Global accountancy body launches interactive tool to support training and development

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has launched an online, interactive tool to enable its trainees to plan and record the practical experience required for professional membership and, in doing so, prove to employers that they are fit for business.

The trainee development matrix (TDM) has been designed to help ACCA trainees identify and chart their achievement against a range of work-based performance objectives whilst enabling them to monitor when they have achieved sufficient experience to apply for ACCA membership. Its introduction follows a detailed consultation with over 30,000 stakeholders ñ including employers - over the content of its new qualification.

As the TDM is used to record all their practical experience, it assists trainees in creating and maintaining a virtual CV so that they have an up-to-date record of their practical achievements. In addition, the TDM can be used to help trainees create role profiles and, on an annual basis, report to ACCA how much relevant training they have gained and how close they are to achieving their ACCA membership. The TDM can also be accessed by a traineeís workplace mentor so that they monitor, sign-off and verify online any relevant experience achieved by their trainee accountants.

Heather Venis, ACCA head of training policy and professional development says: ìThe trainee development matrix is an exciting development for ACCA as it will allow us to know at any time where our trainees are working and how much relevant training they have achieved so that we can provide them with appropriate guidance and support. Its implementation has been welcomed by a number of our approved employers.

ìIn the past, we have only been able to capture this information when a trainee was ready to apply for membership and submitted paper records as evidence of the experience they had achieved. The trainee development matrix goes one step further. Not only is it an effective recording tool but trainees can also use it to proactively plan the training and development they need to achieve in order to become an ACCA member.î

Elaine Hind, Audit Manager, Sales, Marketing and Mortgage Review at Northern Rock adds: ìAs an employer we feel that the training and development matrix will assist in the effective monitoring of our students progress. Furthermore, it will allow us to record any future training and development needs identified for our students. It will also enable the students to monitor their own progress and will act as a useful tool for recording competencies achieved to date.î