student room accounting and finance personal statement

Sample Personal Statement Accounting and Finance

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to several top accounting and finance programs. Variations of this PS got accepted at the University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, and Indiana University. Read this personal statement to understand what a top essay in Accounting and Finance should look like.

Example Personal Statement Accounting and Finance

I have never made popular choices, whether academic or professional. Where high academic achievement irrefutably means pursuing a career in Medicine or STEM, I opted for a career in management. I was free to choose a path for myself, owing to my performance during an extensive pre-induction professional training program. Fortunately, I picked a path that everyone believed was insignificant.

My decision to move to a new city to pursue my path did not receive encouragement. Making my own decisions has given me the freedom to dream and make it a reality. It has strengthened my belief that I am the only one who can bring a difference for myself and those around me. Brazil’s institutions may seem frozen, yet, at the grassroots, Brazil is in perpetual motion with ceaseless creativity. To accelerate this motion, we need to bring better and more affordable solutions; I plan to do that.

Growing up in Brazil, I have constantly questioned why we are still not growing economically despite having abundant resources. I frequently discussed the economic factors affecting us with my father, leading me to work at local NGOs and attend voluntary programs. My interest intensified when I discovered during these experiences that the unequal distribution of resources was a major cause of our economic constriction.

Moreover, our medical, engineering and academic professionals would not work in rural areas due to a lack of facilities, further debilitating the imbalance. It made me realize that we could only reap the benefits of our efforts if there were a proportionate distribution of resources. Realizing how effective mobilization of resources can aid in eradicating social ills, I developed an interest in management. This equipped me with technical knowledge and provided room for opinion building.

Pursuing this path, I joined the leading undergraduate institution in the country. The zeal with which I made this decision led me to graduate summa cum laude. While studying, I taught communication skills to undergraduate business students from rural areas. Meeting these students compelled me to get involved even though I lacked formal teaching training. Through empathy and friendly get-togethers, I was able to help these students conveniently traverse in English. With this experience, I understood that my time and energy had been well spent and that as an agent of change, one does not necessarily need to be exceptional; instead, one requires creativity, patience, and emotional intelligence.

After graduation, I followed through with my goal of facilitating change by joining the banking sector as an accounting and finance trainee. By working in Brazil’s most vital financial sector, I was exposed to diversified experiences, from being as simple as issuing customer chequebooks to designing accounting and credit proposals to the tune of USD 1.2 billion. Furthermore, while working on individual projects, I developed an in-depth understanding of international accounting rules that regulated trade transactions; the learning opportunities were immense.

Two and a half years of experience in the finance sector brought me to work for the country’s central bank. The anxiety that accompanied moving away from home for the first time was overwhelmed by my professional and personal growth. Nine months of extensive training and on-the-job assignments exposed me to interminable learning opportunities. However, my real gain has been in the form of self-improvement and growth that accompanied my first experience living independently. Leaving the protective living that I enjoyed with my family is challenging, but it has developed and strengthened my capabilities of taking and owning my decisions. Above all, knowing that my family is not always around to guide me has instilled in me a greater sense of responsibility.

During the two a half years of experience in accounting and finance, I observed the financial exclusion experienced by some important yet financially constrained sectors of the economy. This exposure motivated me to join the Development Finance Department upon my appointment to the country’s central bank. Moreover, most of the firms operating in any country of the world are either small or medium enterprises. Thus, providing an enabling environment to such enterprises is significant for economic growth and employment generation.

In Brazil also, 90 percent of the enterprises are small and medium-sized, and lack of access to formal sources of finance is a significant impediment to these enterprises’ growth. Therefore, a huge room for improvement is available concerning the development of policy framework and market infrastructure for the financial inclusion of this sector. As a part of the central bank, I have been allowed to intervene in a system that is not effectively performing its role of financial intermediation. Innovation in financial products, development of accounting and risk mitigation strategies are requirements to alleviate this segment’s financial exclusion.

By broadening my exposure and enhancing my knowledge, I aim to equip myself better to address the shortcomings of one of the critical segments of the economy.

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Accounting and Finance Personal Statement (Hoi Lee Yang)

Hoi Lee Yang is currently studying Bsc Accounting and Finance at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, University of Warwick, University of Bristol and Durham University for Accounting and Finance.

As a child, I was enamoured with the same questions that would have plagued any questioning child’s mind. Like any aspiring engineer or doctor or lawyer, I yearned to know more about how the world, in all its intricacy and sophistication, functioned. I savoured my opportunities to learn about the breakthroughs of physics in creating our modern comforts, and relished the study of history: of how every nascent today is inextricably linked to past events. I have been thrilled by the knowledge of anatomy, learning so intently about what I was, and how I functioned. Despite all this, the world appeared insistent in showing me that the true key to understanding its machinations lay not in any of these fields. The surest way to make sense of the world, it seemed, was in a certain field without which all human activity would not function. It manages us, as much as we try to manage it: money.

I am interested in accounting and finance due to its sheer ubiquity. I realise that every economic entity, from the big corporations and governments down to local sundry shops or even households, relies on the management of finances and planning for the best future outcome. Accounting has always been a deep-rooted industry, charting a colourful history from the clay envelopes used for bookkeeping in 5000 BC Mesopotamian temples, to the double-entry ledgers of Medieval Venice. Regardless of what general perception might contend, though, I am convinced the field of accounting is also one of growth and vibrancy. Looking to the recent proliferation of financial technology, or Fintech, I am particularly keen to follow the advances in the field as I make my journey into accounting at university.

March 2017 saw HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, partner up with an online commerce platform, Tradeshift, to offer an online alternative for financing and paperwork. This is part of a broader phenomenon of big finance companies collaborating with Fintech startups not just in the UK, but around the world. On the ground, we see the business world evolve, just as it did when manufacturing first took root in the Industrial Revolution. A KFC outlet in Beijing now accepts payment through facial recognition, and the Singapore government is working on a standardised QR code system for all monetary transactions. Bitcoin, despite price volatility and initial hostility from banks had, by the end of August 2017, octupled its market value in a year, pointing to its increasing use as a medium of transaction. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Litecoin also follow suit. At university, I am eager to refine my knowledge of the current framework of finance, and alongside a group of equally-curious peers, enrich myself with a better understanding of how the status quo will adapt to these technological advances.

I am drawn to accounting and finance due to the promise of challenge, not only arithmetically but also in tackling complex problems. A-Levels also marked my first exposure to the world of Economics, allowing me to enrich my understanding of accounting with a background context in how the business world worked. The course compelled me to pick up books such as Daron Acemoglu’s ‘Why Nations Fail’, which intrigued me with the idea that governments must strive to maintain inclusive economic activity that incentivises every party to work hard. The copious examples of failed civilisations which could not ensure a reward for parties to take risks and adopt new technologies had also sparked my interest in management, realising how similar the running of businesses are to that of entire civilisations.

I feel I am a dynamic, curious and highly-motivated student who is very excited about the prospect of studying Accounting & Finance at a first class university in the UK. I eagerly look forward to the challenges I will face on an academically rigorous and complex course. And hopefully by the end of my degree, the machinations of the world will be a little less elusive.

DISCLAIMER:  The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements.  COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND .  UCAS employs a plagiarism check system  that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please  DO NOT PLAGIARISE.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Accounting and Finance Personal Statement

Submitted by Alex

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Get the skills needed for an engaging and successful career

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Accounting and Finance Personal Statement

Accounting is a necessary activity within everyday life, without which businesses would not be able to function. Management Accounting is the core operation of any successful enterprise. My interest began when I started a business at the age of fifteen buying and selling goods at a profit. I learnt to manage my profit by investing in goods with high customer interest and low costs. This made me realise the importance of money in society and promoted my desire to explore this subject further at university.

Mathematics has always been my strongest and favourite subject during my academic life and I believe my well-developed numeracy skills will help me advance in this course. By also studying Chemistry at A-level, I have developed my analytical and critical skills. I was able to put these skills to the test by participating in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Challenge three times and I look forward to tackling even more demanding challenges during the degree course. Economics A-level has allowed me to expand my knowledge on the basics of the economy and the high demands of consumers. I have independently developed a clearer understanding of the world of finance ; reading 'The Money Machine' expanded my perspective of the financial system in the City, making me aware of the importance of interest rates to a business and the influence on revenue.

I gained valuable insights into the world of finance by completing my work experience at accounting firms within the North West, where I was asked to complete annual reports for local businesses to assess their profits. During work experience at SL Accountancy Solutions I was surrounded by colleagues who spoke Mandarin to their clients. I found I was able to adapt to a foreign language environment and managed to communicate effectively with Mandarin-speaking clients through phone calls. Working among people who have the same interests as me and listening to their experiences made me even more determined to study Accounting and Finance at University level.

With the increasing interaction of global companies, understanding different cultures and languages is becoming a vitally important aspect of modern business. Through speaking fluent Cantonese and having lived in Hong Kong for 8 years, I can fully appreciate the variety of cultures within an industry and hope to utilise this valuable skill by working in an international corporation in the future. For the past three years I have volunteered at Barnardo's, dedicating several hours a week to helping my local community.

Working part-time as a sales associate at Hollister, alongside my studies, has advanced my abilities to interact with customers in a friendly manner and enabled me to manage my time wisely. I have taken on roles of responsibility in school such as being elected as form captain, which enhanced my organisational skills. Taking part in the Young Enterprise Scheme in the role of financial director allowed me to showcase my numerical and logical skills. I was able to present the accounts of the company and dictate where the costs were allocated. I enjoyed this role as it gave me a sense of control over the business. I worked in a team with fellow students in order to devise a business strategy to sell and advertise our handmade products. When the Managing Director left our group, I felt it was my duty to take charge and organise our company. This shows that I can adapt my role under different circumstances.

I was also selected by teachers as peer mentor for the new Year 7 students, helping them make the transition into secondary school, highlighting my ability to work with people of different ages. Being a fully committed and dedicated student I will persist until my ultimate goal is achieved. I am firmly convinced that my career lies in the field of accounting and finance and by following this degree course I will build a crucial foundation for my future.

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Accounting and finance personal statement example 5.

Since an early age I have had an enthusiasm for learning and knowledge. I find business, finance and economics fascinating and with everything I learn I find I want to know more.

I am currently studying on the second year of a Higher National Diploma in Business and have been elected class spokesperson by both students and lecturers.

Before this I was studying accounting with AAT for 2 years and gained an AS level in accounts alongside.

To be a chartered accountant is still my ambition; however I find the HND has opened my eyes to economics and other finance related subjects.

I find the banking world and the stock market extremely interesting and would relish the chance to be able to speak about it on a more professional level.

It never fails to amaze me how decisions made at the top levels can have effects on such a wide range of people and I would be confident to hold such great responsibility.

I am glad that the HND has broadened my knowledge of an array of subjects including law and marketing, subjects for which I had little previous interest but which I understand the relevance of now.

In my younger years I gained 3 academic scholarships to The Blue Coat School, Edgbaston, The Royal Wolverhampton School and Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls.

I gained a further "Bettinson Scholarship" in my final years at Blue Coat, where I also reached Grade 8 Speaking of Verse and Prose with LAMDA and Grade 5 piano aswell as playing for the school netball and rounders teams.

Unfortunately however, my life hasn't always gone as intended. I was placed in care at the age of 14, a pivotal point in my education, when my mother suffered from mental illness. As an only child with no father, I found myself alone.

They say every cloud has a silver lining and I have found that to be true, this experience only served to make me more independant, mature, and more determined to realise my potential.

Moved from city to city, I have never lost sight of my goals and as a result of my turbulent upbringing, I have developed educational and workplace skills of immeasurable value.

A good strategist, I can work around the most unexpected scenarios while keeping a level head, my time management and organisational skills are of a high standard, my interpersonal and public speaking skills have improved considerably as a result of the HND and I work well within a team or individually.

In my spare time I love to keep fit, often visiting the gym and going for runs. I keep up to date with current affairs, regularly checking the news and reading The Economist.

I have a passion for films and I enjoy a late night read of an Agatha Christie novel.I love social events and also enjoy cooking, I love a challenge and like to try new things so I often hold small dinner parties for friends.

I am a determined individual who never fails to give 100% and I thoroughly believe my attitude and thirst for knowledge would make me an asset to any learning establishment.

It is my opinion that to be successful in academic studies, you must have a genuine passion for the subject, a passion I certainly hold for business and finance studies.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Sarah :) for application in 2009.

Sarah :)'s Comments

I've just sent this one to UCAS, hope it's ok, I know I can't change it now but I would still like to know others' thoughts on it. thanks x x

Related Personal Statements

Please comment and let me.

Wed, 14/01/2009 - 18:18

Please comment and let me know what you think

This is really good! Much

Wed, 14/01/2009 - 22:36

This is really good! Much better than mine - actually, mine's pretty rubbish after reading yours!! Where have you applied?

Thu, 15/01/2009 - 17:12

Really nice Sarah! I m finishing mine now to apply for a course of accounting and finance as well. By the way, I m studying in Aston uni, and your statement is much better than what I did last year to be accepted at Aston uni so I don't think you'll have any problems to get in

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