Good Read

TOIL - Day 2
Was out shopping and enjoying my well-deserved time-off week. Grabbed this book at kinokuniya this afternoon. This title of the book caught my attention coz I'm always interested in Frauds, Creative Accounting, Forensic Accounting, etc. (not saying I will be ha ha disclaimer and self-defense in placed).

Project completed

As of right now, I have not slept in the past 26.5 hours! I'm damn tired now but can't sleep now coz somehow it past my biological clock. After a week of intensive preparation, I've finally completed my Oxford Brookes University (OBU) project. It consist of a main report a max 5000 words and a sub-report of a 1500 words excluding the appendixes and bibliography. I managed to clock in 4979 and 1481 respectively. This research and analysis thesis really sucked my week into it - no gaming, guitars, no fun.

Now I'm ready to send out to Oxford tomorrow morning (together with £50) and be awarded a BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Accounting later this July 2008. Now, if only I can get some sleep...

Exam Review - Dec 08

After 3 consecutive days and 3 core papers for this dec 08 sitting, I'm physically and mentally tired. This sitting, we are the 1st batch to be examined under the new ACCA syllabus and all I can say is, I did my best for all the papers. Should be able to score for P1 Professional Accountant and P3 Business Analysis. As for P2 Corporate Reporting, this is one of the toughest and lowest passing rate among the final year papers-no high hopes for this paper.

As usual, back to work day after the last paper. But hey, on a brighter side, Christmas and year end just round the corner and I will be gradually clearing and handing over my appointments and work stuffs coz I'm a month away from leaving the airforce after 5 damn years!

Flu-zy day

This is what I've been surviving the whole day while studying for my Business Analysis paper. Had been sick the whole week and its nearer to my exams. Damn hard to concentrate with a leaking nose n headache!

Exams over!

Yup finally after months of classes and hard work, the June 07 ACCA exams are finally over for me ha ha ha. Now its time to plan how to enjoy my short 'holidays' before the last semester starts in July.

Hmmm.. hardcore gaming on my PS3, catch up on my love for photography with my newly purchased DSLR cam, going out for movies and planning for the tour! But, first things first, gotta have a good sleep and back to work tml. I guess my work had piled up during my leave.

Audit in 18 hrs

Finally finished the intensive advanced audit revision today, Mother's Day. 6 hrs revision class per day : fri, sat and today. Jam-packed revision to cover all the syllabus which was taught over 20 lectures. Tiring shit.

No special Mother's day dinner.... just flowers and gift for mum.

Can't possibly study anymore later. I think I'll watch the last Man Utd match for this season later on and just head to bed. On study leave next week then back to work for 1.5 weeks then ACCA exams 5th and 6th June.

Crazy pursuit for success.

Presentation next tuesday

Oh no, my oxford brookes uni thesis presentation is scheduled next tues eve. It's been a while since I need to do a presentation. In fact, the last presentation (not counting at work) I had to make was during my Ngee Ann times. Presentation at work is so much different coz of different audience and basically just updating ur boss or section and also, they are the people you seen everyday.

I was told that there will be a professional speaker to judge and gives feedback based on the presentation. Stress man! Here what I'm gonna do :

- be early & well dressed
- max 12 slides & max 15 minutes (given criteria)
- bullet points, then talk (lots of words n para = not ok)
- some visual eg. charts for better understanding
- look enthu
- clear projection of voice
- maintain eye contact

and try not to show audience that I'm nervous. Actually there nothing for me to be coz my contents are rather prepared till now, just need some fine tune to perfect it.

2007 1st Tutorial

1st tutorial of the year.

Enrolled for the Oxford Brookes University - BSc (Honours) in Applied Accounting while waiting for my Dec 06 exam results. Being a saturday morning class, I was 5 minutes late for the tutorial... Ms Helena Johnson was already lecturing when I got there. This is a brand new challenge for me as this is not the usual modules that I took. I must prepare a research & Analysis Thesis and to do this, lots and lots of research and information gathering have to be done. Its not just study and apply in the exams. Classification of Honours are mostly based on critical evaluation of arguments, evidence and of course, presentation skills. I would really like to be awarded a First Class Honours. Its not all that difficult but its the sheer amount of time that I need to do all that & I have to submit my thesis by 6 Apr 07. Meaning, more hard work and less gaming.

Even the guide is so thick.....

Worst exams ever

Exams finally over but there wasn't any sign of relief this sitting at all. I totally screwed up both my papers and this was one of my worst exam sitting in my entire education phase. I was always very confident for my exams and seriously, this sitting is such a shocker for me. IMO, was kinda unfair papers for Advanced Audit n Advanced Taxaxtion, time was a constant factor and 3 hours for these 2 modules is seriously not enough. Or maybe I was weak in these area, I don't know.

My mind's a mess, very demoralised. Or maybe that was the pressure of taking ACCA level 3 modules. I always pictured myself clearing all ACCA modules at the very 1st attempt... well, at least up to level 2 modules. Had couple of friends who always admired that I could always clear these professional papers 1st time while they had to cope with some setbacks at level 2 modules. I guess this time, this exam sitting really set me back.

Screw that! I gave my best shot (though I was really thinking I could pass these 2 papers) and there nothing much I could do now. Christmas is round the corner, I will go out tomorrow and fully utilised my leave, have fun, do some shopping and suck up all the festival joy before returning back to office.

Special Delivery : - by air

got this today, so proud of myself, manage to complete till ACCA part 2 (all 1 attempt) within 1.5 yr while doing it part time, next target : complete the final part 3 asap.

Who says Accountants are Boring?

ICPAS (short for Institute of Certified Public Accountants of S'pore) recently established 2 new committees : CFO committee and the Young Accountants Group Committee. The 2 committees will address the professional needs of CFOs and young accountants.

Because of the increasing complexity of businesses in todays context, it have transformed and evolved the traditional "all about numbers" role of accountants to one that supports and empower strategic decision making and analysis. The committee will help us strengthen the role and the professional image that accountants play in business. So, who says that accountants are boring?!

I particularly like the idea of the Young Accountant Group Committee because it would serve to provide young accountants with opportunities to develop our career and achieve greater competency, knowledge and professional development. Seems like the near future is rather promising.

New modules, new challenges, same shitty routine!

Yup, this post's title says it all. I barely had any rest this weekend. Lots of outstanding tasks on hand and just had the 1st Advanced Audit eve class 2 days ago (had to rush to FTC after work) and today being a sunday, I've Advance Taxation classes from 10am to 5pm with an hour lunch break from 1-2pm. Come new week tml will be slightly worse.

Mon 28/8 - Advanced Audit eve class
Tue 29/8 - Advanced Taxation eve class
Thurs 31/8 - Advanced Audit eve class
Sat 02/9 - Advanced Audit full 10am -5pm class
Sun 03/9 - Advanced Taxation full 10am -5pm class

Not forgetting my tons of work on hand with datelines closing in. Days that I don't need to attend eve classes means I've to OT myself in order to meet my datelines! Also, COMEX 2006 (IT trade show/exhibition) starts this fri till Sun, which I'm dying to go and get myself the Sony Cybershot DSC-T30!

Now taking on the final level of ACCA is starting to really stress me out. I'm all freaked out now coz both Advanced Tax and Advanced Audit really requires those knowledge that I acquired in level 2. It's like I'm taking 4 modules now coz my level 2 Tax and Audit knowledge seems decrepitly frail. Well, at least I know my future (and I mean near future) is leading somewhere. Big Four perharps? My past experience at PwC during my 6 months internship actually decides why I'm taking both Advanced Audit & Advanced Tax out of the 4 optional papers. Simply coz both have greater prospects imo. I'm already starting to countdown to exams. 98 days...

Less depressing stuff : I'll be expecting my Level 2 completion cert next month and if I managed to clear these 2 advanced modules and subsequently the core papers, I'll complete ACCA and be an ACCA affiliate this time next year! Its a attainable and measurable goal but not w/o lots of hard work.

Really gotta manage my time well this semester. Gotta balance and prioritise my work and studies. I think I'll Mr. Bastard from tomorrow onwards and focus on completing all my current work on hand. I've been too helpful at work sometimes and while people are eating into my time instead of theirs, its time for me to say NO! (but in a less direct and unnerving manner). Sorry guys... you've your tasks and boss to report to, I've mine ; unless you're willing to bear the consequences if I fail to meet my datelines...

Finally.. I cleared ACCA Level 2

Damn right I pass both modules fairly well. Hugh relief and bout $900+ poorer coz I went to enroll 2 new level 3 modules. I'm finally a ACCA level 3 student after 1.5 years.

I enrolled option paper 3.1 - Advanced Audit & Assurance and option paper 3.2 - Advanced Taxation because these are the 2 most career demand and satisfying areas out of the 4 option papers. Too bad the Oxford Brookes degree research program is not available till Jan 07... so gotta wait till then.

Gonna give myself a good treat for my hard work in passing the two June 06 modules. Well, maybe not too much as I'm so bucks poorer and classes starts this fri and sat. Its back to classes too soon but think bout the near future and success when I graduate is a sure motivation and turn-on.

(Pity those who fail marginally like 49% ... ha ha you sad loser!)

ACCA Exams Results out tomorrow...

yup... in bout 12 or more hours time, I'll receive my results online between 12pm to 2pm via email. Oh crap... feeling very nervous got these are the results for the final 2 modules of level 2 which by the way has a rather low passing rate.

Paper 2.5 - Financial Reporting : tough one, already expect the worst.
Paper 2.6 - Audit & Internal Review : confident.

really hope that I can clear these 2 modules so that I can finally move to (the last) level 3 and embark on the oxford brookes degrees research project thingy and then finally grad the whole of ACCA to be a Provisional Member. So far I manage to clear all modules fairly well with just 1 attempt each. Hope I can continue this. If not, gotta wast time and money (both SGP & GBP).

dun think I can really concentrate much during work tomorrow morn till lunch.

Exams over, back to work tml...

finally, its tml (thurs) back to work after a long 2 weeks leave that was spent preparing my ACCA exams. Don't think I did well this time. I attempt paper 2.5 Financial Reporting and 2.6 Audit and Internal Review. Paper 2.5 was tough was damn many calculation and adjustments, preparing 2 sets of balance sheet n income statement n cashflow statement. To sum up, I fucked it up with only 3 hrs to do that. I didn't have time to do the finally part on construction contract for 12 marks! Pretty such i'll fail this paper. Audit paper was rather reasonable considering last sitting had a international passing rate of only 39%. I think I did ok. Was especting some hurdles in level 2 before, so ... anyway, i did my best.

So exams over, back to work tml. Sure lots of shit to do. Got 2 months before results are out, so gotta enjoy myself n do all those things that I've been KIV for some time. Lots of pictures to sort out though. Think I'll spend most of my time with digital imaging, playing games on my PSP and PS2 and enhance my guitar skills. Looking forward to the launch of PS3 this november! But will be hefty @ US599 which is bout 960 Sing bucks. Will defintely get PS3 coz not very interested in Xbox 360.

Oh ya, will of course follow the World Cup! Spain won 4-0 earlier on. My fav was Brazil but their opening match didn't much post any threat except for the fine Kaka's goal.

Hectic May 06 Schedule!!!

Coming month is a very stressful n hectic month for me... last month of preparation for ACCA Examinations. Final 2 modules to clear level 2 and proceed to level 3 n then to the ultimate prize! Lots of classes after work to attend n my transport expense will also increase coz I'll be taxi-ing most of the time to Somerset after work. Kaozz! N my lecturer also mentioned that this June 06 sitting is the best chance to clear the modules coz after this sitting, some FRSs (Financial Reporting Standards) will be obsolette n new/admended FRSs will incorporate. Meaning that if I don't make it, I'll have to retake again come Dec 06 n my current notes/syllabus will be outdated.....waste more SGD$ and GBP£. Pressure n stress starting to build up... gotta meditate for that other sources of energy.....

my May 06 schedule

I passed my damn ACCA Exams!!

I passed!!!
I passed!!!
I passed!!!

I passed my Paper 2.4 with a not bad result!!
Came as a shocker as I think I did only ok like border-line case whereby pail or fail depends only marker's mood but whatever. The fact is I CLEARED THE DAMN PAPER!

ok now, 2 more modules before I'm eligible for the

ACCA/Oxford Brookes Degree - BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting!!!!!

time for some wild celebrations!!!

1st day of class

Today, or rather Thurs 12 Jan, my 1st day of my new ACCA 2.5 Financial Reporting module. It's back to the same old days of hectic work + study schedule....hard to adjust back my mentality especially after all the fun since Christmas, New Year and the the coming Chinese New Year. Anyway, the day started of with rain (damn! has been raining for the past 1 week already leh...) then on to some normal work stuffs and thankfully a rather short meeting in the late afternoon, so I can make it to class earlier today. Ha ha and today suppose to meet Trish for dinner before class coz she's now taking ACCA in the same school as me. But that ever-blur Trish forgotten to brought her mobile and thus we didn't make it for dinner.

Class size this module was rather small as compared to previous modules so I can manage to pay more attention instead of looking at the ladies.... ha ha. Lecturer started out telling us we have 146 days to exams! What a way to inaugurate the 1st class....no comments. I must say this module will be another tough one to conquer so my aim this time round is to attend every single lectures (I manage to do that last year... yeah!) Lots of Financial Standards (bout 28 of them!) to learn and apply throughout the whole module n the exams. Lecturer was able to capture the class's attention throughout and make it interesting though.

ok class ends.

then what?

wait at the lobby for Trish lor... she appears with some friends after her Law class and as usual, smile then talk talk talk.... actually I'm rather tired today but nevertheless accompany her home hor. I've just finish reading 17 pages of notes and now gonna zzz liao so gotta long day tml. Oh ya tml after work, my section is going to Marina South for steamboat dinner. Should be fun. Better standby my camera coz I'm going to make someone drunk tml!!! Oh by the way, Yan is back from Hong Kong yesterday but only for 2 weeks and he promise he'll join us for the dinner. Should be fun. Should be fun.

Arsenal was Pathetic!

I was an Arsenal fan for that mere 2 hrs hoping the Gunners would give Chelsea something for Christmas but the former was just playing badly at home! Arsenal lost 2-0 to Chelsea for the last time they played them at Highbury. Was hoping Arsenal can help my Man Utd to close the points gap but given their performance and the terrible mistake by Lauren that awarded Chelsea the 2nd goal & cost the Gunners the match,.....disappointed.

Talking point 1 : Van Persie's goal should not be ruled offside!
Talking point 2 : Essien should had been sent off!

Arsenal's title race is definately over...Let's see what my beloved Man Utd can do to mount a serious title race.

Some thoughts after exams

Exams over! Managed to sit thru' the 3hr Financial Manage & Control paper from 3 to 6pm. Don't really felt relieved after all. Maybe because the paper is so F tough! June 05 passing rate was only 37%, what bout Dec 05? I don't know... Seriously, the paper is tough and i doubt i can struggle through. Kinda low morale now after giving all that I could n knowing it could all turn out to be disastrous when the result are out come Feb 06.

Gimme a pistol so that I can play Russian Roulette with myself.