Pursuing a career in business
GROWING up with a father who was a chartered accountant and a successful businessman, Aneesha Veriah was always intrigued by the business world. So once she completed her undergraduate degree in physiology, she decided to study for the ICAEW Chartered Accountant (ICAEW ACA) qualification.
After qualifying as an ICAEW ACA, Aneesha spent seven years in practice. True to her entrepreneurial spirit, in 2015, she co-founded The Bowery Group, an independent group of restaurants.
“My ACA training and experience helped me build acute business awareness and strong personal judgement. Through client engagements, I also developed extensive insight into the inner workings of a variety of companies. These skills were a huge advantage when I wanted to start my own business,” she said.
Today, Aneesha heads up three businesses in different industries – at her family’s consultancies Rabin & Associates and Real Time Group, as well as The Bowery Group.
“Being an ICAEW ACA has taught me to think critically and strategically, to be mentally agile and organised, as well as manage change and cope with complexity. These skills, which are invaluable in my profession have also enriched my personal life,” she said.
Aneesha credits her career to the mobility the ICAEW ACA offers: “I transitioned easily both geographically and across industries as the ACA programme helped me develop a holistic, international skill and mindset.”
The ICAEW ACA is an internationally recognised professional qualification. One of the world’s premier learning and professional development programmes, ICAEW ACA professionals play a key role in providing critical judgement and strategic counsel for business growth and financial health.
ICAEW professionals bear the designator letters “ACA” after their names, distinctive credentials that are significantly valued in business and finance.
The four integrated components of the ICAEW programme – accountancy, finance and business modules; practical work experience; ethics and professional scepticism and professional development – are designed to ensure that students are dynamic and adaptable in their thinking, approach and response.
Many other critical skills such as agility and collaboration are developed through real-life work experience under the ACA Training Agreement.
Students undertaking the ICAEW ACA generally begin their careers with full-time employment while studying part-time. In Malaysia, students can pursue the ICAEW ACA programme under a Training Agreement with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer upon completion of their degree.
SPM and STPM (or the respective equivalent) school-leavers can begin by undertaking the ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB).
A full-time study course, ICAEW CFAB is conducted at selected approved training providers such as Sunway College, INTEC Education College and Kolej Profesional MARA, Beranang. Upon completion, students can proceed to the next stage of the ICAEW ACA programme.
For more details on how to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, visit icaew. ca-sea.asia or contact ICAEW Malaysia at malaysia@icaew.com or 03-2171 6022.
Coming up next week: Formerly a student of another professional accounting qualification, an ICAEW Chartered Accountant shares why she made the switch.