Rather than seeing advocacy as work, ACCA Advocacy Awards 2024 winner Arju Bagale views it as her passion.
‘ACCA hasn’t just given me a career; it has shaped my entire professional identity,’ says the academic director and accountancy tutor at Seekshya Academy of Chartered Certified Accountancy in Kathmandu, Nepal. ‘It’s helped me transition from a finance professional to an educator, content creator and industry advocate. The doors it has opened are beyond what I had initially envisioned, and for that I will always be grateful.’
‘That early connection made me see finance as something I truly loved’
Sharing knowledge
This has led her to want to share knowledge about ACCA, and not just with aspiring students but with affiliates, members and the broader finance community. ‘My motivation is simple: I want everyone to have access to complete and accurate information about ACCA,’ she says. ‘If we can help others make informed decisions, why not start from within our own community?’
Like many ACCA members, Bagale aspired to a different career path when she was young – in her case, medicine – before finding her way to the world of numbers, problem-solving and general interest in business and finance. Choosing accounting as an option in secondary school played a key role in shaping her career.
‘I found myself genuinely enjoying accounting, fascinated by how financial systems work and how businesses rely on strong financial management to succeed. That early connection made me see finance not just as a subject but as something I truly loved,’ she recalls.
Beyond the numbers
Also in common with many people, she initially had a skewed idea of what it was to work in finance. ‘I thought it was just numbers, but it’s way more dynamic – it’s about strategy, impact, and shaping the future of businesses and economies. I love that it offers endless opportunities to grow, adapt and make a real difference. Choosing finance wasn’t my original plan, but it became my passion, and I’m grateful for the path I found.’
‘Challenges became valuable lessons that guided my journey’
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, however. Despite having gained ACCA membership and with several years of experience under her belt, navigating Nepal’s job market still proved challenging as she sought to progress her career. She ended up taking a short career gap, which in hindsight was exactly what she needed.
‘That period helped me understand where my passion lies and how I wanted to shape my career moving forward,’ she explains. ‘Eventually, I found my direction, and those challenges became valuable lessons that guided my journey.’
Passionate teacher
Bagale is a passionate teacher, as well as an outsourcing finance professional and ACCA advocate. ‘Teaching is amazing; I love it. I’m a tutor first, advocate second,’ she says.
During her own ACCA journey, she felt deprived of valuable insights simply because the right guidance wasn’t available to her – something that has also shaped her journey and desire to work with students.
‘I became determined to ensure that future students don’t face the same struggles’
‘I became determined to ensure that future students don’t face the same struggles. If any ACCA student is unsure about anything, I want to be there to guide them, so they don’t have to figure everything out the hard way like I did,’ Bagale says.
Disciplined and resilient
‘My ACCA journey was both challenging and rewarding. Managing studies, internship and work at the same time was tough, but it shaped me into a more disciplined and resilient professional. Today, as a proud ACCA member, I can say that every challenge was worth it, and I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.’
Bagale has connected with students from around 80-90 colleges in the past two years, helping secondary-level students understand ACCA’s scope, structure, costs and benefits. ‘I believe that if someone had properly guided me in the beginning, my journey would have been much easier. That’s why I try to provide as much information as possible, to help students make informed decisions about their future,’ she says.
‘Honestly, I don’t have any grand dreams or expectations from this work. My only goal is that if any student is stuck with something related to ACCA, they should feel comfortable reaching out to me. I just want to be accessible to those who need support in their ACCA journey.’
Become an advocate
Every day, ACCA members can act as advocates – for the accountancy profession in general and for ACCA-qualified accountants in particular.
Entering awards is just one advocacy route. Showing public support can take various forms – speaking at conferences or at school career fairs, forwarding information to colleagues or clients, sharing a post on social media.
Find out more about the benefits of becoming an advocate, and additional resources.
