Durban — With the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations set to begin in October the importance of making the right career choice is growing, and one of the options available to matriculants is accountancy amidst a decline in the number of accountants inn the country.
Jamil Ampomah, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) African Director, addressed key developments in the accounting fraternity, including a commitment to partner students with audit opportunities.
Speaking to the Daily News, Ampomah said that accountants were in huge demand and today’s professional accountants enjoyed a huge range of exciting opportunities across every sector.
He said it was crucial for young professionals to be equipped with the right qualifications to succeed in accountancy and finance, “at ACCA, we are helping them to be the forward thinking, sustainable business and finance professionals the world needs, with the right capabilities to drive positive change.”
He added that the globally recognised ACCA qualification developed dynamic professional accountants who were strategic forward-thinkers, and thrived in this world of constant change and growing globalisation.
“We’re equipping people with the real-world skills and expertise they need to make an immediate impact in all types of organisation – the public and private sectors, in industry and professional practice.”
Ampomah said that as the profession and the careers within it evolved, so did the skill sets that professional accountants needed. “That is why the ACCA Qualification integrates technology, digital, data, sustainability and ethics throughout.”
“Our long relationship with South Africa continues to go from strength to strength following our accreditation last year by South Africa’s Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors, the IRBA. This means that ACCA members can now apply to become registered auditors and this will help to alleviate the audit talent shortage, ”Ampomah added.
This, he said, will also increase the appeal of accountancy as a potential career for those just starting out. “In South Africa and around the world the defining challenge of our age is the sustainability of the planet and that’s why creating a better world is a priority for ACCA. We're a professional body that’s a force for public good. ”
Ampomah said that their members adhered to a strong code of ethics and were trained to do the right thing, and the world is looking to the next generation of accountants to drive trust and transparency, and combat corruption.
ACCA members and students were prepared to guide their organisations towards making better-informed decisions promoting inclusion and benefit society. Members were committed to developing a strong global accountancy profession to drive prosperous, sustainable economies.
“In summary, accountants need to be fit for today, and for the future, building capability to stay relevant, and providing broader support to business, society and the environment to play their effective roles in driving sustainable practices across business, and maximizing trade opportunities towards developing the ‘Africa we want.”
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Daily News