Interview with Tyrone Joubert
Tyrone Joubert completed his CTA in 2017. He wrote, and passed, SAICA’s ITC in 2018 and is currently preparing for his final exam, SAICA’s APC.
Tyrone worked a full time job during his studies. In this interview we ask him about his life, his journey thus far and whether he has advice for students studying for CTA or SAICA’s ITC.
Where are you currently working and in what position?
I am currently doing my final year of articles at Investec Bank Ltd (Finance/Accounting rotation) in our Asset Management division.
Why do you want to become a CA (SA)?
- First, it is to fulfill a dream I’ve had since high school.
- Second, it was the versatility in terms of career options that the qualification bring those who hold the designation.
- Third, financial prospects and the earning potential as a CA(SA) ranks very high in comparison to other qualifications.
What is your dream job after completing articles?
I would like to take up a role as an Investment Analyst in our Asset Management division and hopefully become a portfolio manager one day.
What were your first thoughts/feelings when you heard you had passed CTA?
I will never forget that Friday night (1 December 2017) as long as I live. I was having a meal at Spur when I checked the CTA Facebook page and people were posting that the results had been released. I lost my appetite instantly, the blood in my body felt like it was running from my head to my feet.
I rushed home, checked my results and saw “Passed” next to each subject. I was so shocked, I could not sleep that night.
What were your first thoughts/feelings when you heard you had passed SAICA’s ITC?
Passing SAICA’s ITC was extra special. When my Training Officer called me and told me I had passed: I just dropped to the floor and cried.
Who says men don’t cry?
Passing the ITC meant that my CTA qualification never expires.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey so far?
CTA is hands-down the toughest part of this journey. Studying part-time makes it 10 times harder.
CTA is a beast but it can be conquered with consistent hard work, dedication and the right support partner (CA Campus was the game-changer in my CTA year).
In what way did CA Campus most assist you with your studies and passing your exams?
Before joining CA Campus I could never pass CTA. It was not for a lack of effort on my part as I always studied hard.
I just could not crack the CTA-code, especially with MAC (I did not have the correct way of thinking or approach to master this subject).
I always thought that MAC is random garbage and passing it requires sheer luck. That changed when I joined CA Campus!
First, the course provides you with great structure: You know what to study each day.
The lectures are very detailed and are based on SAICA’s examinable pronouncements.
CA Campus improved my test marks by 30% – 40% across the board.
I remember one time wondering when I was going to fail a test like I did in the past, because it started to feel like I just could not fail.
MAC became my best and most loved subject.
QUESTIONS ON CTA
What was the most challenging part of your CTA year?
The most challenging part of CTA is managing a full-time job and studies. After a full day’s work you are tired.
Because the CA Campus programme was so stimulating, it pushed me to study.
From time to time I used supplements like Bioplus and Bio-Strath to boost my energy levels.
How did you keep sane during your CTA year?
I studied 3 to 4 hours each night from Monday to Thursday and 14 hours on the weekend. But no matter how hard I studied I always made time to watch an episode of Suits or Billions or I would record the soccer games on Catch-up and watch it Saturday nights.
You have to steal a moment for yourself. I would use my breaks as incentives for a hard day’s work. If I was not productive or wasted time, I would not reward myself with a break.
What is the biggest piece of advice you can give CTA students ?
- CTA is a challenging 10 months out of your life. Before you register for this course you need to have a conversation with yourself on the commitment and dedication you will require to pass this course. Thereafter sit your family, close friends and significant others down and explain to them how your life is going to look over the next 10 months.
- You can only pass CTA with consistent hard work and dedication.
- For me, the structure provided by the CA Campus programme was 50% of the battle won. The other 50% was the effort and dedication I had to bring to the table.
- There are no shortcuts, no silver bullets for this course, just old-fashioned hard work will pull you through.
What did you do in preparation for your CTA exam?
- Sara at CA Campus was my mentor.
- I literally followed the year-end study plan suggested by CA Campus for the final CTA exams.
- Following the CA Campus exam approach was not easy because everyone (not CA Campus students) was bragging about how many questions they were doing each day. At CA Campus, on the other hand, we were instructed to go back and revise the principles for each subject before we could answer questions. First theory, then questions. Sara always told us “don’t spoil a question paper by doing it when you are not adequately prepared.”
- I followed every bit of guidance the lecturers gave us to the “T” as tough as it was. I trusted the CA Campus process because of the marks I had reaped during the tests throughout the year.
- When I walked out of my final exam (which was FAC groups) I honestly had a quiet confidence that I had passed. People asked me how the exams went and I told them it was extremely tough but deep down I had this feeling that I had every chance of passing the exams.
- One final thing: by the time I got to the exams I had no regrets. I could be honest with myself and knew that I had not wasted time during the year and had given it my all. It had been my ultimate goal to be able to say this to myself.
QUESTIONS ON SAICA’S ITC
What did you do in preparation for SAICA’s ITC?
- Because I had a strong theory base from my CA Campus days I focused 95% of my time practicing ITC-type questions under exam conditions.
- I marked myself harshly. I would do corrections by rewriting the solution.
- I had a “Principles Page” for each question I did. The “Principles Page” reminded me of the principles tested in the question and highlighted the ones I had missed.
- I sacrificed my December holidays by simulating the exam days from Monday to Saturday. Sundays were my day of rest.
What is the biggest piece of advice that you can give students who are preparing for SAICA’s ITC?
- Don’t underestimate this exam. It is not a formality to pass it like everyone says in the Level 1 and 2 CTA group on Facebook.
- Because you have a theory base from CTA, practice questions under exam conditions with a clock sitting on your desk.
- By the time I got to the exam, I was fit and mentally prepared for it. My mind and body was ready for anything SAICA could throw at us. .
- I’m not the smartest guy. I usually need to work harder than others. If I can do it, you can!
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