ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Personal effectiveness
A junior accountant is told: 'Improve your month-end close performance.' Which single change would most directly make this objective Specific and Measurable?
Replacing the vague instruction with 'complete the bank reconciliation within two working days of month end' is best, because it identifies the exact task and sets a quantified standard, so achievement can be clearly judged.
- AAdd 'as soon as possible' to the instruction
- BAsk the accountant to try harder during each close
- CReplace it with 'Complete the bank reconciliation within two working days of month end'Correct
- DState that the objective is important to the company
Explanation
Naming the task (bank reconciliation) and a quantified standard (two working days) makes the objective both specific and measurable. 'As soon as possible' and 'try harder' remain vague, and stating importance adds no measure.
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