Going for gold

AAT student, Lungile Mawonga, blogs on his experiences of studying AAT in South Africa

I work in the head office for AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Pty – a leading global gold producing company operating in 11 countries, with more than 65,000 employees.

I have been with AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Pty for five and a half years. I joined when I was 23 as an Accounts Assistant and since then I’ve moved departments and now work in the procurement and purchasing department as a Commercial Purchasing Officer.

I work in a team of 17 people and I’m directly responsible for purchasing crucial gold mining equipment and machinery. My day-to-day work varies and I could be doing anything from working up quotations and placing orders to buying new products.

AAT is widely recognised in South Africa so in 2005, when my employer asked if I’d like to do the AAT accounting qualification, I jumped at the chance for sponsorship. I immediately knew how much AAT would help me further my career development and how useful it would be in my day-to-day working life. Funnily enough I’d considered coming to the UK to do AAT, so it was a dream come true when I was offered the chance to do the qualification in my hometown.

I’m currently studying Level 4 and I would be lying if I said I found it easy. Studying and working is demanding – especially as I’m now working on my Unit 10 project. After work, I usually cram in two to three hours of study every night. I’m also self-financing this part of the qualification.

I’m the only employee at AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Pty training with AAT and therefore I enjoy the comradeship of other AAT students online – the website is an invaluable tool for me. I use the MyAAT section all the time and especially find past exam papers and the online student forums very useful. I also get in to the classroom two or three days a month.

Sometimes it’s hard to keep motivated and currently I don’t have much time for my hobbies or hanging out with my friends. However, I’m happy to make a few small sacrifices to reach my end goal.

I have a target in my head for the completion of my AAT qualification by December this year. The studying won’t end there though as it’s my dream to continue on and to get chartered status. I’m so excited by the prospect of joining the AAT international family as a qualified member.

AAT carries a strong level of prestige and professionalism that is recognised everywhere. I feel proud that I’m the lucky employee at AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Pty to be given this opportunity and I’m immensely proud that I’m almost there.

Lungile Mawonga is an AAT student.