New ACCA syllabus to combine market demand with academic rigour
ACCA has unveiled details of its new syllabus which its student's will first be tested on in December 2001.
According to a spokesman, the first part of the new syllabus will test the basic principles of accounting, the role of financial information and an understanding of key managerial issues.
The second will cover all core technical skills which financial professionals should have, regardless of where they work. Papers on corporate and business law and financial reporting have been added to this section.
The third part concentrates on the key aspects of an accountant?s role in the strategic management of a business. Option papers covering audit, advanced taxation, performance management and business information management will enable students to customise their studies to meet their own career needs.
The first examinations for the new scheme will take place in December 2001. All registered students will be automatically transferred to the new scheme.
Mark Protherough, Head of ACCA?s Student Affairs said: ‘We have completed an extensive two-year worldwide consultation process with employers, students, tuition providers, professional bodies and regulatory authorities.
‘ACCA also commissioned MORI to conduct a wide ranging survey with business leaders to discover the anticipated needs of business, the public sector and practice in the next decade.
‘This showed us that what employers wanted were accountants with thorough professional technical skills combined with the ability to think strategically. The new syllabus is therefore driven by market demand and academic rigour.’