A hand of applause to our very own Roger Gitonga for winning the ACCA Advocate Award 2020 – special award. The special award category is bestowed on instructors that reflect the relevance, reach, and projection of the ACCA brand. He produced the Kenyan student in the tax paper (UK) in the December 2019 exam.

The journey for the Oxford Brookes alumnus at the Strathmore Institute of Management and Technology began in June 2019 and has been a fulfilling one. For him, without a doubt, ACCA is a lifestyle changer. He believes that the ACCA course can be pursued by anyone who seeks to learn more and is not afraid of the unknown. Though he is the teacher, Roger says he is always learning from his students who are the reason he exudes excellence in all he does.

What attracted you to ACCA?

The long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term costs. ACCA has a solution for this in their motto: Think Ahead. There was no definite reason. However, I had the nudge to be more than just an accounting fellow. Knowing that ACCA is a growing global echo and the leading accounting professional body I would not want less. Over time I have come to pocket the perks of belonging. I reap the benefits in the people I meet, the way I think, the way I carry myself, the way interact with people, and the way I analyze different scenarios and situations. It is not all cheques and balances as many would conclude. Instead, it is a continuous pursuit of excellence in the littlest of things and doing them all well at all times.

How can students build and maintain their ACCA understanding?

The course is not for the light-hearted but for those who are eager to explore “medicine” in accounting. You will want to give up, you might even question your sanity, but don’t give up. Instead, fall three times, and get up the fourth time. Understand why you are doing this course. If there is no right purpose, then you will give up. Have a clear direction on where you want to go with it.  Having a vision for your journey will help you build stable plans of action. Also, manage your time and focus.  If you do not strive to use your time to work for you, then it will work against you. Lastly, build on self by reading widely, consult extensively, and remember the words of Steve Jobs: The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Recipes tell you nothing. Learning techniques is the key.

It is important to remember that professional courses do wonders for you; be your own biggest fan. Teaching is not monotonous unless you make it that way. The students are different, the syllabus is always changing, the environment is dynamic, knowledge evolves, the activities can vary, and the purpose is there. Where there is a lack of purpose then your creativity subsides.

ACCA is becoming a necessity for everyone, not just accountants but even accomplished lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, and fashion designers who need a deeper understanding of their own business. Roger believes you do not need an accounting background to pursue ACCA but rather the right attitude and the willingness to learn and put in the hard work to do it. To those that have the platform to teach, remember, one day your students will be your network.

 

This article was written by Annete Karanja.

 

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