On 4th August, CFA Institute announced changes which will impact Level 2 and 3 candidates in 2021. We wanted to share the latest information with you.

What changes are being made?

• The Level 2 and Level 3 CFA exams will move from paper-based testing to computer-based testing starting in 2021.
• The Level 2 and Level 3 exam will be offered two times per year.
• Level 2 sittings will now be twice a year in May and August
• Level 3 sittings will be twice a year in May and November

Level 1 continues as planned with exams in February, May, August and November.

We’ve created a video to help you to understand the changes and what it means to you. If you have any questions, you can drop us an email at citybookings@kaplan.co.uk.

The end of the exam hall as you know it

- Jonathan Bone, Course Director, Kaplan CFA Program

On 4th August, CFA Institute announced changes which will impact Level 2 and 3 candidates in 2021. We wanted to share the latest information with you.

What changes are being made?

• The Level 2 and Level 3 CFA exams will move from paper-based testing to computer-based testing starting in 2021.
• The Level 2 and Level 3 exam will be offered two times per year.
• Level 2 sittings will now be twice a year in May and August
• Level 3 sittings will be twice a year in May and November

Level 1 continues as planned with exams in February, May, August and November.

We’ve created a video to help you to understand the changes and what it means to you. If you have any questions, you can drop us an email at citybookings@kaplan.co.uk.

The end of the exam hall as you know it

- Jonathan Bone, Course Director, Kaplan CFA Program

This year has been challenging for us all, for individuals and businesses.

As a business ourselves we’ve had to adapt and make huge decisions to ensure not only our survival, but the ongoing success of our students and the businesses we work for.

Here’s a short clip from our Apprenticeship Partnerships Director, who explains how we’ve changed, and used already existing methods, to support our clients.

We’ve seen students more engaged with their learning than ever before.

Following government changes to the way smaller employers can organise and pay for Apprenticeships, we thought we’d share the most up to date information.

So here are a series of Youtube “How to” videos, directly uploaded by the ESFA. This offers further insight into the changes that have been made, so you can adapt quickly.

How to...create an account and accept the employer agreement on the apprenticeship service

How to...reserve funding, add an apprentice, and use the recruitment tool

Transition arrangements for smaller employers joining the apprenticeship service.

For any further information or support on the changes to Apprenticeships, please visit our Employers page.

Our video focuses on Rohit Thapa, one of our ACCA students. He is currently working in the finance department of an automotive company as a commercial accountant. He also has one eye on becoming a fully Chartered Accountant. 

We thought we’d look into commercial accountancy and tell you a little bit more about the role.

What is a Commercial Accountant?

A Commercial Accountant is responsible for the efficient running of an organisation’s accounts, including everyday duties such as general entries, balance sheets, ledgers, reporting and advice management on tax issues, budgets and forecast and planning. 

They would have responsibilities such as:

• Investigating accounting and financial anomalies
• Analysing financial information and preparing reports
• Variance analysis and WIP reporting
• Completing tasks and reporting within financial deadlines
• Supporting contract negotiations

How much can a Commercial Accountant earn?

A Commercial Accountant salary ranges from around £27,000 to £52,000, depending on experience. Average salary is roughly £35,000*.

What skills do Commercial Accountants need to have?

You’ll need to have good communication skills to be able to explain financial reports to those who might not have the same level of knowledge as you do.

You’ll need to be adaptable as the world of finance is always changing - whether it’s regulations, compliance, the stock market, or local markets.

IT literacy is a must have. You’ll be using niche software, and will need to be able to embrace technology to improve systems, processes and result delivery.

Be confident. You’ll need to be able to talk to heads of departments, company leaders, and decision makers to convince them to make the right call.

What qualifications do I need to be a Commercial Accountant?

You’ll need to either do ACCA, CIMA or ACA to become a qualified accountant, and then you can go into the commercial side of accountancy.

More information about ACCA, CIMA or ACA.

*Source: www.payscale.com March 2020

This year, we’re proud to say that we’ve started to embrace a greener life. All 25 of our training centres across the country are now single use plastic free!

And we won’t stop there. Everybody can make a small change to reduce plastic waste, everyday.

Watch this video to see what we did.

To discover the other ways we are trying to make a difference, view our Corporate Social Responsibility page.