The ACCA Performance Objectives are a vital component of the Practical Experience Requirement (PER). They show how trainees apply accounting knowledge, professional skills and ethical judgment in a real workplace.
To complete the ACCA PER trainees are required to meet nine Performance Objectives, five Essential objectives and four Technical objectives, as well as gain the required practical experience. This includes gaining relevant work experience, demonstrating that you have the required competencies, and documenting how you developed and used those competencies.
It covers what ACCA Performance Objectives are, how to select objectives relevant to your role, how to write effective statements, and how supervisor sign-off works. It also gives some typical reasons for delays and where an Approved Employer arrangement may provide an alternative route.
The ACCA Performance Objectives are practical benchmarks which can be used to evidence competence in the workplace as part of the ACCA Practical Experience Requirement (PER). They help trainees demonstrate that they can apply their technical knowledge, professional skills and ethical judgment in a real work environment.
Follow the 200-500 Word Requirement – Each ACCA Performance Statement of objectives: 200-500 words. The statement should explain in brief how you met the objective using one or two relevant examples from your actual workplace experience.
Concentrate on what you personally did, the skills you demonstrated and what you learned. The text is a little too short, and a few more details would make it more interesting. ACCA recommends the statement be short, relevant and evidence-based.
Objectives are the minimum level of performance expected of trainees working in accounting or finance roles and the minimum level of professional capability expected of them.
Trainees will be expected to:
Obtain relevant work experience in a real work environment.
- Show the skills for their chosen goals.
- Use accounting knowledge and professional skills in real-world situations.
- Showcase professional and ethical behavior at work.
- Keep a track of how they learned their skills and how they are using them.
- Consider their work experience and career development.
- Complete 9 Performance Objectives with prerequisite practical experience.
- Give them supervised experience to help them develop skills needed for an accounting or finance career.
So it’s more than just ticking off a checklist to get the objectives done. Evidence of development and demonstration of required competencies in their actual work must be provided by trainees.
ACCA Requirements and Performance Objective guidance subject to change. Candidates should refer to the latest information published in ACCA’s official PER guidance.
What Are The Nine Performance Objectives Of ACCA PER?
ACCA Performance Objectives are an essential part of the Practical Experience Requirement (PER). They allow trainees to demonstrate they can put their accounting knowledge, professional skills and ethical understanding into practice in a real workplace.
Trainees complete the ACCA PER by achieving a total of nine performance objectives:
- Five Performance Objectives
- Four Technical Performance Objectives
The objectives are completed with required practical experience and must be evidenced by relevant workplace experience and supervisor sign off.
Five Critical Performance Goals
The Essential Performance Objectives are focused on professional behaviors and capabilities that are relevant across accounting, finance and business roles. They help trainees to show that they can:
- Apply professional and ethical standards to their work
- Communicate effectively with co-workers, customers and other stakeholders
- Be a team player and work collaboratively
- Exercise professional judgment in handling workplace situations
- Take ownership of their work and contribute effectively to an organization
- Build professional skills that encourage long term career progression
These objectives are not limiting in relation to any one accounting specialization. Whether a trainee is involved in audit, taxation, financial reporting, management accounting or any other finance related role, the professional capabilities are applicable to the work performance.
Four Technical Performance Goals
The Technical Performance Objectives involve the technical areas where a trainee has practical experience. They are more closely related to the ACCA syllabus & current role, career direction of the trainee than the Essential objectives.
Depending on their work, trainees can acquire technical competence in fields such as:
- Financial reporting
- Cost accounting
- Taxation
- Audit & Assurance
- Financial management
- Risk Management
- Business advisory and other related areas
The selected technical objectives should be appropriate to the type of work being done by the trainee. This allows the PER process to demonstrate both general professional capability and relevant technical competence.
The Involvement of the Nine Objectives with Practical Experience
Workplace experience is not distinct from the nine measures of performance. Trainees apply their competencies while executing relevant responsibilities in their position
The process usually involves:
- Relevant practical experience in an appropriate accounting or finance environment.
- Developing skills and competencies required by the selected performance objectives.
- Reflecting on work activities and achievements to demonstrate how the required competencies were developed.
- Recording relevant experience and examples for the ACCA PER process
- Obtaining supervisor review and sign-off of the performance objectives and practical experience.
Therefore the objectives should be considered by trainees as evidence of their actual work responsibilities rather than as theoretical requirements only.
The Importance of Performance Objectives
The performance objectives bridge the professional knowledge of ACCA to the practical application in the workplace. There are exams to test your knowledge and understanding but the PER is your opportunity to demonstrate how you apply that knowledge and professional capability within a real work setting.
For instance, while a trainee might learn the principles of financial reporting in their ACCA studies, their practical experience might show how they have actually contributed to preparing financial information, analyzing transactions or supporting reporting activities in the workplace.
Supervisor Approval – A proper supervisor is very important in the PER process. The supervisor reviews the trainee’s practical experience and performance objectives and signs off as required by ACCA in its current format.
Trainees are expected to keep proper documentation of their duties and accomplishments during their employment. Keeping evidence and reflections up to date can make it easier to show how their work links to the chosen objectives.
Performance Objectives vs. 36 month experience requirement – The nine Performance Objectives are only one part of the ACCA Practical Experience Requirement (PER). In addition, trainees must complete 36 months of supervised relevant practical experience. The 36-month requirement is about getting relevant work experience, and the nine Performance Objectives demonstrate the professional and technical competencies gained from that experience.
Therefore, completing the nine Performance Objectives does not replace the 36-month practical experience requirement. Both requirements form part of the ACCA PER.
How Should You Choose The Right Objectives For Your Role?
It’s important to choose the correct ACCA Performance Objectives because the objectives should be a reflection of the work you will be doing – especially when choosing your four Technical Performance Objectives. Instead of picking an objective that just seems to fit your career goals, think about it in terms of your day-to-day responsibilities and what kind of proof you can credibly provide.
1. Compare your duties with the objective requirements – Read through the current ACCA Performance Objectives and compare to what you normally do.
See questions such as:
- What are your regular accounting or finance activities?
- What parts of your job need accounting technical knowledge?
- Prepare, analyze, review, or report financial information?
- Do you work in taxation, audit, financial management, risk or other related fields?
- What decisions or tasks do you make yourself and what do you do when you are supervised?
This comparison can help you find the Technical Objectives which are really relevant to your experience at your workplace.
2. Pick Objectives You Can Demonstrate Through Real Work – Your goal should be one that you can give specific examples of in your workplace. Regularly performing relevant tasks makes it easier to describe what you did, what skills you used and how your work helped the organization.
For example, if you regularly prepare management reports and analyze financial information as part of your role, an objective related to management accounting may offer opportunities to demonstrate relevant competence.
Do not choose an objective simply because it fits into your future career goal if you cannot gain and demonstrate the experience in your current position.
3. Set your goals early – Thinking about your performance objectives early on in your ACCA practical experience is beneficial rather than waiting until you are ready to submit your PER.
Planning ahead could help you, don’t find yourself with no material to show at the end of your trial period. Keeping a simple record of relevant projects, responsibilities and achievements can also make the final PER documentation easier to prepare.
4. Think About How Your Role Might Change – Your role can change when you are promoted, transferred to a different department or change employers. Therefore, something that was hard to accomplish in one role may become more feasible in another.
For example, a trainee working in the accounts payable area may not be exposed to some areas of financial reporting, while a later move to a financial reporting area may provide more relevant experience.
If your role changes, you should look again at the objectives you set and think about whether your new role gives you better chances to show certain competencies.
5. Talk Over Your Plan With Your Supervisor – Your supervisor will be able to help you judge whether your proposed objectives are realistic in terms of the work available in your role. Talking about your goals early on can also help you find opportunities to take on relevant responsibilities and gain the experience you need.
The best goals are the ones that are in line with what you really do, give you the opportunity to learn and practice in real situations, and have examples from your job to support them. When you are choosing and documenting your objectives, always check the latest ACCA guidance as requirements may change.
- Find the missing pieces in your current experience.
- Discuss with your manager/supervisor about suitable duties.
- Look for chances to get involved in related projects.
- Provide examples that could demonstrate your objectives.
How Do You Write Performance Objectives In ACCA?
While writing ACCA Performance Objectives, the goal should be on showcasing competence through genuine workplace experience. Your statement should reflect what you personally did, how you catered the responsibility, what skills you used and what you learned from the experience.
1. Tell a True Story from Your Job – Start with a specific accounting or finance task that you’ve personally performed.
For instance, instead of saying:
“I am responsible for the preparation of financial reports.”
Give an example of when you prepared or reviewed a report, analyzed information, identified an issue and took appropriate action.
2. Describe Your Personal Contribution – The trick is to be clear about what *you* personally did, not what *your team* or *your organization* did.
Add details such as:
- Task handled by you
- Any high priority task completed
- The method used for finishing the task
- The professional or accounting skills you utilized
- Any decision or recommendation that you have made
Phrases such as “I analysed”, “I prepared”, “I reviewed”, “I identified” and “I recommended” can help make clear your individual contribution, as long as they are true.
3. Share the Result and Your Learning – If possible, explain what you do. This can be done by improving the accuracy of reports, solving a problem, supporting a business decision, and making a process more efficient.
Describe what you learned or how you developed your skills from the experience. This shows professional growth, not just a list of what you’ve done.
4. Make the Statement Specific and Targeted – You want to be specific with examples from the workplace . General descriptions of what a job entails are less convincing. Do not say things like:
“I do accounting work and communicate regularly with clients.”
Instead, describe a real situation, what you did, the result, and the skills that you showed.
Nor do you have to address each separate element of the objective mechanically in separate sentences. The goal is to give a clear, connected illustration of the competence in question in a natural way.
A helpful structure is:
Situation → Achievement → Skills used → Result → Lessons learned
This keeps the performance objective relevant to your real ACCA PER experience, evidence-based and focused, along with building practical accounting skills.
8 ACCA Performance Objective Sample Answers
We have mentioned below 8 ACCA Performance Objective sample answers for your reference –
- Financial report – Produced monthly financial reports and checked the figures for accuracy. I looked for odd variances and discussed any differences with my supervisor. This has made my financial reporting and analytical skills better.
- Managerial Accounting – Reviewed budget vs actuals, there were large variances. I talked the reasons over with the team concerned and did a write-up for management. This helped to develop my skills in analyzing financial information.
- Audit & Assurance – During an audit engagement I tested a sample of transactions against invoices and supporting documentation. I realized there was some missing information and I told my senior,” he said. This taught me more about the audit evidence and attention to detail.
- Taxation – I reviewed financial records and supporting documents to assist with the preparation of information for a tax filing. I noticed there was some missing information and checked with my supervisor. This has further increased my knowledge of accuracy and tax compliance.
- Analysis of Finances – I looked at the revenue and expenses and compared the results to prior periods. I researched the major changes and summarized my findings for management. “It taught me financial analysis and communication skills.”
- Risk Management – I have examined a business process to identify potential financial and operational risks. I spoke to my supervisor about the control weaknesses and proposed improvements. This made me understand risk management in action.
- Communication and Collaboration – Worked with colleagues to collect financial data for a project. Where information was not available I contacted relevant teams to confirm requirements. I learned how to work as a team and communicate.
- Brainstorming for solutions – I found a discrepancy in account reconciliation. I looked at the transactions down there. I talked to my supervisor about it and helped straighten out the records. This improved my problem solving and professional judgment.
Can You Get An ACCA Performance Objective Exemption?
Yes, trainees working with some ACCA Approved Employers may be exempt from an ACCA Performance Objective. However, candidates should not assume that by working for an Approved Employer they will automatically be exempt from having to complete the Performance Objectives.
When is the exemption available?
Where the employer has the relevant Trainee Development approval and the trainee’s training arrangement is consistent with the requirements of ACCA, an exemption may be available. Candidates should check with their employer that they are eligible before choosing to take this route.
Standard PER and Exemption
The normal process for the PER is for the trainees to complete their Performance Objectives and to document them through the normal ACCA process using examples from their workplace experience.
Where a trainee is eligible and working under an approved employer arrangement, the employer may be able to confirm achievement through the relevant ACCA process. This provides an alternative approach to demonstrate the required skills rather than ignoring the goals altogether.
Verify Your Eligibility
The status of Approved Employer by itself is insufficient to assume that an exemption applies. Candidates should check the:
- ACCA approval status of their employer
- Type of approval for trainee development
- Whether their individual training arrangement is within the scope
- The current requirements of ACCA for exemption
Candidates are advised to always check their individual circumstances against the most up to date official ACCA PER guidance before claiming an exemption. (Performance Objective Exemption – University of Edinburgh document)
Why Do PER Submissions Get Delayed?
Where a Performance Objective does not provide sufficient evidence of the required competence, it may take longer to submit an ACCA PER. Sometimes an objective needs more explaining, more evidence or revision before it can be approved. Making a plan for your ACCA studies can be more efficient.
- Vague Descriptions – A description that merely says a trainee “prepared reports” or “worked on accounts” may not clearly show competence. Specific examples of explaining the task, actions taken and outcome generally provide stronger evidence.
- Listing Duties, Not Demonstrating Competence – A common pitfall is to just copy duties from a job description. PER statements should focus on how the trainee applies their knowledge and skills and not just on what their role was.
- Not Taking Personal Responsibility – The submission should describe what the trainee did personally. If the statements are largely about what the wider team or organization did then it may be difficult to judge the competence of the individual.
- Records or Approval Incomplete – Delays may also occur where the experience records are incomplete or where the required approval has not yet been given by the required supervisor or authorized person. Update employment and PER records to avoid last minute issues.
- Cutbacks in Delays – Trainees can help the process by deciding early on their objectives and keeping their examples relevant to their employment. Documenting important projects, responsibilities, outcomes and learning as it happens reduces the need to reconstruct evidence later.
Before you submit, ensure each objective has specific evidence from your workplace.
- What did you do?
- What skills you demonstrated?
- What was the result?
- What did you learn?
This can assist you spot any gaps before it gets to the approval stage.
How Can You Get Your Objectives Signed Off By A Supervisor?
Get your ACCA Performance Signed-off objectives means your supervisor has reviewed your experience and confirmed you have demonstrated the skills required in the workplace. It is far easier if you keep your supervisor informed during the time that you are gaining your practical experience, rather than only approaching them when you have to submit your PER.
- Understand Your Supervisor’s Role – Your Performance Objectives are reviewed by your supervisor who determines if the experience you have gained in the workplace shows the required skills and competencies. They should be able to check that the work described in your statement matches what you actually did and what you have experienced.
- Keep Your Boss Informed – Discuss your objectives for your employment with your supervisor and tell them about the work you are using as evidence. Regular discussions can help you to identify appropriate experiences and to fill any gaps early on.
- Be Clear and Accurate – Your statements should be based on work you actually did yourself. List examples of your responsibilities, skills demonstrated and achievements accomplished. This makes it easier for a supervisor to tie your statement to work they’ve witnessed or can reasonably confirm.
- Answer Feedback – A supervisor may ask you to expand, explain your responsibility, or rephrase part of a statement. Use this as an opportunity to grow your evidence. Go through the feedback, fill in the appropriate details from your real experience and resubmit the objective wherever required.
Staying in regular contact with your supervisor and keeping accurate records can help make the sign-off process easier and avoid delays when completing your ACCA PER. The practical experience gained here will also be helpful in developing skills relevant to accounting and finance careers.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACCA PER formance Objectives
What Are The Nine Performance Objectives Of ACCA PER?
ACCA PER has nine Performance Objectives, five Essential and four Technical, which you need to complete as a trainee. The main objectives are related to the professional skills, while the Technical objectives are specific to the trainee’s role and responsibilities.
How Do You Write Performance Objectives In ACCA?
Write Performance Objectives with examples from your actual workplace experience. Instead of listing your job duties, describe what you did, what was your responsibility, what skills you demonstrated, what was the result and what did you learn.