Fastest route to chartered accountancy

The University of Reading Malaysia campus in Iskandar Puteri Johor. The Henley-ICAEW programme (HIP) is a collaboration between Henley Business School at UoRM and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

CAREERS in accounting and finance are incredibly rewarding. Qualified accounting and finance professionals are in high demand and can work across multiple industry sectors such as business, finance, government, education, healthcare and not-for-profit.

Furthermore, world-leading financial hubs like Singapore, London and New York attract global talent, meaning that accounting and finance provides truly global career opportunities like few other professions can.

Students looking for a direct and distinguished route to chartered accountancy should consider the Henley-ICAEW programme (HIP).

HIP is a unique collaboration between the renowned, triple-accredited Henley Business School at the Malaysian campus of the University of Reading (UK) in Johor and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), one of the industry’s most respected professional bodies.

As an integrated, career-focussed programme, HIP has three distinct features that set it apart from other accounting and finance programmes.

First, HIP enables students to graduate with three qualifications rather than just one.

Students not only get a prestigious BSc Accounting and Finance degree from the Henley Business School, they get the ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB), and the BFP (Business and Finance Professional) designation.

This means that graduates can use the letters BFP after their name as international recognition of their technical competency, ethical awareness and commitment to professional development.

Second, HIP provides students with a full 12-month work placement in Year 3, where they have an opportunity to gain valuable work experience.

HIP has a 100% record of placing students in established firms such EY, PWC, GrantThornton, KPMG and Deloitte, all of which are ICAEW Authorised Training Employers (ATE).

Finally, students get a fast-track to chartered accountant status with ICAEW, known as ICAEW ACA.

With HIP, students get the maximum eight paper exemptions, as well as a waiver of about £850 in exemption and registration fees. Furthermore, the 12-month work placement is claimable as credit for prior work experience.

All of this means that graduates from HIP are work-ready, highly employable, and stand out from the crowd of other graduates. You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that many HIP students receive job offers even before they graduate.

It’s also worth mentioning that ICAEW has reciprocal memberships with professional bodies in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. An ICAEW chartered accountant can therefore practise accountancy in these countries without necessarily taking examinations with them. So HIP really is the best option for a global career.

The next direct intake for HIP is in September. SPM, IGCSE and equivalent holders can enrol in the university’s International Foundation Programme (IFP) accounting and finance pathway which, upon successful completion and progression, guarantees them a place on the HIP programme. There are IFP intakes in April and September.

To speak to one of the counsellors or arrange a campus tour of University of Reading Malaysia at Iskandar Puteri Johor, call [phone], Whatsapp [phone], email [e-mail] or go to www.reading.edu.my.