Our People: Trina Connell
Time is a commodity in short supply for must of us. When I decided to go for my Chartered Accountant’s designation, I found my time became especially precious. I had to use it carefully – parceling it out where needed for work, study, and most importantly, for my family.
Nowhere was this more so than in my studies and preparations to write the qualifying exams. It was here that time management became vital. Without a careful framework for study – and relaxation – I don’t know how I’d have written the Uniform Evaluation (UFE), let alone passed it.
From the start, I’ve always made the most of my time. I graduated from Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. with a Bachelor in Administrative Studies, an undergraduate program that normally is the first step toward an MBA. But that wasn’t the career path for me. After a year of working in the accounting department of a mutual funds company in Toronto, however, I knew I wanted to be a Chartered Accountant
That meant going back to school. Even with my degree, I had to make up the courses missing from among the 51 credits required to become a CA. Fortunately, most of these credits I could take via correspondence through the University of Windsor and the University of Athabaska, as well as two three-week courses at Queen’s University, all the while gaining work experience at BDO Dunwoody.
Of course, most people wouldn’t take four years to acquire these credits as I did. Aside from my work and studies, in between I took time off to have a baby. I was fortunate to have a supportive family to help me out. Again, time was the major factor. I was determined to achieve my designation in one shot, as I knew I couldn’t take forever to realize my goal.
From the start, it helps if you know what is expected. For instance, the Core Knowledge Exam (CKE), first hurdle on the CA designation’s academic path, is comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions. That I found different, after years of writing essay-type exams in university. The UFE, however, was more familiar ground, with sections involving dissecting case studies. The preparation, however, was stiffer than just about any university course I’d taken.
Preparing for the UFE is more than just pouring over reading material. Using a competency-based approach, the four-hour UFE tests how well the writer takes the lessons learned and knowledge acquired from the required courses and professional programs and applies them to real-world problems. The UFE is more than just giving back the right answering to a question. It’s about grasping a depth of understanding about the subject material.
Such an exam requires a different approach to study. First, you have to know your limitations. Early on I realized I couldn’t study straight for four days a week. Eventually, I reached a point of diminishing returns, where you’re so tired your mind is no longer retaining the information.
That’s where time management comes in. Successful studying requires pacing. Overall, my preparation to write the UFE took six weeks. I limited my study from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., recognizing I needed to take a break from work so the brain could recuperate from the daily workout it was getting.
Naturally, self-discipline is a necessity. Since you’ve taken this time off from work to prepare, you’re often at home alone. No one is there to tell you to study. You have to be committed from the start. Before even opening the books, you should have your schedule and utilize study techniques that suit you. As in your work day, the key is to make the most of every available minute.
When it was all done, I made sure to take time off. Even when time is precious, both at work and at home, a good professional knows the importance of making time for themselves.
Trina Connell is a Senior Manager in Assurance and Accounting in the Lindsay office. Trina successfully passed her UFE exams in 2005 and was named to the UFE National Honor Roll of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
