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Associations have been called on to take “some responsibility” in aiding graduate employability, with heavily criticised university courses for accountants structured to assist admission into professional programs, including the CA and CPA courses.
‘Double-edged sword’ faces unis with association criteria
14 November 2017
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8 minute read
For several months, graduates, young accountants, industry executives and universities alike have been pointing to the inadequacies in Australian accounting degrees. Most recently, UNSW conceded a typical three-year program is insufficient in ensuring graduates are job ready.
Speaking to Accountants Daily, Paul Hilton, chairman of mid-tier network Walker Wayland, said the reason behind a lack of desire to change the educational syllabus at universities may stem from the enrolment criteria of professional accounting bodies.
“I don't think there's any university at the moment that's fully addressed the issues, and I'll go one step further and the reason they may not have addressed the issues is that they still got to have enough subjects to be accredited for CA and CPA [programs],” Mr Hilton said.
“Universities have to provide a certain amount of subjects for graduates to be eligible to start studying at the professional bodies, so the universities are governed to a certain extent to what subjects they have to provide.
“If the accounting bodies change their criteria, then the universities may change their criteria as well. It's a double-edged sword.”
Entry into Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA’s program requires a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree, with several competency areas such as business law and accounting systems and processes required to be covered in the applicant’s academic qualifications.
The Institute of Public Accountants accepts accounting qualifications at diploma, advanced diploma or bachelor degree level.
CPA head of policy Paul Drum rejected the notion that it stifled change at education providers, saying that the professional body’s accreditation requirements had been reduced over the years, leaving space for universities to incorporate additional subjects.
“CPA Australia’s accreditation requirements cover only half to two-thirds of accredited [university] courses,” he said.
“There are now only 10 core competency areas that accredited courses must meet – down from 12 two years ago. This leaves a lot of room for integrating additional subjects, learning outcomes, or professional skills that go beyond the core.
“There is a lot of flexibility regarding how higher education providers can evidence that they have designed programs and assessments to ensure the acquisition of learning outcomes.”
A CA ANZ spokesperson confirmed that enrolment in both the CA Program and CA Foundations required a degree assessed as equivalent to an Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree.
IPA executive general manager, member services, Michael Linke said the IPA encourages universities to develop and evolve their courses to fit the changing landscape.
“We also work closely with the university sector and accredit their courses… but it is untrue that we wield that much power to ensure that syllabus details are locked in and cannot be altered,” said Mr Linke.
“This goes against the many academic forums our teams sit on and contribute to on an annual basis, where we guide the enhancement of accounting course content.”
Practice Ignition head of accounting and strategic partnerships Trent McLaren believes there might be a workaround for the current education mismatch, suggesting bridging technical courses from TAFE and advanced, practical courses at university level.
“Maybe some of the technical core skills can shift into a TAFE or pre-university degree, allowing more advanced, business acumen, technology [based] courses to be run in the university degree level,” Mr McLaren told Accountants Daily.
Sequel CFO founder David Boyar said experience is fundamental to him when making a hire, advocating for undergraduates to be exposed to the “coal face early on”.
“I’d hire someone with slightly reduced grades or not from a tier one university, but with industry experience over a straight HD student with no experience,” Mr Boyar told Accountants Daily.
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- I've got an idea - why don't we crowdsource an education platform designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry? With enough generous and thoughtful contributors, we can design something that beats both Uni and the institute. PLUS it serves as a vetted talent pool for new recruits.
makes a lot of sense. Who's with me?
jason@smartbooksonline.com.au
0 - "Back in the day" (which was only ten years ago) when I first started in accounting, all firms in my region were hiring high-school leavers as cadets; and our local university structured the course to provide a range of night and supported distance classes to facilitate this process. With the increase in outsourcing these roles have been cut out, and cost-cutting by the university has meant that subject availability has dwindled. Even though it was a challenging experience, I'm grateful I worked full time as a cadet while studying as I wouldn't be in the position I am now. It's disappointing these opportunities aren't as readily available as they once were.0
- What a load of ......!!! If the Universities and TAFE could all get on the same page would help. If doing an accounting degree all Units / Modules should be coded the same and have the same content. If doing a TAFE diploma get the individual States to be doing the same course and modules with the same course codes and outcomes!!!. SA does not recognise NSW Tafe modules and if you have TAS units that's another story. Have know idea how BAS Agents get their qualifications because of this!!! Where is the TPB - "out fishing"0
- As a guest lecturer at Macquarie Uni i'd say they are leading the way with trying to bridge that gap both with the PACE program and their integrated units. But there is still a long way to go and we will never get the nirvana that is desired. Organisations that hire graduates will always need to train staff. Greater emphasis on small business principles is the key as that is where many graduates will end up working (either as external public practice accountants or as internal assistant accountants). And to be honest, big business could gain from having graduates coming in with small business thinking at the forefront.
Lastly, I'd like to see more that are in the industry stop whinging about the state of graduates and get to their local Uni or Tafe and offer to be involved. If we all gave a few hours a month to help the next generation then there would be large change. Business Departments at Uni are happy to be guided on what should be taught and whilst change does take some time, withn 2-3 years Macquarie Uni, thanks to the assistance of industry partners like myself, have been able to re-engineer their bachelor programs to better suit the needs of employers. Again it will take a few years to see the true results but the longer people sit back and make comment rather than get involved, the longer change will take.0
