Ammar Dawoodi – How I Scored My First Accounting Job!

Dive: Professional - Accountant
Description: Works as an accountant or bookkeeper
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Has an associates in accounting or bookkeeping OR has worked for 1 year directly in the field as an accountant/bookkeeper
Certified On: Jun 27, 2020

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Ammar Dawoodi Break Diving Level: Recruit Number of Certified Dives: 1 From: India In: India

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

My father is a businessman. He (and our community) always motivated me to be a businessman and not to just ‘get a job’. Also, the name of our family business is Dawoodi Bhora (where Dawoodi is the family name, and Bhora in the Gujarati language means “Business”) and when I was very young I used to help my father in running his business and this motivated me to pursue this Dive.

Also I was very weak in studies up to 10th Grade because I used to take interest in business and not in studies, but then when I chose commerce and found subjects which were all about business and accounting, it made me a brilliant student and suddenly I started to get high rank in classes.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

From my childhood only I wanted to be a businessman or an accounting professional but I never had an idea whether I could become one in the future. The life changing part came when my 10th grade summer vacation was over and I had to choose which field I was to pursue: science or commerce. I chose science. But my father applied to the school of commerce for me without asking me and I felt “I will not be able to do what I wanted”, but my father knew where I belonged and I started getting to know that this in fact was my dream. I then started looking to become the best in the profession, and I wanted to accomplish two dreams in one shot, which was to be a professional accountant and also a businessman. I found a chartered accountant professional course, and that’s how I got my true start. However, in reality, it took almost 12 years (from childhood) to get to where I am now (a successful accountant).

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

There were only difficulties at the beginning. Before I started my internship, I had to pass at least one group of Chartered Accountant Level 2 exams. I finally passed in 2018 and I was able to start my internship. I still have 1 year and 4 months to complete my internship of 3 years.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

According to me, there was no easy part to achieving this particular dive, but something I’ll say this: go with your gut. Something I have in my genes makes me feel that I belong to this profession, and as such, it was easy for me to decide to pursue this dive. Also, all my family member since the ages are business focused, and I would not be wrong to say that business and finance is in our family blood! But genes from heritage will not make me successful—I had to work hard to understand more about accounting, finance, and businesses to get the expertise in all the area related to business, finance, economics, and accounting that I have today.

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

I would like to start answering with this line: “Accounting is the language of business.” And you need to really learn this language.

This line I learned from a website named ‘coursera’ (link given below for your reference) which I found when I was in 11th Grade. At that time they were in the beta version, but now they are doing great and you can learn things free of cost at any particular time for any particular course. And if you are willing to continue, then you can choose to purchase the course. You get a certificate as well and the fees are very nominal — most people can afford them.

There is also another website ‘edx’ which gives you all learning free and they only charge for certification if you need it. I have learned a lot from this website alone, but for the last 2 years, I didn’t use it due to time constraints. However, I am glad to say that last month, thanks to some advice for fellow Break Divers, I again started using this website again, and I learned so many things.

So my first advice is this: keep studying. You can never stop. Or if you do, like I did, start again. Many people don’t seem to value accountants because they think the accountant job is very simple. “He just has to enter bills in software.” But I would say that it’s not at all simple, and you shouldn’t look at it that way either: one accountant has to have knowledge of innumerable laws and regulations, including international laws. Moreover, the accounting and finance industry is changing. Technology is constantly evolving and new business models are constantly being developed: there are always more skills to learn in this field.

Also, there are things I think every accountant should know:

He should have knowledge of Accounting Standards, both international and inland, if any. (Kindly note that very few countries have their own Accounting Standards. For example, the USA, India and the UK all use IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).

He should be good at explaining complicated accounting terminologies in a common way because many people don’t understand accounting terminologies.

He should have good communication skills which I am very bad at and now improving in that area with the help of Break Diving.

Time management and problem solving skills are most important of all.

All of these skills together make a great accountant. Also, many times an accountant has a time limit from management for some reporting he has to do, and so he also has to solve problems and be able to complete them in a particular time frame.

One more thing I would say is nowadays the accountant job is far different then it was before and more competitive organizations are hiring accountants if they can add some competitive advantage to their business through their skills and experience. So be sure to bring some competitive advantage.

Finally, one should have good knowledge of many different accounting software systems like Tally Solution, Quickbooks, Zero, etc.

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

The below three websites will help you gain extra skills in the accounting field. Those even without a finance background can also learn new things and understand accounting easily.

Resource 1: Break Diving - Join for all the support you'll receive.

Resource 2: EdX - Excellent classes.

Resource 3: Coursera - More excellent online classes.

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

There are so many adventures I’ve had while pursuing this dive. One of them is when I was trying to find a job (internship).

I was sending emails to accounting and auditing firms and I also went in person to accounting and auditing firms. For instance, asking whether there was a vacancy available.

In total, I got 5 interviews, and the first one was my first interview of my life. I was very nervous about that and I went to that interview and when the lady was interviewing me, she asked many questions, but I was only able to answer a few of them. She told me she would call me back.

Then I went to another 4 interviews that went quite well. I got selected for all 4. I had to choose one of out of all 4, so applying the process of elimination, I rejected 3 and left 1. I went to work, but I immediately didn’t like the office environment. So that evening, I left that job, and later that same day, I got a call from the first office. To join them! I was so happy to get this offer from them since I had a feeling that they were best for me.

I accepted that offer and they asked me to join them a week later. The following week, I went to the office and I loved it. The environment and people over there were perfect. I don’t regret leaving the other one at all.

Do you know why I got the job? Because I am Gujarati and they wanted those special skills that I possess! I brought a competitive advantage.

So yes, I quit a job after the first day, but I am glad. I knew the environment wasn’t right. And I ended up finding my perfect job and environment!

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes I will be pursuing the next level for this dive because in 4 months, I will be completing my 2 years of work experience which is the requirement for the next level: “Has a bachelors, and MBA in finance, or has worked for 2 years in the field.”

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No Rules. No Excuses. No Regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Ammar Dawoodi is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Professional - Accountant - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 48

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

Read More Stories on the WYSEguidance Homepage