Professional Accountant
Job Description
- Establish and improve a company's accounting and budgeting systems
- Assist in controlling the costs of products, processes or services
- Audit the accounts of a company; operate internal controls and ensure that the financial statements truly reflect the financial position of a company
- Count cash on hand; inspect notes receivable and payable; verify entries of cash and cheque payments; examine inventories and stocks, check expenditure and compile audit reports
- Review existing accounting system to avoid possible leakage, weakness and omission
- Handle a company's taxation matters
- Offer professional advice on:
- how to increase company profits
- how to arrange and manage investments
- what tax allowance and exemptions can be claimed
- how to obtain loans
- May choose to specialise in various areas including financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, treasury, taxation, budgetary control, executorship, trusteeship and accounting information system, etc.
Career Opportunities
Public practice
- Work as an employee, practise as a partner or in his own name
- Offer professional services including accounting, taxation, financial advice, preparation of an audit plan, auditing and verification of accounts, management consultancy, etc.
- Undertake financial investigations in case of transference of partnership, mergers, or issues of shares and debentures
In industry and commerce
- Manage a company's financial assets and investments
- Look after a company's tax affairs
- Act as a company's internal auditor
- Prepare accounts and reports of the company
- Investigate and propose prospective investments and development
- Engage in business planning and loan arrangements
In government departments(Please refer to the part on "Government Posts)"
Education
- Take up teaching posts in universities, post-secondary colleges, vocational training institutes, etc.
Qualities and Qualifications
- Able to handle figures carefully and accurately
- Highly competent in analysing and logical thinking
- Sensitive to business dynamics
- Hardworking and determined
- Capable of working under pressure
- Confident and honest
- Good at communication and presentation
- Possess professional knowledge of accounting and auditing
- Conversant with company law, commercial law, taxation law, economics, computer applications and organisation management