ACCA’s Approved Employer program supports organisation to enhance development

Friday, 10 October 2014 09:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recognises and rewards leading organisations that offer continual learning and professional development support to ACCA trainees and have established partnerships with many leading employers across the world. ACCA Sri Lanka Business Development Manager – Employers Ruchera Jayawardena Peries explained about ACCA’s Employer Accreditation scheme.

What is the Approved Employer program?

It is designed to formally recognise an organisation’s commitment to providing learning and development opportunities to its finance staff working towards the ACCA qualification. There are two levels of approval that consists of gold and platinum status. The scheme is accessible to all and it is also progressive, enabling organisations approved at gold level to work towards a higher level of approval. The gold level of approval is awarded to organisations where ACCA trainees are provided with work experience that fully meets the practical experience requirements of ACCA’s qualifications with their performance in the work place being monitored. The Platinum Approved status, the highest level to be awarded, is given to employers who meet ACCA’s statements of best practice in all six areas that consist of study support work experience requirements, supervision, appraisal and workplace development, training records and continuing development.

What are the benefits to ACCA students and members working at an organisation that is an ACCA Approved Employer?

They will receive great training that is in line with global standards, financial support for studies and training and continuing professional development that will greatly add to their resume’s and careers.

How can an organisation become an Approved Employer?

To achieve an approved employer status organisations have to show that they have personally focused training programs in place for all employees and provide full support for study and examination programs, and have on-going personal development programs in place, that offer relevant practical experience with the whole program properly managed for each individual. We encourage all employers who recruit ACCA trainees and members to apply for this scheme through our online application. Following confirmation of approval, the respective organisation will be subject to a monitoring process, where they must meet a number of best practice statements.

What are the benefits to an organisation in achieving this status?

This scheme enables employers to benchmark their training and development practices against ACCA’s best practice training standards and to receive global recognition for the training and development opportunities they provide. Once an organisation receives the approved employer status they will join an elite group of employers around the world who will gain access to specialised services offered by ACCA for approved employers. These would be services designed to support the recruitment, development and retention of finance professionals that includes access to ACCA’s global conference series and research programs on managing human capital as well as other employer training products and services. It also offers a 360 degree solution for recruitment, retention and development of accounting and finance professionals, who not only come with an in-depth knowledge and skilled background, but also deliver to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. This will in turn enhance an organisation’s reputation as an employer. In addition it can help attract talented people into an organisation We currently have on our portfolio companies who have achieved approved employer status such as, HSBC Securities Services, World Bank, Accenture, Copal Amba, WNS , Hayleys Business Solutions International Ltd, Tellida , Standard Chartered Bank, MAS Holdings and many more of a similar calibre.