Accountant
Alternative Career Options
Accounting Technician and Accounting Assistant
Job Overview: Chartered accountants prepare financial reports and give financial advice to clients or company management.
ALTERNATIVE TITLES
Other career options in the accountancy industry experiencing skill shortages are:Company accountant
Investment accountant
Tax accountant
Treasury accountant
Accountant (Financial)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Accounting Technician
Accounting Assistant
TASKS AND DUTIES
Chartered accountants may do some or all of the following:
TRAITS OF A GOOD ACCOUNTANT
Accountants need to be skilled in analysing figures and interpreting financial information. They also need to have excellent problem-solving and planning skills. Good communication and people skills are also very important, as financial accountants spend a lot of their time talking with clients or company members.
While studying to become an accountant you will learn about accounting information, maths, business and tax law, finance, economics and marketing. You will also learn about business management practices, business ethics, and how to use various accounting computer software.
Accountants should be accurate, efficient and methodical in doing their work. They will establish positions of trust with their clients and employers, therefore must be able to keep information confidential and they should be honest and responsible at all times.
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING NEEDED
Find Training Providers in our Education Directory:
Massey University
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT)
STUDY COSTS
Degree level papers towards a Bachelor of Business Studies or Bachelor of Accounting is around $400 per paper. For full-time students on campus, study costs can be up to $3,700 each year, while extramural study can cost up to $3,500 per year.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Accountants work in many different areas including chartered accounting firms (audit, tax, business services, consulting), business (financial accounting, management accounting, financial management), finance, banking and the public sector. For example, an accounting career often begins in a chartered accountancy firm. After completing the Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification and gaining experience, it is common for accountants to move to accounting positions in businesses, and possibly from there go into management. Alternatively, accountants who stay with an accounting firm are likely to develop specialised areas of expertise and become involved in consulting. Other career paths in industry, finance, and government are becoming increasingly common.
Accountants usually work regular office hours (8.30 am-5 pm), but may work weekends or evenings to meet deadlines.
Graduates can start on anything between $28,000 and $38,000. With more experience salary varies between $38,000 and $100,000 per year. Some very experienced financial accountants, who move into senior positions or become partners in accounting firms and have a high level of responsibility, may earn over $140,000 per year.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - Where can this qualification lead to in the future?
The outlook for accountants is good and the number of people employed in this occupation is expected to increase. Employment opportunities in Taranaki are growing due to a buoyant local economy and an increasing number of small businesses in the region that require financial services. The rural economy is also doing well and Taranaki farmers are frequently using financial support services, increasing the demand for accountants.
Attracting young accountants to Taranaki, particularly in the south, has been difficult as many graduates choose the bigger cities in order to gain a variety of experience. However, some local accounting firms recruit and sponsor graduates, which is keeping them in the region (see scholarships section for more information).
Technology has had a big influence on the way accountants work. Previously, work was done manually, now specifically designed accounting software is being used, reducing the amount of time accountants spend on areas such as manual arithmetic, creating more time for the analysis of the numerical data.
Training continues to be important for accountants, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand requires its members to undertake ongoing training. An employer who is supportive of your continuing development is a key element of accountants careers.
There is a wide range of job options for qualified accountants and many like to explore the options available to broaden their skills.
COMPANY PROFILES
Below is a list of Taranaki businesses that employ accountants (these are only example businesses for you to research this particular career choice). In addition, company write-ups featured in the Career Profiles section provide some insight into the work environment and opportunities available within the industry.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Travel Grants
David Levene Foundation Bursaries
Brian Smith Memorial Entrance Scholarship
Bartlett Scholarship
RELEVANT CONTACTS
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accounts
Association of Administrative Professionals New Zealand
John Dickson - Institute of Chartered Accountants
Alton Shameem
Kindly supported by Career Services Rapuara
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Homepage
Alternative Career Options
Accounting Technician and Accounting Assistant
Job Overview: Chartered accountants prepare financial reports and give financial advice to clients or company management.
ALTERNATIVE TITLES
Other career options in the accountancy industry experiencing skill shortages are:Company accountant
Investment accountant
Tax accountant
Treasury accountant
Accountant (Financial)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Accounting Technician
Accounting Assistant
TASKS AND DUTIES
Chartered accountants may do some or all of the following:
- prepare financial statements and reports for clients or company management
- record the amount of money spent and received daily by clients or company management, using computer cash-flow software
- develop and check budgets
- recommend an appropriate business structure for a client, such as whether they should be declared a partnership, company or trust, in order to use the most efficient way of holding business assets
- ensure compliance with relevant legislation: prepare GST and all other returns, such as surveys, PAYE (Pay as You Earn) and tax forms
- contact and work with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on behalf of management or clients
- give advice on a range of financial aspects of a business such as budgets, tax and cashflows
- ensure financial and business matters are transparent and accurate
- maintain the financial computer systems
- analyse how well a business is performing financially: review businesses' accounting procedures
- advise clients or company management on internal control systems and other risk management strategies
TRAITS OF A GOOD ACCOUNTANTAccountants need to be skilled in analysing figures and interpreting financial information. They also need to have excellent problem-solving and planning skills. Good communication and people skills are also very important, as financial accountants spend a lot of their time talking with clients or company members.
While studying to become an accountant you will learn about accounting information, maths, business and tax law, finance, economics and marketing. You will also learn about business management practices, business ethics, and how to use various accounting computer software.
Accountants should be accurate, efficient and methodical in doing their work. They will establish positions of trust with their clients and employers, therefore must be able to keep information confidential and they should be honest and responsible at all times.
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING NEEDED
A university entrance qualification is required to enter training. An A or B Bursary or NCEA equivalent is preferred and useful subjects include accounting, economics, English and maths with statistics and/or calculus.
A commerce/business degree, majoring in accounting or finance is recommended to become an accountant.
Most accountants are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand. To become a Chartered Accountant requires four years of full-time tertiary study, including completion of an accounting degree. Three years of practical experience is also required and the applicant must pass a series of professional competence exams set by the Institute.
Useful experience includes auditing, accounts work and experience with information technology. Work in an office is also useful.
Find Training Providers in our Education Directory:
Massey University
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT)
STUDY COSTS
Degree level papers towards a Bachelor of Business Studies or Bachelor of Accounting is around $400 per paper. For full-time students on campus, study costs can be up to $3,700 each year, while extramural study can cost up to $3,500 per year.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Accountants work in many different areas including chartered accounting firms (audit, tax, business services, consulting), business (financial accounting, management accounting, financial management), finance, banking and the public sector. For example, an accounting career often begins in a chartered accountancy firm. After completing the Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification and gaining experience, it is common for accountants to move to accounting positions in businesses, and possibly from there go into management. Alternatively, accountants who stay with an accounting firm are likely to develop specialised areas of expertise and become involved in consulting. Other career paths in industry, finance, and government are becoming increasingly common.Accountants usually work regular office hours (8.30 am-5 pm), but may work weekends or evenings to meet deadlines.
Graduates can start on anything between $28,000 and $38,000. With more experience salary varies between $38,000 and $100,000 per year. Some very experienced financial accountants, who move into senior positions or become partners in accounting firms and have a high level of responsibility, may earn over $140,000 per year.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - Where can this qualification lead to in the future?
The outlook for accountants is good and the number of people employed in this occupation is expected to increase. Employment opportunities in Taranaki are growing due to a buoyant local economy and an increasing number of small businesses in the region that require financial services. The rural economy is also doing well and Taranaki farmers are frequently using financial support services, increasing the demand for accountants.Attracting young accountants to Taranaki, particularly in the south, has been difficult as many graduates choose the bigger cities in order to gain a variety of experience. However, some local accounting firms recruit and sponsor graduates, which is keeping them in the region (see scholarships section for more information).
Technology has had a big influence on the way accountants work. Previously, work was done manually, now specifically designed accounting software is being used, reducing the amount of time accountants spend on areas such as manual arithmetic, creating more time for the analysis of the numerical data.
Training continues to be important for accountants, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand requires its members to undertake ongoing training. An employer who is supportive of your continuing development is a key element of accountants careers.
There is a wide range of job options for qualified accountants and many like to explore the options available to broaden their skills.
COMPANY PROFILES
Below is a list of Taranaki businesses that employ accountants (these are only example businesses for you to research this particular career choice). In addition, company write-ups featured in the Career Profiles section provide some insight into the work environment and opportunities available within the industry.
- Staples Rodway, New Plymouth and Stratford
- Shell Todd Oil Services Limited, New Plymouth
- Harris & Taylor Ltd, High Street, Hawera
- New Plymouth District Council, New Plymouth
- Landrigan Waite
Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Travel Grants
David Levene Foundation Bursaries
Brian Smith Memorial Entrance Scholarship
Bartlett Scholarship
RELEVANT CONTACTS
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accounts| Taranaki Contact: | Chris Sole |
| Phone: | ph: 06 758 5889 |
| Email: | chris@efsltd.co.nz |
| Website: | http://www.nzica.com |
Association of Administrative Professionals New Zealand
| Website: | http://www.aapnz.org.nz |
John Dickson - Institute of Chartered Accountants
| Phone: | 04 474 7840 |
| Website: | http://www.icanz.co.nz |
Alton Shameem
| Taranaki Contact: | New Zealand Association of Accountants Inc |
| Phone: | 09 488 7808 |
| Email: | asc.accountants@xtra.co.nz |
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