news PQ
Time to publish exam papers again? The time has come for the accountancy bodies to be more accountable, and that means they must publish their exam papers after each sitting, says a leading tutor. He told PQ magazine that it is just a matter of fairness and transparency. “At the moment the accountability all happens behind closed doors, and no-one can see how fair the sitting has been. Can that be right?” He wondered how the bodies have been able to do this. “Is the FRC really ensuring the integrity of the examinations? If so, they
need to provide an annual report of the state of each body’s examination processes.” He was particularly worried about students who seem to need
PKF Francis Clarke welcomes 63 new trainees PKF Francis Clarke recently welcomed a new intake of 63 accounting and tax trainees. Those joining the firm include 57 apprentices, bringing the total to start apprenticeships with the firm this year to 73. In addition, six undergraduates are starting
PQ Magazine October 2024
a new 12-month industrial placement scheme, The new recruits will be based in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. Paul Crocker, CEO of PKF Francis Clark, said: “Welcoming
multiple attempts to get through, and where the pass rates are constantly 30%. “How are tutors able to show students where they are going wrong if even they don’t see the papers? Everyone is shooting in the dark.” He pointed to the ACCA optional paper pass rates: “The APM pass rate is 30%. If ACCA wanted to improve them it needs to show what is being examined, or at least a synopsis of what is in every exam.” • What do you think? Send your thought to the editor at: graham@ pqmagazine.com our new trainees is always one of our highlights of the year. They join us at an exciting time for the accountancy profession and our firm, as we focus on developing advisors with the skills our clients will need to succeed in an era of rapid technological change.” Applications for PKF Francis Clark’s 2025 graduate accounting trainee programmes opened in early September.
Awards on tour
Tim Mickleburgh is PQ magazine’s reigning Accountancy Graduate of the Year, and he recently took his trophy on a little journey. We’ll let him explain: “I finally brought my Accountancy Graduate of the Year award to The University of Manchester, the place where I spent so many days in Alliance Manchester Business School unaware that all the hard work would result in an achievement as big as this. Still very much on cloud nine about it.”
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