The path from local to global: a decision that shaped my life

I am Supratim Das Gupta, and I’d like to share my life story about how I became a Global Accountant in the UK. My journey begins as a small-town boy from a modest city in Assam, India, where I grew up and completed my undergraduate education in accounting. Since adolescence, I had dreamed of becoming a finance professional and spreading awareness about financial education. I began my career working at a small college in my hometown, supporting students pursuing studies in finance.

My accounting journey began in 2019 when I landed an opportunity at an Ed-Tech startup in India. As an accounting graduate, I acquired hands-on experience across multiple sectors—from Big 4s like Deloitte to local firms and startups. In 2023, I felt it was time to step up the ladder and pursue a professional qualification like ACCA to grow globally. That’s when I discovered the MSc Professional Accountancy (MPA) programme—candidly, this programme opened new doors for me.

The MPA gave me the direction for my career goals—it was the perfect platform to become a professionally qualified accountant. Its academic depth and practical training forged new career paths that supported me through the pivotal stages of my ACCA journey, earning me 9 exemptions. After completing the programme, I was offered a role as an Accounts Trainee at Aston Pearl Accountants in Croydon, and I’m currently working through my ACCA professional-level papers.

The programme helped me build a strong foundation in IFRS, auditing standards, and UK taxation—driving clarity and professional expertise, two things that are critical in this profession. Learning SAGE cloud accounting was the icing on the cake, opening new doors in an AI-driven world.

Looking back, joining the MPA was the best decision I made. The course is not easy, but the incredible support from faculty and mentors made me thrive. I’m especially grateful to Dr Gizella Marton—her guidance has been incredible for my professional development. Dr Justin and Dr Lee’s classes made me fall in love with taxation.

If you’re someone ready to take the next big step in your accounting career, I truly believe the MPA is the right path. Like Robert Frost said, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood… I took the one less travelled, and that has made all the difference.”