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KPMG's ACA Intensive Programme wins 'Innovation in Accountancy' award

Earlier this month,BPP Professional Education Group and KPMG’s joint ACA Intensive Programme won thePQ Magazine 2015 award for Innovation in Accountancy.

Launched in September 2013, the program was developed by BPP Professional Education Group to give the next generation of KPMG trainee accountants the skills to succeed and excel. The Intensive Programme allows new KPMG graduates the opportunity to complete the majority of their chartered accountancy qualification within the first 10 months of joining the firm.

Martin Taylor, CEO of BPP Professional Qualifications, received the award at the winners’ ceremony in London.

“I am extremely proud of the work of dozens of people that has gone into designing and delivering this programme," he stated, according to a press release. "The success of this programme shows BPP Professional Education Group’s ability to work closely with a major client, delivering highly innovative education and training to meet the trainees and client’s needs.”

The program’s first class completed the program last summer with the pilot group of 49 trainees achieving pass-rates of 94% and 100% in the ICAEW Advanced level papers.

The Intensive Programme consists of the ICAEW CFAB qualification and BPP University’s Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Upon completion of the academic qualification, students claim exemptions from the ICAEW Professional Level, meaning that they do not take those examinations. The Graduate Diploma in Accounting consists of seven modules including a work placement module which enables the students to contextualize their classroom learning to support the transition into the workplace.

Sarah McIlroy, BPP University Business School's Director of Accounting and Finance Programmes, stated: “It is fantastic to be recognised for a programme which truly brings together the BPP Professional Education Group, the ICAEW and KPMG."

“By working together and by creating an award, under BPP University’s degree-awarding powers, we have something truly unique and it is exciting to be a part of this," she continued. "The results the students are achieving on this programme are tremendous and we are immensely proud that the Graduate Diploma in Accounting equals the ICAEW qualification in terms of quality.”

KPMG have expanded the programme for the September 2014 intake to include a regional class in Birmingham. Overall intake is now over 100 trainees.

For more information on the Intensive Programme, head to KPMG's sitehere.

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