ACCA · Level
Strategic Professional
The ACCA Strategic Professional level develops advanced strategic and professional skills. You'll sit two compulsory exams (SBL and SBR) plus two of four optional papers, demonstrating your ability to operate at a senior level across audit, tax, financial management, and performance management.
How you're assessed
Objective Test
Session-Based Exams
SBL is a 4-hour integrated exam. SBR and optional papers (AAA, AFM, APM, ATX) are 3.15-hour exams. Sat in March, June, September, and December sessions.
60
Questions
90
Minutes
50%
Pass Mark
Subjects in this level
Strategic Business Leader
Strategic Business Leader (SBL) is ACCA's flagship integrated exam, testing leadership, governance, strategy, and professional skills in a case study format. You'll advise a fictional organisation on a range of board-level issues using a pre-released case study.
Key topics
- Strategic analysis and competitive strategy
- Corporate governance and ethics
- Leadership and organisational change
- Risk management and internal controls
- Technology and digital strategy
- Professional skills: communication, analysis, scepticism
Exam details
0
Questions
240
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Advanced Taxation
Advanced Taxation (ATX) builds on TX with complex multi-tax computations, tax planning advice, and ethical considerations. You'll deal with sophisticated scenarios involving inheritance tax, stamp duty land tax, and international taxation — at the level of a senior tax adviser.
Key topics
- Complex income tax and corporation tax planning
- Inheritance tax and estate planning
- Stamp Duty Land Tax and SDLT planning
- International tax: double tax relief, transfer pricing
- Ethical issues in tax planning advice
- Tax administration and HMRC enquiries
Exam details
0
Questions
195
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Strategic Business Reporting
Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) is a compulsory professional-level paper covering advanced financial reporting, IFRS standards, and the preparation and analysis of complex financial statements. It expects you to apply judgement and professional scepticism, not just technical knowledge.
Key topics
- IFRS conceptual framework and professional judgement
- Complex group consolidations and IFRS 10/11/12
- Financial instruments: IFRS 9 and IFRS 7
- Revenue (IFRS 15) and leases (IFRS 16)
- Integrated reporting and sustainability disclosures
- Ethical issues in financial reporting
Exam details
0
Questions
195
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Advanced Financial Management
Advanced Financial Management (AFM) covers complex corporate finance: M&A, treasury management, real options, advanced risk hedging, and international financial management. It's aimed at senior finance professionals advising on major strategic financial decisions.
Key topics
- Advanced investment appraisal: real options and APV
- Mergers and acquisitions: valuation and financing
- Treasury management and multinational finance
- Complex foreign exchange risk management
- Interest rate risk: advanced hedging instruments
- Behavioural finance and decision-making
Exam details
0
Questions
195
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Advanced Performance Management
Advanced Performance Management (APM) develops strategic performance measurement at an organisational level: designing control systems, evaluating performance across divisions, applying advanced frameworks, and considering environmental and social performance.
Key topics
- Strategic performance management systems design
- Advanced Balanced Scorecard and performance pyramids
- Divisional and group performance evaluation
- Environmental and social performance measurement
- Behavioural aspects of performance management
- Performance management in not-for-profit sectors
Exam details
0
Questions
195
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Advanced Audit and Assurance
Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) develops expert-level auditing skills: planning complex audits, applying professional scepticism, evaluating quality, and dealing with ethical dilemmas. It's the deepest dive into audit methodology in the ACCA qualification.
Key topics
- Complex group audits and transnational issues
- Professional scepticism and critical assessment
- Audit quality management (ISQM 1)
- Ethical threats and safeguards for auditors
- Assurance and related engagements
- Reporting: modified opinions and emphasis of matter
Exam details
0
Questions
195
Minutes
50%
Pass mark
4
Sessions/yr
March, June, September & December
Where this fits in the qualification
Prerequisites
Completion of all ACCA Applied Skills papers (LW, PM, TX, FR, FM, AA)
On completion
ACCA membership and ACA/CPA equivalency upon completing the practical experience requirement
Frequently asked questions
Which optional papers should I choose at Strategic Professional?
Choose based on your career goals and strengths. If you're in practice or audit: AAA. If you're in corporate finance or treasury: AFM. If you're in management or industry: APM. If you're in tax: ATX. Many students choose the options most aligned with their day job, since you can draw on real experience.
How hard is the ACCA Strategic Business Leader (SBL)?
SBL is uniquely challenging — it's a 4-hour integrated case study testing strategy, leadership, governance, and professional ethics. It's not a technical exam in the traditional sense; it rewards clear thinking, structured communication, and professional judgement. Strong SBL candidates have typically developed these skills through professional experience.
How VIVA teaches Strategic Professional
Step 1
Learn
Grasp the Strategic Professional syllabus fast.
6 subjects. Expert-led video lessons covering every examinable area for SBL, ATX, SBR, AFM, APM, AAA — no filler, nothing that isn't in the exam.
Step 2
Practise
Sit the Strategic Professional exams before you sit them for real.
Exam-realistic mocks replicating official ACCA conditions. Same format, same timing, same pressure — with worked explanations for every answer.
Step 3
Diagnose
Stop revising Strategic Professional topics you already know.
After every mock, VIVA maps your strengths and weaknesses across all Strategic Professional subjects and rebuilds your study path around what actually needs work. Instant AI-enhanced marking with expert oversight — the speed of technology, the judgement of real experts.
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Access options
Strategic Professional access
Full level bundle
- All video lessons and resources for every subject
- Unlimited practice questions and mock exams
- Pass guarantee on eligible subjects
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