Jamaican Accountant Ashia Thompson Turns 14 CSECs and 21 CPA Setbacks Into Dubai Success

Ashia Thompson, a 28-year-old Jamaican woman from St Elizabeth has carved out a professional career in Dubai after overcoming repeated setbacks on her path to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Thompson, now based in the United Arab Emirates, is working as a CPA and runs her own business following years of study, work and persistence.

Thompson attended May Day High School, where she sat 14 CSEC subjects, an achievement that helped her secure a scholarship to Monroe College in New York. She later earned a second scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in taxation at Pace University, continuing her academic progression in the United States.

After completing her postgraduate studies, Thompson received two full-time job offers from established firms. She said work demanded long hours, often exceeding 80 hours per week, while she simultaneously prepared for the CPA examinations. During that period, she studied while working seven days a week, sometimes sleeping for only two to three hours a night.

Thompson disclosed that she failed the CPA examination 21 times before eventually passing. She explained that exhaustion often followed her into the examination room, but she remained determined to qualify after being turned away by high-value clients due to the lack of CPA accreditation.

According to Thompson, those same clients later sought her services once she became certified. She said the qualification changed how her work was received and opened doors that had previously been closed.

Her move to Dubai came after travelling to the country to deliver a speech. She later relocated permanently in 2024 and has since established a business there. Thompson now lives in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, as she continues to expand her professional reach.

Reflecting on her journey, on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica, Thompson credited faith and discipline as central to her progress. She described herself as a firm believer in God and said her upbringing shaped her outlook on perseverance and responsibility.

In a message shared publicly, Thompson encouraged others aiming to achieve more to remain focused and committed, saying faith, discipline and finishing what one starts are essential, while stressing that background does not limit future possibilities.

“Faith is the foundation of everything i have achieved… growing up i believed… never let your current circumstances define your future…. You have to be discipline, you have to be faithful, you have to finish what you start and remember where you from does not determine how far you can go,” she stated.

Watch her full interview below: