This is the story of Akansha, our ACCA student who had already studied abroad, but still didn’t feel ‘qualified enough’ when it came to getting a real job. After completing her MSc in Accounting and Finance from the UK, she came back to India thinking that life would now fall into place. A good degree and international exposure, all looked good on paper. But the job hunt didn’t go as expected.

She thought a master’s degree would be enough to get her noticed. But most job interviews ended with the same question ‘What else have you done?’ That’s when she realised that maybe her education wasn’t as ‘job-ready’ as she thought.

And that one realisation, though painful, led her to take a big step: She decided to pursue the ACCA program. Today, Akansha is placed with Finvey as financial Analyst, using both her academic knowledge and practical skills every day. But the road to this success wasn’t easy. Let’s read her story, in her own words:

Below is a transcript of her interview with us:

1. What motivated you to pursue ACCA, and how did you decide to enroll after already completing your MSc in Accounting and Finance from the UK?

Honestly, when I came back from the UK after completing my MSc, I thought I was all set to step into the finance industry. I had an international degree, good knowledge but once I started applying for jobs, trust me reality hit me hard.

In almost every interview, people kept asking me if I had done CA or ACCA or if I was familiar with Indian accounting standards. This made me understand that my degree looked good on paper, but it didn’t fully match with requirements that companies here were looking for.

I researched a lot and that’s when I came across the ACCA course. It was globally recognised, and covered the necessary skills companies expect from finance experts.. So even though I already had a master’s degree, I chose to start again with ACCA because I wanted to build a career, not just collect degrees.

2. Many students struggle with balancing studies and work. How did you manage your ACCA preparation alongside your job roles, especially during your time at Per-Scent?

It wasn’t easy at all. I was working for Per-Scent, a UK-based company and because of the time difference, my work would start really early. By the time I finished for the day, I was completely exhausted.

There were days when I genuinely felt like I couldn’t do both. But I had made up my mind to complete ACCA, so I had to figure out a way. I started studying late at night, even if it was just for an hour. I used weekends to catch up on whatever I had missed during the week.

It was a tough routine. I had to say no to a lot of plans, cut down on distractions and really stay disciplined. I made small timetables for myself and tracked my progress weekly. There were moments of burnout, of course. And every time I felt like giving up, I reminded myself that all this effort was for a better future and that helped me stay focused.

3. What was your biggest challenge during the Skill Level of ACCA and how did you overcome it?

I still remember the anxiety before my taxation paper. Since I have done my studies from the UK, that taxation exam felt like a different language. The rules, exemptions, slabs… everything just overwhelmed me. I failed a mock test and I cried that day. I seriously thought of dropping the paper.

But then, I decided to stop trying to memorise everything and instead understand the logic. I asked my faculty for help and started focusing more on practice. The feedback I got after each test helped me fix small mistakes.

Slowly, the fear started to go away. And I can’t describe that joy I felt when I finally cleared it. It wasn’t just about passing a subject. It was about proving to myself that I could do it.

4. How did the knowledge and skills you gained during your ACCA coaching help you perform well in interviews?

Before ACCA, I used to get stuck during my interviews. I had the knowledge, but I didn’t know how to apply it or explain it in simple terms.

But during coaching, we didn’t just study theory but we learned how to solve actual case studies, build financial reports, explain decisions, and defend our answers. It was like training for the real world.

In one interview, they gave me a scenario and asked how I would report certain expenses. I remembered the exact format we were taught and explained it clearly. The interviewer even smiled and said, “You sound like someone who’s done this before.” It really made me happy and that was the moment I knew all those long nights were worth it.

5. Now that you’ve got a job after finishing the Skill Level of ACCA, what would you say to students who are still wondering if doing ACCA is actually worth it for getting a good job?

Let me say this straight  -Yes, it’s worth it. But only if you’re ready to give it your 100%.

Degrees will give you knowledge, but companies want people who know how to apply knowledge in real life situations. ACCA training gave me that confidence to walk into an interview and say, ‘I can handle this.’

If you’re confused, if you feel stuck, trust me, I’ve been there. But don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start building your skills. Keep learning, keep applying and never give up just because things aren’t working out today. You’re building something bigger than you can see right now.

Akansha’s journey shows that even if you do everything right like studying abroad and getting all good degrees, things might not go as planned. But what really makes the difference is how you deal with those ups and downs. She took control of her career and that’s what turned her dream into reality.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akansha-kumar-918460197/