Hello.. For those who is wondering "What!! Him again? Asking questions about career prospects" yeah I'm sorry..


So, I'm here to ask...

Most my friends here, which, I believe, is taking Accountancy course pursuing its degree and professional qualification(s).

But I'm just curious to know,

1) Why there's so much people unemployed with Account certificate?
I've made some summaries,
maybe they are
not very fluent in English
does not possesses a professional qualification

but that's it. I can't think any others. Can you guys tell me some other?

2) How long does it take to complete its degree and professional qualification altogether?
5-6 years from now or more?

3) What I've found is that we need to seek for an internships program before we could be considered an experienced accountant, is this true? So if it's with the internship program, how long does it take for me to be officially employed?

Thanks, I will ask in this thread if I'm having further confusions..

Why there's so much people unemployed with Account certificate?
Not sure how did you come to this conclusion......Is it ACCA/CIMA level? Don't think you will be unemployed with those qualifications

1. Since when accounting graduates are unemployed?
The practitioners themselves keep harping on talent management of accountants in business forums/conferences.

2. Around 3 -4 years for a degree/professional qualification. But if u pursue a degree first continued by the professional qualification, you might be given exemptions for the professional papers. In total, it could around 5 years. But most would study the professional qualification on a part-time basis after graduating with their academic degrees.

3. You don't need to go through internship just to seek employment as a fresh grad.

TS can share some of your weed? =.=

TS is live in parallel world and have great personality and thinking.
He even made summaries and concluded so much unemployment in accountancy.
Everything are based on assumptions rather than speak with facts.

This post has been edited by quovadis123: Feb 4 2014, 01:18 PM

First time I hear accounting personnel of ANY level being unemployed.

Do you know how difficult to recruit even an accounts clerk?

If any, there must be some who can't differentiate between a profit and loss account and a balance sheet.

I eat kangkung lorh.. lol haha.. Oh well, thanks anyway..

even if only just degree in accounts, the hiring rate is high too. I rarely heard that those who studied account have high unemployment rates, can you least share with us about regarding this?

If you are taking a professional qualification, I don't think you really would need a degree with it. Professional qualification is, itself, very strong.

ACCA requires 3 years of experience whilst ICAEW requires 3.5 years of experience from authorized employers (can see the detail on their website)

I agree with you

Any professional qualification > degree

I myself oso dun have any degree qualifications

anyway ... the unemployment could be due to the following reasons:

1) no Vacancy

2) not suitable / does not fit into their requirement despite there is vacancy

3) did badly during the interview

4) other competitors did better than you in interview and etc



Degree and Professional qualification = not necessarily need to go hand-in-hand

you can go straightaway skip degree and complete ACCA (for example) within 2.5 years

(all pass in 1st attempt taking 3 or 4 papers each sitting)

however you can also study for ACCA while you're working if you can cope

wa, since when accountancy low employement? where u read?

Accountants all level sought out so much, every company also want

TS, just to let you know, your words are actually true, contrary to other forumers saying it's untrue. But, why are they unemployed? Before I go on, lemme stress that this is from the point of view in Penang. It does not apply to KL or other states.

The main reason is salary level and ego issue. First off, most accounting students graduate, aiming to go to big4 audit firms. Of course, big4 pays more. A fellow forumer said accounts clerk hard to find. Why? Because accounts clerk's pay is less than Rm1,500. With the current standard of living, everyone will shrug off the prospect of earning anything lesser than Rm1,500. Why so? Many, if not all, of the fresh graduates are those who are used to spending. Even if you're those who doesn't spend, 1.5k and below a month gets you nowhere. Expenses outweighs the revenue we earn. As such, we'll be trying to run around hoping anything more than 1.5k comes by. There are many accounting fresh grads that I know who couldn't get a job due to meagre salary. Most accounting students, when graduated, will have the same mindset "I have to go to audit firm for 3 years". This is what made job-searching more difficult since the middle and lower tier firms will not pay more than 2k a month.

Secondly, ego level. Everyone says accounting is a profession where jobs come by easily. So the question arises "why so low pay?". Being less-fluent in english doesn't reduce your chances. In fact, most clients nowadays are bilingual.

As for your question of how long to complete. A degree with ACCA/ICAEW/CIMA takes around 5yrs if you're fast and do full time studying. If part-time after degree, depends on determination.

True. Any company needs an accountant. However, how much can they afford. Smaller PLCs dun mind hiring less-than-excellent employees, but salary is meagre. Larger PLCs only want to hire staff capable of handling a full set of accounts, together with knowledge in consolidation and other qualities. Thus, large PLCs only go for experienced employees from Big4 and middle-tier firms.

Thus, your question of every is very subjective. Anything below 1.5k is consider very very pitiful. Why? Some people, to go to work, needs to buy car (unless you're lucky that your dad can afford you a car), then need to spend for other expenses. All these go above 1.5k so anything less than that is very low.

I think nowadays, employee chooses the company, not company choose employee. LOL

i think is difficult to recruit a qualified one, qualified also problem because obviously they would want progression....

I have heard from several sources qualified accountant (eg CPA) in Australia hard to find permanent job, mostly contract basis

Those who can pay and provide good prospects will have better chances.

I love your explanation.. This is what I'm talking about..

5 years? Are you for real dude!
I am about to finish ACCA in this year and I started exactly in June 2012. 5 years can do PhD lol