The upskilling journey of the core assurance team at PwC

Over the years, we have not only trained countless professionals on the ACCA qualification from different organisations, but have also been developing the talent within the firm. Here is the inspiring story of some of our employees who took on the challenge of the ACCA qualification, smashed their results and are already seeing the results in their current roles.

"1.2"

Amr Srour

Amr Srour is a Core Assurance Senior Associate PwC Middle East, based in the Egypt office. Amr started working for the organisation 5 years ago as part of the graduate programme. Currently Amr supervises the engagement team and handles matters that arise in engagements with clients, engagement managers and leaders within the organisation.

What motivated you to begin your ACCA journey?

During my time with PwC, I have come across challenging and complex engagements which led me to believe that self-development is an essential ongoing process in order to adapt to and overcome challenges that arise from the constantly evolving economies, businesses and technological advancements as well as performing our professional services at the highest standards in terms of quality and time.

Therefore I sought to pursue the ACCA qualification to equip myself with the skills and knowledge required to meet the constantly changing demands of the economy in addition to the numerous facilities, support and guidance provided by PwC and the PwC ME Academy.

How has studying the ACCA qualification helped you in your current role?

The constant changing requirements of economies, businesses and technological advancements have led to numerous challenges arising. Studying for the ACCA has equipped me with the essential knowledge and skills to interpret these challenges and be able to overcome them and enhance the standard of the services provided by our firm.

In addition, the knowledge obtained by studying for the ACCA has helped me grasp a better understanding of the workflow of the firm and clients which in turn helped with the enhancement of our performance as a team.

"2.2"

Ahmad Shoukeir

Ahmed is a Core Assurance Senior Associate at PwC Middle East, based in the Dubai office. Ahmed joined the organisation in April 2020 amidst the pandemic and started his ACCA upskilling journey.

What motivated you to begin your ACCA journey?

Although joining from another professional services firm, I never actually started pursuing my professional qualification before joining PwC. Surrounded by qualified professionals all the time, becoming an ACCA was necessary to keep up with PwC's caliber! However, I refused to pursue this qualification for the sole reason of it being a requirement in my Line of Service. I genuinely browsed the content of every single paper I had to take and only then, realising how interesting and enriching the topics were, I decided to start my ACCA journey.

How has studying the ACCA qualification helped you in your current role?

Each paper I took has helped me out differently. For instance, the Audit and Assurance paper played a major role in me understanding the WHYs of what I do. The Financial Reporting paper helped me better understand financial statements and conduct meaningful analysis. The Strategic Business Leadership paper introduced me to the bigger picture in business and how to see things from an executive's viewpoint. Each paper is really a different experience that carries along a different added value.

"3.2"

Tony Haddad

Tony is a Core Assurance Associate at PwC Middle East, based in the Lebanon office. Tony joined the organisation in 2020 after graduation from the American University of Beirut (AUB). Currently Tony works on audit engagements with leading clients within a wide range of industries.

What motivated you to begin your ACCA journey?

When I first joined PwC, I wanted to be able to add value to the company by working on my technical skills through on-the-job learning and professional development. I was introduced to the two options provided by PwC, the CPA and the ACCA, both of which are highly reputable internationally recognized qualifications. I ultimately decided to pursue the ACCA since fewer people took that option, which motivated me to take on this unique challenge, in addition to the fact that the ACCA would allow me to practice professionally in a larger number of countries around the world.

How has studying the ACCA qualification helped you in your current role?

In addition, I was really curious about the different subjects covered by the ACCA and the knowledge and experience it would add to my daily practice. ACCA improved my familiarity with audit testing by exposing me to several methods and approaches I would have only acquired through numerous years of experience. Today, I feel more confident and accustomed to auditing procedures, which definitely reflects on my performance and credibility as a professional as a whole. Nevertheless, this is just the beginning of my journey, and I look forward to achieving this qualification.