FIA is an ideal workforce development solution for employers looking to build the skills within their teams – both in finance and around their business.
Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) qualifications are suitable for a wide range of people from school leavers just beginning their careers to established team members and career changers who need to add qualifications to supplement their experience. FIA is ideal for anyone who is just beginning their journey towards financial literacy, whether they are new to finance, aiming to switch to finance or working in finance but with no formal qualifications.
The FIA group of qualifications provides foundational knowledge in business and finance. As such they are applicable to just about any role in any organisation – because finance is the universal language of business. From understanding a balance sheet and P&L to making sense of project or departmental budgets and costs, FIA will give your people the skills and knowledge to contribute to decisions and add value.
However, within the finance function, FIA qualifications do align with some specific types of roles:
FIA qualification | Academic equivalent | Corresponding finance role |
ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) | GCSE. High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate or Middle Years Programme or equivalent | Junior accounts clerk/bookkeeper in a financial and/or cost accounting role
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ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) | AS or A level standard or international equivalent | Accounts clerk/financial administrator in a financial and/or cost accounting role
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ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) | First year of a degree programme or HND standard or international equivalent | Trainee accountant or administrator in a financial/cost accounting role. Depending on the options you select, you could also specialise in an audit, tax or financial management-based role. |
Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification | First year of a degree programme or HND standard or international equivalent | Trainee accountant or administrator in a financial/cost accounting role. Depending on the options you select, you could also specialise in an audit, tax or financial management-based role. |
The Foundation Diploma, available in Pakistan and Bangladesh only | First year of a degree programme or HND standard or international equivalent.
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ACCA is committed to broadening access to financial education and careers and so we do not set any academic requirements for our FIA qualifications. However, for staff with no formal qualifications, we recommend starting FIA at the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2), which is equivalent to a UK GCSE (Level 2), International Baccalaureate or MYP, and progresses up to the equivalent of the first year of a bachelor's degree (Level 4).
Once they have completed the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) (or the Foundation Diploma if your people are based in Bangladesh or Pakistan), they can progress onto the full ACCA Qualification. This is the global benchmark of excellence in finance and accountancy education: a qualification that is recognised and valued around the world. If your members of your team choose to transfer onto this programme of study, their FIA qualifications will entitle them free exemptions for the Applied Knowledge exams.
To be successful on FIA, your staff will need to have a reasonable level of competence in both English and maths (numeracy).
We have created some self-check tests and interactive learning modules to help them assess their competence. These can be accessed in our Student Virtual Learning Centre.
Staff can also access maths and English language support here to improve their skills while studying for ACCA qualifications.
Explore the courses with free online learning through ACCA-X.
Want your team to learn the language of business? Get started here.
Start your application for the ACCA Qualification or a Foundations in Accountancy qualification online today