School exams may seem a distant memory but the dreaded anticipation of A-Level (15th August) and GCSE (22nd August) results can be overwhelming for young people who are worried about their next steps. Global accountancy body ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is reminding students of the many options open to them after receiving their exam results.

“The two results days are a critical time for many parents and students alike, across Northern Ireland. Young people are faced with tough decisions about what to do next, ‘find and start work or continue with study’ said Ronnie Patton, ACCA Public Sector Panel and senior lecturer at the University of Ulster.

“Working within the accountancy profession both at a professional level with ACCA and from an educational perspective I know first-hand the many young people who are confused about their future career path. Some are fortunate to know what their next steps are when it comes to education, training or stepping onto the career ladder, however it can be a challenging time for many people who feel a little disappointed if their grades don’t match up to expectations. Our advice would be to stay calm and don’t panic as there are many options still available.”

As the global body for professional accountants, ACCA believes that for students to fully take charge and make the right choices, they need to be properly informed of all their career opportunities at the appropriate stage in their learning and how best to access them.

“It is encouraging to see the drive and willingness to learn from young people in Northern Ireland with many opting to go to University. The latest figures from UCAS for June highlight that Northern Ireland has witnessed 6.1% increase in the number of university applicants here since the same period last year.  However this is not the right approach for everyone.

“Recently we held a successful event for young people in Northern Ireland to learn about the flexibility and broad opportunities the accountancy profession has to offer.  We believe it is important that young people are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and information about suitable routes to skilled employment, whether that includes the full-time university education route or professional career focused alternatives.

“We have seen the adaptability and flexibility that the accountancy profession has to offer through ACCA’s growth in global membership from 154,000 to nearly 162,000 over 2012 -2013.  There are many international and local opportunities available for accountants, in particular the ACCA qualification offers  globally transferable skills  that be obtained through  a range of options including full-time, part-time, evening and weekend courses as well as distance learning,” concluded Ronnie.

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