WHILE thousands of young graduates struggle to break into the job market, Havenhill Academy is producing internationally recognised accountants who are finding opportunities across the world, from London to Dubai, through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification, one of the toughest and most respected finance credentials globally.
At Havenhill Academy, students are pursuing a qualification that can open doors to careers in London, Dubai, Johannesburg and Singapore without the need to rewrite professional papers.
In Zimbabwe, many graduates struggle to secure stable careers, yet the global ACCA qualification is increasingly becoming a pathway to international opportunity.
Havenhill Academy, an ACCA gold-accredited learning provider based in Harare’s CBD, has positioned itself at the centre of that journey.
Principal officer Partson Nyatanga (pictured), a fellow chartered certified accountant, an associate member of the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute and a registered public accountant, said the school’s mission goes beyond teaching accounting theory.
“Personalised learning is an approach to learning in which tutors descend to each student’s level to seek to understand each student’s learning needs so as to help students realise their full potential,” Nyatanga told NewsDay Weekender.
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He said the college model focuses on individual feedback and flexible timetables designed to accommodate students from different backgrounds, including working professionals and school leavers.
For many Zimbabwean students, ACCA is seen as a demanding qualification because of its rigorous examinations and high standards.
However, Nyatanga believes the qualification’s global recognition makes it worthwhile.
“ACCA is a global chartered accountancy qualification,” he said.
“By global qualification, it means it is a qualification with global recognition.
“ACCA’s qualifying structure is one globally meaning students in Zimbabwe will sit for the same examination as students in any other part of the globe.”
Nyatanga added that international standard gives graduates mobility across countries.
“It, therefore, means that when ACCA professionals move from one country to another, they need not seek conversion of their ACCA qualifications to match local qualification framework.
“ACCA is not just a globally recognised qualification, but a key that opens global career opportunities and enhances global mobility.”
He said ACCA students should complete examinations, ethics training and practical experience before qualifying as chartered certified accountants.
“ACCA graduates becoming full-fledged chartered certified accountants on completing three components, namely exams, ethics and practical experience (PER),” Nyatanga said.
He added that ACCA also carries auditing rights in several countries, including Zimbabwe.
While the opportunities are global, Zimbabwean students still face major local challenges, particularly around technology and affordability, according to Nyatanga.
“ACCA is a ‘digital-centric’ professional board.
“ACCA is one of the first examining boards to introduce full computer-based exams (CBE) across all its modules, completely abandoning paper-based exams since 2022.”
He said expensive internet costs and limited access to technology remain major barriers for students.
“The biggest challenge Zimbabwean students face is access to data, owing to the cost of data as well as skills to navigate ACCA’s online digital resources.”
Nyatanga said costs associated with subscriptions, examinations and tuition also slow student progress.
“Students have to pay ACCA subscriptions, exam fees and tuition,” he said.
“The exams are a bit expensive considering the Zimbabwean economy and the levels of disposable incomes.
“Sometimes students struggle to raise funds, affecting their progress.”
Despite the challenges, Havenhill Academy says it has maintained strong academic results.
To retain its ACCA Gold status, the academy must consistently achieve pass rates above the global average.
“We have consistently met our targets as a gold ALP,” Nyatanga said.
“Secondly, we have consistently maintained a pass rate of at least 90% at the diploma level.”
Beyond examinations, the academy is focusing on employability and practical experience.
“As a school we prepare students for exams and beyond, our approach is to develop the whole person.
“As Havenhill, we actively seek attachment opportunities for our students so that they obtain essential practical experience requirements.”
The academy also hosts career guidance sessions, where students interact with experienced finance professionals and industry leaders.
“These career guidance sessions give students the opportunity to interact with and ask questions to seasoned ACCA professionals, industry leaders and finance professionals who are accomplished in their careers,” he said.
Havenhill is also developing a digital platform that will allow lecturers to upload resources and assignments online.
“At Havenhill, we incorporate digital learning with students able to access digital resources,” Nyatanga said.
“We are currently working on a platform which is about to be launched, where lecturers can prepare students’ assignments and students can do their assignments.”
Nyatanga said the academy’s long term vision is to develop professional accountants from an early stage.
“Our vision at Havenhill is to evolve into a global brand in mentoring professional accountants.
“Our vision is to develop professional accountants from grassroots, that is to say, enrolling students straight from high school, and developing them into professional accountants in two and a half to three years.”
Ethical and competent accountants, he said, remain important to Zimbabwe’s economic future.
“Accountancy and finance professionals play an important role in ensuring accountability, regulatory compliance, and efficient flow of capital.
“Ethics, therefore, forms the heart of the profession.”