Mentoring a Professional Trainee
As part of the University’s commitment in supporting our staff that are studying for a Professional
Accountancy qualification, as a work place mentor you can make an enormous difference to a
trainee. As part of our Professional Qualification accreditations the University are obliged to
provide trainees with a workplace mentor.
What do mentors do?
Coaches and mentors can play a wide range of roles. Some of the most common are:

Tutor – helping someone to acquire new skills and abilities

Counsellor – listening and helping someone to work out solutions to their problems

Networker – helping someone to develop the connections they need to gain experience, get
a job, etc.

Facilitator – helping someone to set and achieve goals

Critical friend – being honest and providing constructive feedback

Sounding-board – giving someone the chance to try out new ideas and approaches in a safe
environment

Role model – providing an example from which someone else can learn
Each trainee / mentee will have differing requirements; they may require support and guidance in –






Motivation
Technical areas
Exam technique
Study plans
Prioritising
Setting goals and targets
A part of your role in offering support is to keep in contact and make sure that the trainee is on
course to gain their qualification. Help and guidance should also be given to those trainees who
have passed their exams and are completing the necessary experience qualifications.
How to mentor







Listen to your student to understand what they think they need
Evaluate where your student needs help
Plan step by step how to get from current level of understanding to where they want to be
Create a study plan together
Focus on guidance rather than instruction
Enable your student to find their own best method of exam preparation
Think long term: if a student learns now how to approach an exam in a way that works for
them, they can apply it to all future exams. You are empowering them.
Professionalism





It is up to you how much personal information you share with your student
The mentoring relationship is professional, covered by your Accountancy Body code of
ethics
Set your boundaries
Career or personal life is out of scope for help unless you both decide discussing it is
necessary
Be professional, supportive, open, honest, accountable, positive, polite, and a role model.
Practicalities






Stay within your comfort zone
If you have any questions or concerns, contact your training co-ordinator
Mentoring is CPD – plan it, record it, and reflect on it.
As a mentor you will be required to meet with your mentee, a minimum of four times a
year.
These meetings should be scheduled around key dates i.e. start of course, 3 or 4 months
into study, prior to exams and post exam results.
Dates could be set at the beginning of each year but you should discuss what will be most
convenient and beneficial to both of you.
Practical Experience Requirements (PER)
You will need to work with the trainee and their line manager if necessary, to ensure that the
practical experience they require is being recorded and signed off as appropriate when achieved.
ACCA studiers - The responsibility for signing the PER should be that of the trainees line manager,
as the requirements are that it should be someone with whom the trainee works closely, who
knows the type of work they are doing now, and who also knows the quality of their work if their
line manager is not qualified then this should be countersigned by the mentor. For further
guidance http://www.accaglobal.co.uk/en/student/acca-qual-student-journey/experienceemployment.html
CIMA studiers – PER needs to be signed by two signatories on who have experience of their work
and are in a senior position, therefore this is unlikely to be their mentor. For further guidance
http://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/ImportedDocuments/2309_brochure_web.pdf
AAT studiers - The referee should be the line manager of the trainee, for further guidance on
obtaining full membership https://www.aat.org.uk/membership/apply-for-aat-full-membership
For further information please contact your training co-ordinator