When the ACCA results were released this session, one name stood out.

IBTC student, Lileya Hanauer achieved the highest mark in South Africa for the Performance Management (PM) paper.

We caught up with her to find out how she approached one of ACCA’s trickiest subjects, what helped her stay motivated, and what she did when she really didn’t feel like studying.

 

Congratulations on your achievement! How did you feel when you found out you were the top-performing student in South Africa for PM?

It was a shock to say the least, I didn't believe it at first. I emailed you guys to confirm that it was, in fact, real and that no one was trying to ‘punk’ me. After that, it still took a few minutes to sink in.

Today, I'm just feeling really proud and realising that it is quite the achievement.

 

Why did you choose to study ACCA, and how has the journey been so far?

When I finished my studies, I always knew I'd want to continue studying, but I was never going into auditing, and that seemed to be the focus of the degree I chose. I met my now-boss who had studied ACCA, and she introduced me to it.

After that, it was a no-brainer for me, I signed up because it was exactly what I was looking to do. It took a while to get into studying again, especially while working full-time, but I can honestly say I'm so happy that I'm on this journey.

 

PM is known to be a challenging paper. What was your study approach?

In all honesty, my study approach is to take the textbook chapter by chapter and rewrite most of it into my own summarised version. After each chapter, I like to do the practice questions. Once I've got through everything, I go through the entire textbook again with a variety of highlighters, marking what now seems important.

Then more question practice and past papers! For PM, focusing on how they wanted the answers structured seemed important, so that's what I tried to take note of.

 

You also did Tax with us. How did that experience compare?

I chose Tax as my first exam because it's what I do daily as a tax accountant, and I wanted to ease myself into studying again.

The experience overall was amazing. For that paper, I did attend quite a few study sessions, and the support I received from the IBTC WhatsApp group chats was awesome. It was an easy way to get feedback when I was feeling unsure.

 

What advice would you give to other students preparing for PM?

Do the past papers and make sure you understand how to interpret the scenario, as well as what you are calculating. Remember that calculations are only going to take you so far.

Being able to understand why you used something in a calculation is key.

 

What was the most challenging part of the PM exam - and how did you tackle it?

Not knowing what the discursive questions would be on was challenging. There were so many topics that they could have gone with, and knowing how much to focus on theory vs calculations made it tricky.

That is why it’s so important to understand why you are calculating something, instead of just memorising formulas.

 

What stood out to you about studying with IBTC?

The speed at which they sent my books right to my door, and the quality of the study materials and video recordings.

I also enjoyed the little tutor study sessions, which helped me get answers to the questions I was stuck on, as well as showing me how to approach the modules.

And the check-ins from the team to make sure that I was still on track.

 

In your peak procrastination moment - what were you doing instead of studying?

Procrastination was real. Having to study after working 8–5 was not easy, and I may have taken one or two evenings to just go to bed super early and ignore the textbooks sitting on top of my desk. That, and the urge to not be at home, meant that I would use any excuse to get out, even just to go to the shops.

 

Do you have any study superstitions? A lucky pen, a ritual playlist, or sitting in the same seat?

I'm not sure if it's superstition or just to calm my anxiety, but I have to take two calculators into my exam. I also need to use the same pen I used while studying for my rough calculations in the exam. Pre-exam, I was blasting one of my favourite songs and singing at the top of my lungs to get rid of those butterflies.

 

Lileya’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about perfection, it’s about consistency, understanding, and the courage to keep going even when it’s tough. We’re incredibly proud to have been part of her journey, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves next. 

If you’re preparing for your next exam, take a page from Lileya’s book: trust the process, put in the work, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way.

 

Lileya Hanauer, ACCA Performance Management (PM) Top Achiever