Salman Faiz

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is one of the world's most recognised professional accounting qualifications, with over 257,900 members and 530,100 students across 180+ countries. In Sri Lanka, ACCA is highly valued by multinational corporations, audit firms (including the Big Four), banks, and the public sector. The qualification covers financial accounting, audit, tax, financial management, and strategic business reporting, skills that are in high demand as Sri Lanka's economy grows and internationalises.

For Sri Lankan students, ACCA is absolutely worth pursuing. It provides a globally portable qualification that opens career doors not just locally but in the UK, UAE, Australia, Singapore, and beyond. ACCA-qualified professionals in Sri Lanka earn significantly above average salaries, with fully qualified members earning LKR 130,000-250,000+ per month early in their careers. At Lockbird Education, Salman Faiz provides expert ACCA tuition that maximises your chances of passing on the first attempt.

ACCA typically takes 2 to 4 years to complete, depending on your study pace, prior exemptions, and whether you're studying full-time or part-time alongside work. The qualification comprises 13 exams across three levels: Applied Knowledge (3 papers), Applied Skills (6 papers), and Strategic Professional (4 papers), plus an Ethics and Professional Skills module. You also need 36 months of relevant practical experience, which can be gained while studying.

Students with A/L Commerce qualifications or relevant degrees may receive exemptions from the Applied Knowledge papers, potentially reducing completion time by 6-12 months. ACCA exams are offered four times a year (March, June, September, December), and the Applied Knowledge papers can be taken on demand as computer-based exams. At Lockbird Education, Salman Faiz helps students create efficient study plans that align with their personal goals and timelines, ensuring steady progress without burnout.

Choosing the right ACCA institute is one of the most important decisions in your professional qualification journey. The best ACCA institutes in Sri Lanka share several key characteristics: lecturers with genuine professional qualifications and real-world corporate experience, small class sizes that allow personalised attention, structured exam preparation with regular mock exams, and a proven track record of student success.

Lockbird Education in Colombo 04 exemplifies these qualities. Founded by Salman Faiz, an ACCA Sri Lanka Prize Winner with ACMA, CGMA, and MBA (Distinction) credentials plus 13+ years of lecturing experience, Lockbird offers expert-led ACCA tuition with genuinely small classes, personalised feedback on practice answers, and one-to-one guidance. Unlike large institutes where students can feel anonymous, Lockbird ensures every student receives the attention they need to succeed.

After receiving your A/L Commerce results in Sri Lanka, you have several pathways: pursuing a professional qualification like ACCA, entering university, or combining both. For students aiming for careers in finance, accounting, audit, or management, starting ACCA immediately after A/Ls is often the strongest choice. A/L Commerce students can register for ACCA right away and begin their journey from the Applied Knowledge level.

Unlike traditional university degrees that can take 3 to 4 years with limited practical focus, ACCA offers a globally recognised qualification with direct career relevance from day one. Many employers value ACCA progression even before completion. Salman Faiz, who regularly appears on Sri Lankan television guiding A/L students on career pathways, recommends that Commerce students seriously consider ACCA as their primary qualification. At Lockbird Education, he offers free initial consultations to help students map out their optimal career pathway.

ACCA costs in Sri Lanka consist of two components: fees paid directly to ACCA Global (in GBP) and local tuition fees paid to your chosen institute. The total ACCA Global fee across all 13 exams, including registration, annual subscriptions, and exam fees, comes to around GBP 2,000 to 2,200. Booking exams early and progressing steadily can help keep costs at the lower end.

Local tuition fees at ACCA institutes in Sri Lanka typically range from LKR 20,000 to 25,000 per paper, depending on the institute, teaching quality, and level of the paper. Strategic Professional papers generally cost more due to their complexity. Lockbird Education offers competitive fees with flexible payment options, making quality ACCA education accessible. Contact Lockbird at 077 00 699 70 or email registrations@lockbirdeducation.com for current fee details and payment plans.

Yes, ACCA is specifically designed to be flexible and compatible with full-time employment. Many ACCA students in Sri Lanka successfully study while working, and the exam structure supports this, with four exam windows per year, you can choose how many papers to attempt per session based on your workload. Most working professionals attempt 1 to 2 papers per session. The ACCA also requires 36 months of relevant practical experience, which can be completed concurrently if you're already in a finance or accounting role.

Lockbird Education offers weekend and evening classes specifically designed for working professionals, ensuring you don't have to choose between career and qualification. Salman Faiz, who himself balanced completing advanced qualifications while serving as a Senior Manager at Hemas Holdings PLC, genuinely understands the challenges of studying while working. His structured study plans and focused teaching approach are designed to maximise learning efficiency for busy professionals.

Absolutely yes. While ACCA exams are conducted in English, many successful ACCA members in Sri Lanka studied in Sinhala medium at school. The transition requires effort, but it is very achievable with the right support. The key is choosing an ACCA institute that provides clear, accessible teaching that helps you build English language confidence alongside accounting knowledge, rather than assuming all students come from English-medium backgrounds.

At Lockbird Education, Salman Faiz and the teaching team use clear, structured teaching methods with real-world examples that help students from all educational backgrounds grasp complex accounting and finance concepts. The Applied Knowledge level papers are an ideal starting point; they build both technical skills and English fluency gradually. Many of Sri Lanka's most successful ACCA members started from Sinhala medium backgrounds, and with determination and quality guidance, language should not be a barrier to your professional aspirations.

There are no ACCA exemptions available for students who have only completed A/L Commerce in Sri Lanka. A/L Commerce results alone do not qualify for any paper exemptions under ACCA's current exemption policy. All A/L students will need to start from the Applied Knowledge level and work through all 13 papers.

However, exemptions are available for students who hold other qualifications. AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) holders, CIMA part-qualified or qualified members, and students with recognised university degrees in accounting, business, or related fields can receive exemptions at the Applied Knowledge and sometimes Applied Skills level. Conditions apply and exemptions are assessed by ACCA Global on a case-by-case basis. Contact Lockbird Education for a free exemption assessment. Salman Faiz and the team can review your qualifications and provide a personalised study plan.

Registering for ACCA in Sri Lanka is straightforward. Visit the ACCA Global website (accaglobal.com) and complete the online registration process. You will need your educational certificates (A/L results transcript or university degree), a valid National Identity Card (NIC) or passport, and the initial registration fee of approximately £89.

After registration, you'll receive access to your myACCA portal where you can book exams, track your progress, and access learning resources. While ACCA registration is done directly with ACCA Global, choosing a quality tuition provider is equally important for your success. Lockbird Education in Colombo 04 can guide you through the entire registration process, help you identify applicable exemptions, and plan your exam schedule for optimal progress. Call 077 00 699 70 for step-by-step registration support.

The ACCA Applied Knowledge level (formerly Knowledge level) consists of three foundational papers that build the essential skills needed for advanced study. Business and Technology (BT) covers business organisation, stakeholder management, information technology systems, and corporate governance. Management Accounting (MA) covers cost accounting techniques, budgeting, standard costing, and short-term decision-making. Financial Accounting (FA) covers double-entry bookkeeping, the preparation of basic financial statements, and the application of international accounting standards.

These papers are examined as computer-based exams (CBEs) available on demand at ACCA-approved centres throughout the year, giving you flexibility in scheduling. At Lockbird Education, Salman Faiz emphasises building exceptionally strong foundations at this level, as the concepts introduced in Applied Knowledge papers underpin everything in the Applied Skills and Strategic Professional levels. A solid grasp of FA and MA, in particular, is critical for later success in FR, PM, FM, and the Strategic papers.

Passing ACCA exams on the first attempt requires a disciplined, structured approach. Start studying at least 8 to 12 weeks before the exam date. Follow the official ACCA syllabus systematically; do not skip topics. Practice past papers under timed exam conditions, as time management is often the difference between pass and fail. Focus on understanding concepts and their application rather than rote memorisation, because ACCA exams increasingly test your ability to apply knowledge to realistic scenarios.

For Strategic Professional papers (SBL, SBR, AFM, APM), practise writing structured, well-organised answers with clear headings, professional recommendations, and proper time allocation across question parts. At Lockbird Education, Salman Faiz, himself a Sri Lanka Prize Winner in two ACCA subjects, shares the exact exam techniques that earned him the highest marks in the country. His approach includes personalised feedback on practice answers, structured revision schedules, regular mock exams, and one-to-one sessions for students who need additional support.

ACCA opens an exceptionally wide range of career opportunities in Sri Lanka. Common career paths include: Financial Analyst, Audit Manager, Tax Consultant, Management Accountant, Finance Manager, Financial Controller, CFO, and Risk & Compliance Manager. ACCA members work across audit firms (including the Big Four: PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG), multinational corporations, commercial banks, insurance companies, the public sector, and in entrepreneurial ventures.

The demand for ACCA-qualified professionals continues to grow in Sri Lanka as businesses expand internationally and regulatory requirements become more complex. With ACCA, you're also not limited to Sri Lanka; the qualification is recognised in the UK, UAE, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and 180+ countries worldwide. Salman Faiz, who leveraged his own qualifications to build a senior management career at Hemas Holdings PLC while simultaneously teaching at multiple prestigious institutions, exemplifies the diverse career possibilities that ACCA enables.

Yes, international career mobility is one of ACCA's strongest advantages. ACCA is recognised in over 180 countries, and thousands of Sri Lankan ACCA members work successfully in the UK, UAE, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong, and across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. ACCA has mutual recognition agreements with accounting bodies in many countries, making it easier to work internationally compared to purely local qualifications.

The UK and UAE are particularly popular destinations for Sri Lankan ACCA professionals, with salaries often 3 to 5 times higher than local rates. ACCA's global member network also provides valuable networking opportunities in any country you choose to work in. Salman Faiz, who completed his MBA at the University of West London (UK) and has conducted international CIMA training in Bengaluru (India), brings a global perspective to his teaching at Lockbird Education. He prepares students not just for local careers but for the global finance profession.

Lockbird Education stands apart through several key differentiators that directly impact student success. First, it is led by Salman Faiz, an ACCA Sri Lanka Prize Winner with dual ACCA and CIMA qualifications (ACMA, CGMA), an MBA (Distinction) from the University of West London, and 13+ years of active lecturing experience across 9+ programmes. Very few ACCA lecturers in Sri Lanka can match this breadth of credentials.

Second, Salman brings ongoing real-world corporate experience from his role at Hemas Holdings PLC, a CSE-listed blue-chip conglomerate, ensuring students learn practical application rather than just theory. Third, Lockbird maintains deliberately small class sizes for personalised attention, including one-to-one sessions and individualised feedback on practice answers. Fourth, the institute offers structured exam preparation with weekly study plans, regular mock exams, and revision support specifically designed to beat the challenging Strategic Professional pass rates (as low as 38 to 41% globally).

Salman Faiz is widely recognised as one of Sri Lanka's leading ACCA and CIMA educators. His qualifications include: ACMA and CGMA designations from CIMA, ACCA Affiliate status with the distinction of being a Sri Lanka Prize Winner in two ACCA subjects (the highest marks in the country), a BBA (First Class Honours) from the University of Colombo, and an MBA (Distinction) from the University of West London, UK. This combination of dual professional qualifications and strong academic credentials is exceptionally rare among accounting educators.

Beyond qualifications, Salman brings 13+ years of active lecturing experience across institutions including ICASL, the University of London, Staffordshire University, the University of Colombo, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He has also conducted international CIMA training in India. Combined with his active corporate career as a Senior Manager at Hemas Holdings PLC, Salman offers students a uniquely comprehensive learning experience that bridges academic theory and real-world business practice. He is the Founder and CEO of Lockbird Education in Colombo.

Lockbird Education understands that pursuing ACCA is a significant financial investment, and the institute is committed to making quality ACCA education accessible to deserving students. Flexible payment options are available to help spread the cost of tuition across manageable instalments. Lockbird also periodically offers early-bird discounts and promotional pricing for students who register for multiple paper packages.

For the most current information on tuition fees, available payment plans, and any scholarship or discount programmes, contact Lockbird Education directly at 077 00 699 70 or email registrations@lockbirdeducation.com. You can also visit the Lockbird Education website for the latest information. The team will be happy to discuss options that work within your budget.