study workplace skills

Professional and Advanced Level modules. Each module

tests different skills within the following four categories:
assimilating and using information;
structuring problems and solutions;
applying judgement;
conclusions, recommendations and communication.
For example, the skills development grid for the
Business Strategy module not only sets out the skills tested
under the category of applying judgement; it provides
examples of how you will be expected to demonstrate
these skills in the exam. You could be asked to:
evaluate the impact of a business proposal on an entity;
assess the reliability, accuracy and limitations of any
analysis performed;
be able to produce arguments integrating numerical
and linguistic arguments;
prioritise the issues facing an entity;
identify links and relationships between different issues
affecting an entity and use these to establish priorities;
evaluate options for an organisation, taking into
account its stakeholders, objectives, priorities, available
resources and ethical obligations;
provide reasons for the rejection of alternatives.

The link to the workplace

The skills assessed by the exams cannot be learned in the

classroom alone; they must be practised in the workplace
during your training agreement. Its like learning to ride a
bicycle you cant do it by simply knowing that you need
to sit on the seat and push the pedals. You must practice
balancing to ensure you stay upright, setting off at the
right speed to ensure momentum, and turning corners at

Studying and revising are important

to attaining the ACA qualification but
must be accompanied by developing
your skills in the workplace

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Communication

he ACA qualification has always required a

combination of knowledge, skills and experience.
These three elements do not sit apart in isolation.
You might be forgiven for assuming that the exams are all
about demonstrating your technical knowledge. Indeed,
many of the exams you have previously encountered in
your academic life will have required only technical
knowledge to achieve a pass. The game changes when
you reach professional education.

Skills in the exams

When revising for your exams your attention will be drawn

to the learning outcomes set out in the syllabus. However,
skills are also assessed throughout the ACA qualification.
For example, the ability to assess options and identify
priorities is an important skill. The Certificate Level exams
present specific options and youre asked to select the
appropriate response. At Professional Level, options are
presented in simple scenarios, progressing in complexity in
the Advanced Level modules of Corporate Reporting and
Strategic Business Management. By the time you reach
Case Study, you are expected to balance your judgement
regarding priorities and risk in an unstructured scenario
with little guidance.
Dont only refer to the syllabus and technical knowledge
grids when you are preparing for an exam; make sure you
read the skills development grids, available for all

october 2013 vital

Otto dettmer/ikon

Combining
skills for a
successful
exam result

the right angle to ensure you dont fall off. Its the same
with the ACA skills you cant just read about them you
have to practice them to develop your competence.
The professional development ladders provide a
framework for you to ensure that you get experience
in all of the areas you need to during your training
agreement. Aside from being a requirement for ICAEW
membership, the ladders also give guidance as to when
you are ready to sit the final Case Study exam. There are
seven ladders, categorised as follows:
communication;
team working;
decision-making;
consideration;
adding value;
problem solving;
technical competence.
For example, the communication ladder (below) sets
out the ultimate goal as being able to communicate
effectively at all levels, using oral, written and
presentational skills. It then sets out eight steps, all of
which must be achieved to meet this goal.
Steps one, two, four and six all link to ethics and
professional scepticism (E). You should have practised the
skills at levels six, seven and eight before attempting the
Case Study (CS).
The key message is: dont focus on attaining technical
knowledge at the expense of developing your skills
through workplace experience. All of these elements are
vital to your development as a professional and your
qualification as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, and you
have access to a wealth of resources to help you.

How were you able to

Guidance on specific examples

8
CS

negotiate successfully?

Negotiating with peers, seniors and clients, clearly

and fairly, in order to influence outcomes beneficially
for the organisation.

7
CS

use available resources to present information formally

to a group?

Presenting formally and in an appropriate style, in order

to persuade an internal or external audience.

6
E, CS

question the views of more senior members of

the organisation?

Using the power of logical argument may involve

handling adverse or unwelcome decisions.

demonstrate good report writing skills?

Communicating in pure, formal and logical written form.

4
E

use persuasion to change anothers point of view,

while demonstrating an understanding of their views?

Appreciating both sides, being forceful and persuasive,

rather than passive. Empathising with colleagues and
customers. Managing adversarial situations.

share information and knowledge that helped

others succeed?

Informal mentoring, coaching. Oral presentation skills.

2
E

show an appreciation of both sides of an argument?

Keeping an open mind. Demonstrating listening skills.

Handling difficult situations. Showing diplomacy
and compromise.

1
E

appreciate the point at which assistance is required?

Knowing when help is required and where to find it.

Seeking opportunities for learning.

vital october 2013

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