MBA graduates with little hard core business experience should not believe they can walk into top jobs and operate at a strategic level purely by virtue of their newly acquired qualification. While the qualification certainly has value, particularly when it comes to business education and personal skills development, it does not necessarily provide the keys to the corporate kingdom, and is no substitute for sound experience.

“If you enjoy working with numbers, or are currently working in an accounting related role, but do not have a formal qualification, seriously consider enrolling for a career in accounting,” says Head of ACCA South Africa, Dr Quinton Simpson.