Name: Ruth Garnham
Job Title: Associate
Company: JP Morgan

When I graduated I knew I wanted a professional education. After three years you are so much further along in your career than your peers. Working and studying is hard work so it's important to have flexibility. That's why I chose ACCA. When I knew I was busy with work I could choose how many exams to sit and take some of the pressure off. There is also the flexibility to choose how you want your career to go. I wasn't tied into a contract with one firm. I started out in an accountancy firm but I always knew that I wanted to go into investment banking and ACCA gives you the freedom to take control of your career.

I believe that ACCA has the edge over qualifications because it covers all disciplines. Even though there are elements of the qualification that I don't use on a day-to-day basis, having that knowledge means that I have a firm grounding in all elements of accounting. When I switched from a practice firm to an investment bank that grounding meant that I still knew what I was doing and I was still in a position to specialise in the areas that were the most relevant to me.