STEP UP TO SUCCESS: Lopez is the country head of ACCA Malaysia, part of a global body that offers business-relevant, highly respected qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
Accountancy is one career that literally gives you thousands of options. Every organisation depends on it and many of the world’s top business people are qualified accountants. This means that whichever industry sector appeals to you, and however far you want to go, accountancy could be your way in.
As the global body for professional accountants, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) understands what is required of the next generation of accountants. The increased importance of financial information in strategic decision-making processes has reinforced the role of accountants to include understanding and promoting the core values of accounting while promoting innovation and change.
According to ACCA Malaysia Country Head, Jennifer Lopez, “The role of accountants has moved irrevocably beyond pure finance; accountants must now oversee more proactive and rigorous risk management, while ensuring that strategic decisions create lasting value, not least in emerging markets. In short, they must impose the professional rigour of the finance department across all areas of business activity. This is a vast change to a short decade ago, where the focus of most CFOs was on getting the basic financial processes and control frameworks right, and ensuring the businesses had access to capital.”
From all accounts, it appears this is an exciting time for new accountants to join the profession – there seems to be endless opportunities for young Malaysian accountants within and across the national borders. Indeed, the world’s economic centre of gravity is moving inexorably East and greater economic uncertainty and volatility will be the norm.
“As business expectations of the finance function increases and regulations become more complex, the accounting profession has become more challenging but also more interesting. Accounting is no longer just about compliance but also performance and providing strategic value to the business. And for over 100 years, ACCA has been at the forefront of preparing our students to take up this ever evolving role of accountants,” said Lopez.
ACCA – Prepared to be different
ACCA offers business-relevant, highly respected qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. All ACCA members go through a rigorous process of training, including work experience and ethics modules, prior to qualifying.
Simply put, the ACCA qualification is designed to mould you into future business leaders by providing you with the skills and knowledge relevant to any organisation.
ACCA is the preferred choice in the industry for many reasons:
• They’re relevant – employers recognise and respect your ACCA Qualification and will know you have the right skills needed to get the job done.
• They’re flexible – with a qualification from ACCA, you can work in any area or industry you choose. You don’t have to limit yourself to the finance department either – you could be a future chief executive of a corporation or set up your own business.
• World-class reputation – we’ve been around for over 100 years. It means people in business know about us for all the right reasons. We have a proven reputation for quality and excellence.
• Global reach – ACCA has an unrivalled global network of 83 offices in 170 countries, providing information and support to over 424,000 students and 147,000 members.
Entry points into ACCA Qualification
ACCA Qualification is designed to be flexible; you can opt for a full-time or part-time course or for distance learning. As study can be done at home or abroad, it is even possible to combine study with travel and seeing the world. With 350 exam centres worldwide, it is easy to arrange continued study and sit exams.
There are a number of entry points to gaining a qualification with ACCA.
• Certified Accounting Technician
The Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification gives a solid foundation in finance and accountancy. It provides all the technical skills and knowledge needed for an accounting-support role.
ACCA Qualification Entry requirements are:
• two A-levels and three GSCEs or equivalent in five separate subjects, including English and Maths; or
• a degree – exemptions may be gained from some papers depending on the degree; or
• a completed CAT Qualification
After completing the exams, a Professional Ethics module and three years’ practical experience, you can apply for membership and start using the letters ACCA after your name.
ACCA has a long history of training individuals to become successful professional accountants, which is why employers recruit talents who have our qualifications and why our family of students and members are growing each year.
So, whatever stage you are at in planning your career, ACCA has everything you need to reach your goal of becoming a professional – and successful – finance expert and a future business leader.
You can visit www.accaglobal.com to start your ACCA journey, or visit them at the third Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on March 3-4 from 10am to 6pm.