Not every ACCA journey starts with perfect grades or a straightforward path into finance.

For Natalie, becoming an ACCA member was the result of years of determination, resilience, and consistently pushing herself outside her comfort zone. After not achieving the grades she originally needed to pursue accountancy, she found another route into the profession - building her career step by step while studying alongside full-time work.

Now an ACCA member, Natalie reflects on balancing study with work commitments, overcoming the disappointment of failing her final exam by just one mark, and why resilience matters just as much as technical knowledge.

Finding another route into accountancy

Natalie always knew she wanted to work in finance.

“I was drawn to numbers, structure, and problem-solving,” she says.

But despite her interest in accountancy, her path into the profession wasn’t straightforward.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve the grades at school to pursue accountancy immediately,” Natalie explains. “That setback motivated me to work harder and find alternative pathways into the profession.”

After completing a Management with Finance degree at Robert Gordon University, Natalie joined Aberdeenshire Council as an Assistant Accountant in 2013. Over the years, she developed broad experience across public-sector financial management, including statutory reporting, capital project oversight, and service-based financial support.

In 2020, an opportunity arose that would help take her career to the next level.

“I was offered the chance to apply for the Graduate Apprenticeship in Accountancy at Robert Gordon University,” she says. “It gave me a clear pathway to continue developing professionally whilst progressing towards my ACCA qualification.”

Balancing ACCA studies with full-time work

Like many ACCA students, Natalie had to learn how to balance studying alongside a demanding full-time role and personal commitments.

“Balancing study with full-time work and personal commitments was challenging, particularly in the early stages,” she says.

Success came down to consistency, organisation, and creating a routine she could realistically maintain.

“I had to establish a routine that allowed me to stay on top of my academic work whilst still meeting responsibilities at work and at home.”

Creating manageable study plans and prioritising tasks became essential throughout her studies.

“Over time, setting clear priorities and staying consistent in my approach helped me manage the demands effectively.”

Failing her final ACCA exam by one mark

One of the toughest moments in Natalie’s ACCA journey came when she narrowly failed Advanced Taxation (ATX) - her final ACCA exam - with 49%.

“It was heartbreaking,” Natalie says. “I’ll be honest - I felt very nervous going into the resit.”

After coming so close to passing, the disappointment could easily have damaged her confidence. Instead, Natalie used the setback as an opportunity to reflect and change her approach.

“Failing an exam is never easy, but it pushed me to reflect on what hadn’t worked the first time,” she explains.

For her resit, Natalie focused more heavily on exam technique, time management, and revisiting weaker areas in a much more structured way.

“I approached my revision with much more focus and discipline.”

How Kaplan support helped Natalie prepare for her ACCA resit

Natalie credits Kaplan’s support network with helping her feel confident throughout her studies - particularly during her resit preparation.

“The support from Kaplan has been excellent,” she says. “The lecturers were approachable and always willing to help if you had questions.”

She also found Kaplan’s online tutor support particularly valuable.

“You could reach out to tutors at any time via the Portal if there was a topic you didn’t understand or if you needed clarification on questions,” Natalie explains. “The response times were really helpful.”

After failing ATX, Natalie contacted Kaplan’s support team to help her plan for the resit.

“It was really useful to have a call with an adviser to discuss my result and put a clear plan of action in place.”

The extra preparation and support paid off.

“As ATX was my final exam, when I passed I was overjoyed,” Natalie says. “Having taken more than one attempt, the result felt even more meaningful.”

“I no longer feel hesitant about speaking up”

Alongside technical knowledge, Natalie says studying ACCA transformed her confidence professionally.

Through her studies, she has taken on greater responsibility within her role and now feels far more confident contributing to discussions and challenging decisions when appropriate.

“I no longer feel hesitant about speaking up,” she says. “I feel much more assured in offering informed perspectives and supporting discussions with a stronger analytical foundation.”

Natalie believes ACCA has strengthened both her technical ability and her confidence in applying that knowledge in real-world situations.

Natalie’s top study tips for ACCA students

For students currently struggling with workload, motivation, or exam pressure, Natalie’s advice is simple: don’t try to tackle everything alone.

“I know first-hand that the workload can feel overwhelming at times,” she says. “But breaking it down and approaching it methodically makes a significant difference.”

Her top study tips are:

Don’t struggle in silence

“If you’re struggling with a topic, reach out to Kaplan - whether that’s your tutor or the helpdesk. They genuinely want to help you succeed.”

Create a realistic study routine

“You need to be honest with yourself about the amount of time you realistically have available to study,” Natalie says. “Short, consistent study sessions are much more effective than last-minute cramming.”

Practise exam questions regularly

“Practise, practise, practise,” Natalie says. “Completing mock exams helped me identify weaker areas, improve time management, and reduce exam-day anxiety.”

Looking ahead as a newly qualified ACCA member

In May 2026, Natalie officially became an ACCA member - a milestone that represents years of hard work, perseverance, and personal growth.

“Achieving membership has strengthened my professional foundation,” she says. “I’m now focused on continuing to grow, taking on new challenges, and broadening my experience within the accountancy field.”

Looking back on her journey, Natalie hopes her story reassures others who may feel discouraged by setbacks or non-traditional routes into the profession.

“Your route into accountancy doesn’t have to be perfect to be successful.”

Start your own ACCA journey

Whether you’re preparing for your first ACCA exam, balancing studies alongside full-time work, or getting ready for a resit, the right support can make all the difference. Explore Kaplan’s ACCA courses, flexible study methods, and learner support to take the next step towards becoming ACCA qualified.