided work experience for a number of trainee accountants over the years, and is both experienced and willing to take the time to ensure my training is sufficiently varied.

Q: And you have a mentor?
A: I have a nominated workplace mentor, but since I am taking on a variety of tasks, I have a number of people who are supporting me and who I can go to for advice. They have all been extremely helpful in accommodating my needs so far, with a number of people taking time out to explain and show me how to do things.

Q: How are you approaching your performance objectives?
A: In an ideal world I would have liked to link the exams I am studying with the performance objectives I am currently working towards. However, since I have already taken eight exams, my studies are ahead of my practical experience.

So, in practice, I have had to look at finance work that I have been asked to do as well as my job-related objectives, and see how these can fit with the PER objectives. I only started working towards my PER in February 2008, so as of yet I haven't completed any of the objectives.

Q: So how does achieving your PER fit in with your work objectives?
A: After starting my new job in finance, I looked at the ACCA website to download the advice and guidelines on gaining my PER. There is lots of guidance and examples of relevant activities for each of the 13 performance objectives that must be achieved. In fact, I managed to crash my computer when trying to download all the information - my fault - not the ACCA website!

While the amount of information initially seemed daunting, I'm fairly confident that by taking each objective separately, I can integrate the requirements into my work-related goals.

To follow Angela's progress towards membership across the office, read her blog on the ACCA website.