LSBF PQ Magazine Awards Nominees 2015

About LSBF

London School of Business and Finance offers industry-focused programmes which reflect global market trends. LSBF attracts the most talented and ambitious candidates from more than 150 countries worldwide, and works together with its corporate partners to develop programmes structured with an up-to-date and international perspective in mind.

With some of the country’s leading ACCA and CIMA tutors and a fantastic location in the heart of London, the world’s financial capital, LSBF is undoubtedly the best choice for studying an accounting qualification. With our award-winning InterActive platform, funded dual programmes and flexible study, our students can mould their accounting experience to suit their personal needs.

Our accolades and awards act as evidence of our status as a high quality provider of education in the accountancy sector. We have 11 PQ wins under our belt, as well as having been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

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PQ OF THE YEAR

ɠ Dhananjay Pandit

ɠ Yumi Watanabe

ɠ Xiaobiao Ding

NQ OF THE YEAR

ɠ Kyle Tyrell

ɠ Modestin Besong

PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGE OF THE YEAR

ɠ London School of Business & Finance

STUDY RESOURCE OF THE YEAR

ɠ AAT Online (by InterActive)

ɠ LSBF ACCA Study Manuals

PRIVATE SECTOR LECTURER OF THE YEAR

ɠ Brigita Petrova

ɠ John Cope

ɠ David Laws

INNOVATION IN ACCOUNTANCY

ɠ ACCA iHubs

ɠ ACCA for School Leavers

DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENT OF THE YEAR

ɠ Dhananjay Pandit

ɠ Karen Theuma

Nominations

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At just 19 years of age, Dhananjay Pandit from Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the most dedicated students to have studied with LSBF for his ACCA qualification. He began his ACCA studies in January 2013, continually producing outstanding exam grades as a result of his hard work.

He completed all papers from F1 - F9 in just three exam sittings, and achieved the highest score in the country for his F8 paper with 89% – making him fourth highest in the world. He also had the second highest results in Kenya for his F4 and F5 papers.

Dhananjay spends many hours a day studying for his ACCA examinations, as well as looking after his family, volunteering with local charities, dealing with a noisy working environment, and financial difficulties. Nonetheless, Dhananjay rises to these challenges and

works hard to overcome them, truly believing that only hard work can lead to success.

He said: “My time studying has been a tough but very interesting journey. It’s been a pleasure to discover new theories and ideas. For me, the best happiness and experience in life has been to go to the heart of the subject and really understand what the subject or sub topic area deals with.”

His exceptional results reflect the work that he puts into each paper. LSBF tutor Paul Merison said that of all of his students, none “shine out” like Dhananjay.

As his educational experience continues, Dhananjay recently sat papers P1 to P3, and is currently waiting on his results.

PQ of the YearDhananjay Pandit

ɠ 19 years old and already sat F1-P3 papers

ɠ Completed papers F1 to F9 in just three sittings

ɠ Achieved the highest score in Kenya for the F8 paper – 4th highest in the world

ɠ Juggles studies with volunteering his accounting services at local charities

DHANANJAY PANDIT OVERVIEW:

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Originally from Japan, Yumi Watanabe is a highly committed professional, balancing her ACCA studies with a full-time career. Yumi moved to London after completing her master’s in financial planning, and has been working in the financial industry ever since.

She is currently employed by one of the biggest Japanese banks in London as a business analyst and project manager on the implementation of payment systems. As Yumi does not specifically work in finance, she puts in a lot of extra effort to compensate for lack of practical experience.

Spending most of her free time studying for her ACCA qualification, and despite finding it difficult to balance studying, socialising and working, she has proven herself by completing papers F4, F5, F7 and F8 to date.

She said: “I am constantly under pressure to study for my exams, I am always thinking about studying!

“Sometimes it is tempting to throw away my study books and go out with friends, but I know how much it will set me back. ACCA requires enormous amounts of determination.”

Yumi believes the qualification will help her with a future profession, working well together with her skills and experience in project management.

Yumi said: “It is very challenging to find a healthy balance in my life whilst working full-time, but ACCA opens up so many opportunities. The qualification would certainly help me to achieve my goals and open up more job opportunities for me in accountancy.” Yumi recently sat the P2 paper, and is awaiting her results.

PQ of the YearYumi Watanabe

ɠ 19 years old and already sat F1-P3 papers

ɠ Completed papers F1 to F9 in just three sittings

ɠ Achieved the highest score in Kenya for the F8 paper – 4th highest in the world

ɠ Juggles studies with volunteering his accounting services at local charities

ɠ Employed by one of the biggest Japanese banks in London

ɠ Balances her ACCA studies with a full-time career

ɠ Completed papers F4, F5, F7 and F8

YUMI WATANABE OVERVIEW:

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Dedicated ACCA student Xiaobiao Ding grew up in Southern China, before moving to England to study MSc Management and then ACCA. He puts many hours of hard work into his studies, passing all of his papers in the first sitting. Some of his results are truly outstanding, including 82 % for the F2 paper, 81 % for F6 and 80 % for F3.

Xiaobiao’s determination and belief in the value of hard work have allowed him to overcome all of the obstacles in order to achieve his life goals. He is currently thoroughly enjoying his experience studying with LSBF for ACCA.

He said: “Because high standards are maintained by ACCA, that only makes me want to become better.”

Xiaobiao believes that the combination of studying management and ACCA will give him a competitive advantage over other candidates once he begins his search for full-time employment within the industry.

Whenever Xiaobiao is not studying for his ACCA examinations, he is actively searching for opportunities to gain valuable practical experience within the financial sector. He also works hard to ensure that his knowledge of financial law is kept up-to-date, volunteering his services to his previous taxation tutor and editing class notes to ensure that they comply with the most recent Finance Act.

PQ of the YearXiaobiao Ding

KYLE TYRELL OVERVIEW:

ɠ Outstanding grades on papers F2, F3 and F6

ɠ Assists tutor with ensuring class notes comply with new Finance Acts

ɠ Actively searches for opportunities to gain industry experience

XIAOBIAO DING OVERVIEW:

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Kyle Tyrrell began studying part-time at LSBF for his ACCA qualification in 2011, passing all of his exams first time. His highest grades included 82% for F4 and P3, and 79% for F3. Kyle became fully qualified in 2013 and has since received his third promotion at AXA Insurance.

Kyle joined AXA in 2008 as a credit controller; after two years he was promoted to senior business partner analyst, and whilst studying with LSBF he was promoted to finance business partner. He now works within the Corporate Partnerships team as a Business Manager, responsible for £35 million GWP annually.

Reflecting Kyle’s hard work, he has been nominated for several awards. In 2012, he won the AXA Finance, Risk and Strategy Rising Star Award and was a finalist

for the AXA Rising Star in Finance Operations and Best Financial Contribution in 2010.

He has also set up his own catering company called MyLK (which stands for My Little Kitchen). Only a year old, the business has already made £50k in revenue after an initial investment of £500.

Kyle’s aspiration is to become a CEO. He said: “I often hear the statistic that 70% of FTSE100 CEOs have a finance related qualification. Whether true or not, that certainly made me sit up and think about what I needed to do to succeed in the world of business.”

“I want to be a CEO. That is my aim and I will work as hard as possible to achieve it.”

NQ of the Year Kyle Tyrrell

Watch Kyle’s video testimonial here: http://www.lsbf.org.uk/news-and-media/student-testimonials.html

ɠ Has received three promotions since beginning his career at AXA Insurance

ɠ Previous winner of the prestigious AXA Finance, Risk and Strategy Rising Star Award

ɠ His own catering business has made £50k of revenue in just one year

KYLE TYRELL OVERVIEW:

KYLE TYRELL ɠ Outstanding grades on papers F2, F3 and F6

ɠ Assists tutor with ensuring class notes comply with new Finance Acts

ɠ Actively searches for opportunities to gain industry experience

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LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE

OVERVIEW:

Modestin Besong studied ACCA at LSBF from June 2010 to August 2013. A dedicated student and an incredibly fast learner, Modestin achieved some fantastic grades including 77% for F3 and 76% for F2.

Modestin secured a job with KPMG Sierra Leone in October 2013, soon after completing her ACCA examinations. More than one year later, she thoroughly enjoys the role that she holds there. Always looking for opportunities to grow professionally, Modestin’s outstanding track record and hard work earned her promotion with KPMG last November, from associate to senior associate. This offered her the chance to take on much more responsibility within the business.

Passionate about the industry, Modestin takes full advantage of any opportunity to further her knowledge. She said: “The most interesting aspect of my job is the fact that every day is different. It’s amazing how much I have learnt in just one year.”

Alongside her day job, Modestin also works for Project Mentor, providing education guidance to students currently sitting their ACCA examinations.

Highly career driven, Modestin has a clear focus on the goals she wishes to achieve in her lifetime. In two to three years, she hopes to have completed a master’s degree. By 2021, she plans to have reached management level within her career and, no more than eight years later, she plans to have started her own accounting firm for advisory tax and audit.

NQ of the YearModestin Besong

ɠ Fantastic grades including 77% for F3 and 76% for F2

ɠ Received promotion with KPMG Sierra Leone in November

ɠ Works as a mentor alongside day job, offering guidance to current ACCA students

MODESTIN BESONG OVERVIEW:

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Private Sector College of the YearLondon School of Business and Finance

ɠ Global presence in Europe, Asia and North America

ɠ Scholarships offered to individuals from all walks of life

ɠ Lifelong career services provided after graduation

LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE

OVERVIEW:

ɠ Fantastic grades including 77% for F3 and 76% for F2

ɠ Received promotion with KPMG Sierra Leone in November

ɠ Works as a mentor alongside day job, offering guidance to current ACCA students

At LSBF, we pride ourselves on providing our students with the ultimate learning experience through highly knowledgeable staff, fantastic facilities and opportunities for financial support. We take ambitious people, transforming them into career-focused individuals.

LSBF’s tutors have many years of experience, teaching the perfect combination of subject matter, technique and methodology, allowing students to excel in exams. Our careers team provide job searches and CV services to prepare them for the future. This is available after graduation and for the length of their career.

We have a global presence in Europe, Asia and North America, constantly improving campus facilities for educational and recreational purposes. In London, we have recently improved classroom facilities for our Professional Qualifications and also acquired new

premises at Tower Hill, offering an inspiring study environment within the City.

Our students can also benefit from our ACCA iHubs, combining online learning with face-to-face tutoring at our partnered colleges at locations around the world, including Ireland, Cyprus, China and India. We also offer a range of scholarships to ambitious people from all walks of life. Isaac Gyimah is one of our scholarship success stories; his ACCA and MBA programmes were funded entirely by scholarships, and he has now set up his own college in Ghana.

We are confident in saying that we provide our students with the best possible learning experience and the testimonials we receive from students - past and present - offer further support in our nomination for the best private institution in the sector.

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LSBF, in partnership with InterActive, has developed a ground-breaking online platform for AAT tuition, combining the knowledge and expertise of our tutors with high quality digital video presentation. Our students are consistently kept engaged through our use of highly compelling resources and modern teaching methods.

We have developed a TV studio style to the presentation of study material to make it more engaging. This includes use of multiple cameras, green screen technology and autocue.

At the end of each tuition point, we use motion graphics to explain and reinforce each key message. In addition, given the vocational nature of the subject, we offer videos with a voiceover that highlights the links between the academic study and its vocational use.

The online nature of the resource makes it available 24/7, meaning that students can balance their studies

with any other commitments. We are determined to make it as easy as possible for students to achieve their goals with us, no matter what their schedule.

This innovative method of delivering an AAT course offers students the chance to join a global community of experienced tutors, fellow students, and corporate partners, whilst working through the syllabus at their own pace.

This form of presentation is the future of online training: it is clearer, more professional and a more captivating study aid than anything else currently on the market, and we are proud to be at the forefront of online education.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELFVisit: http://moodle.studyinteractive.org/Username: PQ@demo.comPassword: test01

Study Resource of the YearAAT online (by InterActive)

ɠ Clear links between the academic study and its vocational use

ɠ 24/7 access so students can balance their studies around their other commitments

ɠ Opportunity for students to join a community of experienced tutors and corporate partners

AAT ONLINE OVERVIEW:

Watch the full video here: http://www.lsbf.org.uk/news-and-media/student-testimonials.html

LSBF ACCA STUDY MANUALS OVERVIEW:Powered by:

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ɠ Clear links between the academic study and its vocational use

ɠ 24/7 access so students can balance their studies around their other commitments

ɠ Opportunity for students to join a community of experienced tutors and corporate partners

LSBF has created study manuals to help our students learn more effectively, combining input from our own award-winning tutors with links to extras we provide online. This new resource enables students to improve the learning and revision process.

Using an overview of each paper at the start of the manual, students understand how each chapter fits into the big picture. There is further explanation using context, key points and principals, making use of illustrated examples. This helps visualization of the content, improving memory retention and making the information clearer.

There is a ‘3 Questions’ section at the beginning of each chapter, highlighting the important things to focus on, whilst revising and reassuring students with the knowledge to answer key questions on the material.

The writing is produced by expert tutors, not academic writers, allowing students to revise information the same way they were taught, from people who are experienced at producing targeted material for exams.

The whole manual builds a ‘story’ based around each exam, helping with recall and linking together key information, whilst leaving out unnecessary material.

The manuals are sized to fit in your hands, allowing students to use them on-the-go and making them much easier to read through and carry around.

Each student also gets a free recorded intro session and Live Online session for their paper online.

The combination of illustrations, highlighted key information and online materials makes these learning aids the easiest way for our students to succeed in their academic careers.

Study Resource of the YearLSBF ACCA Study Manuals

ɠ Integrated use of interactive platform, accessible on any device

ɠ Access to Live Online video lectures

ɠ Video introduction to each ACCA paper

LSBF ACCA STUDY MANUALS OVERVIEW:

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Brigita is extremely popular amongst her students and is praised for her positive attitude and entertaining teaching style, which she combines with an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. This leads to students enjoying her classes, keeping them engaged with the subject. She has taught students from all over the world, including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and China.

Brigita has a background in accounting, including the finance department of London City Airport. Whilst there, Brigita completed her ACCA studying at LSBF and went on to become a tutor for us. She brings all of this industry knowledge to her students, contributing to the high-quality experience that she delivers.

She says:

“I am really passionate about what I do and I always give it my best try. I suppose the reason why my methods work out so well is that I can see things from student’s perspective, having been one myself, so I have a good understanding of matters from both academic and student’s point of view.”

“I know exactly what a student needs and I know how to deliver it efficiently and in an entertaining manner. I appreciate it is important to keep students interested and motivated and I always ensure I know and understand very well the matter I teach, as it makes it a lot easier to transfer it onto students.”

Brigita is highly praised by her students, with many of them saying that she is a very knowledgeable tutor, with an excellent teaching methodology.

Private Sector Lecturer of the YearBrigita Petrova (LSBF)

ɠ Combines a positive attitude with an in-depth understanding of her subject

ɠ Has taught students from all over the world

ɠ Imparts previous industry knowledge onto her students

ɠ Entertaining teaching style has made her an extremely popular tutor

BRIGITA PETROVA OVERVIEW:

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JOHN COPE OVERVIEW:

ɠ Career spanning over 20 years, working all around the world

ɠ Pioneered the use of Accelerated Learning Techniques for professional exams

ɠ Passes on his enthusiasm for ethics and good governance in accounting to his students

CIMA qualified teacher John Cope has been working at LSBF since 2010, leading trainee accountants through their exams for all the major professional bodies. With a career spanning more than 20 years, John began as an accountant in the film and TV industry before moving on to lecturing.

John’s career has been expansive. He’s worked in over a dozen countries throughout Europe, particularly in Asia. He started lecturing at the Kaplan corporation, before going on to become the Head of AAT and then joining LSBF as a project manager for learning platforms as well as a tutor.

John is passionate about the promotion of the highest standards of ethics in accounting, continuously striving to inspire and instil a sense of leadership and goodness in his students. He wrote two of the three

major ACCA study support texts on the issue and leads the student support resources of this area at LSBF.

On the forefront of up and coming methods of teaching, John pioneered the use of Accelerated Learning Techniques for professional exams, launching the first group of courses for accountants in the UK. Alongside this, John developed the first online accountancy training program and was part of the team that created the first Professional Trainer Development Scheme for accountancy- a programme subsequently rolled out globally.

John firmly believes in accountants as torch bearers for good governance and sustainability and hopes to encourage this in his students, as well as ensuring success in the exam hall.

Private Sector Lecturer of the YearJohn Cope (LSBF)

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David Laws has been teaching at LSBF since 2007 and has always been one of our students’ favourites; always willing to go the extra mile to help them understand the paper’s subject matter and pass their exams.

It wasn’t always easy for David as he was severely ill in his early years in secondary school. It was only through the dedication of his teachers at the boarding school for asthmatics and his own motivation that he was able to gain a solid career in accountancy. After studying BSc Mathematics at Hull University and MSc Mathematics at Washington State University, David progressed onto a PGCE in Mathematics at Oxford University. Though he began as a school teacher, he has now been teaching ACCA and CIMA for 17 years.

David has taught all around the world: from Eastern Europe and China to Mauritius and Kazakhstan. He was also part of the ACCA team that helped set up the professional body of accountants in the Czech Republic.

Alongside lecturing, David has also written articles for CIMA’s student magazine, given ACCA P3 master classes at Central London Members Network and has trained KPMG personnel in London.

David gives one hundred percent effort to ensure his students receive a learning experience which caters to their individual needs. He doesn’t believe in an ‘everyone do it this way’ approach, focusing on helping each individual find a method that works for them, with feedback from students including “David is an excellent tutor” & “unparalleled superb”.

Private Sector Lecturer of the yearDavid Laws (LSBF)

ɠ Works with students individually to find a learning method which suits them

ɠ Helped set up the professional body of accountants in the Czech Republic

ɠ Gives ACCA P3 master classes at Central London Members Network student

events

DAVID LAWS OVERVIEW:

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The ACCA iHub offers our students a unique learning experience, combining a high quality, online classroom environment with the benefits of face-to-face tuition offered at our partnered local colleges.

Tutoring sessions are recorded in studios and students can then access these at home, transforming any space into a classroom environment in which they can learn effectively. Each session is recorded from various angles, and put together to create a learning experience that can be likened to watching educational television. As a result, our students can feel as though they’re being taught directly by a tutor, but also feel relaxed in doing so.

In addition, if our students ever feel they need ACCA content reinforced by a personal session with a tutor, the ACCA iHub can make this a reality. Students can

arrange to visit ACCA tutors at our partnered colleges to discuss matters related to the course.

iHub locations currently span three continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. Our colleges greatly improve the educational opportunities for those who may currently be lacking in resources. As our iHubs continue to expand, we will work hard to make this learning experience truly worldwide in order to help more students begin a successful career in accounting.

The online classroom environment has now been enforced across three exam sittings, proving to be a great success. What our iHubs provide is the best of both worlds: learning from the comfort of your own home, with face-to-face support available as and when you need it.

Innovation in AccountancyACCA iHub

ɠ Combines high quality online learning experience with face-to-face tuition

ɠ Currently spans three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia

ɠ Improves education for those who may currently be lacking in resources

Powered by:

ACCA IHUB OVERVIEW:

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This year, LSBF developed a new programme for young people who want to gain an accounting qualification and relevant work experience without worrying about a student loan.

Our ACCA for School Leavers programme enables them to gain a ACCA qualification plus a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and the chance to work for a London firm.

The programme costs far less than a standard undergraduate degree, giving students the chance to get a paid training contract as part of their course. Once the contract is agreed, the firm pays the students’ tuition fees as they continue to study part-time with us.

At the end of the course, students will have an internationally recognised qualification, invaluable industry experience, without the risk of high student

debt. Additionally, we provide training in Sage Line 50 and financial modelling, as well as soft skills modules to help students become more employable.

In our joint report with GAAPweb, we found that nearly half of all financial accounting employers place a professional qualification at the top of their list when looking for entry-level candidates, with 73% highly valuing relevant work experience and over 80% placing emphasis on soft skills like communication.

The ACCA School Leavers Programme shows our understanding of what financial companies really need, helping students to become impressive candidates for the jobs they want.

This programme is part of our unique approach to courses, ensuring that students are learning the skills and developing the knowledge they need to achieve their goals.

Innovation in AccountancyACCA for School Leavers

ACCA + DEGREE AT LSBF

FEES

EXPERIENCE

STARTING SALARY

QUALIFICATIONS

£11,125

Paid traineeship

£45k plus

ACCA + BSc degree

ACCOUNTING DEGREE

FEES

EXPERIENCE

STARTING SALARY

QUALIFICATIONS

£27,000

None yet

£21k plus

Only a BSc degree

Play smart with your future career

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ACCA + DEGREE AT LSBF

FEES

EXPERIENCE

STARTING SALARY

QUALIFICATIONS

£11,125

Paid traineeship

£45k plus

ACCA + BSc degree

ACCOUNTING DEGREE

FEES

EXPERIENCE

STARTING SALARY

QUALIFICATIONS

£27,000

None yet

£21k plus

Only a BSc degree

Play smart with your future career

One of LSBF’s most dedicated students is distance learner Dhananjay Pandit. Despite studying for his ACCA qualifications in Nairobi, Kenya, tutor Paul Merison said of all his students, none “shine out” like Dhananjay.

Since beginning his studies in January 2013, Dhananjay has continually produced outstanding sets of exam grades as a result of his hard work and dedication. Completing papers F1 to F9 in three sittings, he achieved the highest score in the country for his F8 paper with 89%. This result ranked him fourth highest in the world. His F4 and F5 paper results also ranked the second highest in Kenya.

Dhananjay dedicates many hours of each day to studying for his ACCA examinations, despite having to

work in a noisy environment. As well as studying, he looks after his family and volunteers as an accountant at a local charity. His belief that hard work leads to success sees Dhananjay working hard to overcome any challenges he may face.

He said: “My time studying has been a tough but very interesting journey. It’s been a pleasure to discover new theories and ideas. For me, the best happiness and experience in life has been to go to the heart of the subject and really understand what the subject or sub topic area deals with.”

Dhananjay recently sat papers P1 to P3, and is currently waiting on those results.

Distance Learning Student of the YearDhananjay Pandit

ɠ 19 years old and already sat F1-P3 papers

ɠ Completed papers F1 to F9 in just three sittings

ɠ Achieved the highest score in Kenya for the F8 paper – 4th highest in the world

ɠ Juggles studies with volunteering his accounting services at local charities

DHANANJAY PANDIT OVERVIEW:

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Karen Theuma is currently working for the government of Malta as a management information systems officer whilst studying ACCA with LSBF. Despite difficulties with her health, family commitments, and the demands of her job, Karen has excelled in her studies with us.

Through LSBF, Karen passed her F2 and F3 papers with flying colours; in particular, she received a Certificate of Achievement for achieving a mark of 88% on her F3 paper. She also gained a high mark in her F2 exam, with 78%. She plans to take her F5 exam this June.

She says: “The main challenges are work, since I found a full-time employment two months after I started studying, and family commitments since I am a mother of 3 boys aged 10, 5, and 2. My husband is currently also studying for his Masters in Disability Studies, so finding the time and being in the right set of mind to focus on my studies is a very big challenge.

“I am looking forward to obtaining this qualification to enhance my portfolio and be in a better position to obtain and be successful in a leadership position.”

We have every confidence that Karen will continue to achieve excellent marks in her ACCA studies, and that she will achieve her career goals as a result.

Distance Learning Student of the YearKaren Theuma

ɠ Working for the government of Malta alongside ACCA studies

ɠ Received a Certificate of Achievement for achieving 88% on F3 paper

ɠ Juggles ACCA studies and full-time employment with taking care of her

three children

KAREN THEUMA OVERVIEW:

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This document is accurate at the time of the publication. LSBF accepts no liability for errors or later changes. See our websites for the latest information.

London School of Business & Finance30 Holborn, Buchanan House,London, EC1N 2LX United Kingdom+44 (0) 207 823 2303

www.LSBF.org.uk