Boost for accountants

Aspiring and existing accountants in Barbados can look to the leading body for professional accountants to give them the global advantage with a new qualification, to come into effect in the next two years.

 

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) held a special presentation which introduced the new ACCA Qualification – The Future, expected to "give the next generation of professional accountants the blend of skills employers need".

 

In her opening remarks, Head of the Business Development for ACCA Caribbean, Mrs. Paula Marcelle-Irish spoke about the importance of the new qualification, their research and the many innovative ways the body has provided training to the accounting profession. She said that based on the ACCA’s Professional accountants – the future report, launched in June 2016, "Developments in business, technology and politics, and throughout society, are creating an ever-changing ‘new normal’”.  

 

She explained that ACCA has surveyed 2 300 individuals and they have found that there is a need for “strategic, forward thinking professional accountants”. 

 

This was further reiterated by ACCA’s Council member, Dr. Kenneth Henry, who added that the modern day accountants will need a set of seven key quotients required by employers. These are 

“intellect, creativity, emotional intelligence, vision, experience, technical skills and a mastery of the digital world”. 

 

On the topic of innovation, ACCA has been the pioneers of “on demand computer-based exams, international financial reporting standards in exams” during the 1990s. Today ACCA has introduced computer based exams (CBEs) at skills level. According to Marcelle-Irish, the aim is to train future accountants in a confident way where they can “put their learning into action in a work environment” that best benefits the requirements of employers.

 

During her speech, Business Development Manager of ACCA, Maria Sookdeo explained that the new ACCA qualification will feature a new innovative case study, Strategic Business Leader, ethics and professional skills module, strategic business reporting, options exams and an ACCA/University of London Master’s degree. Sookdeo added that strategic professional level, strategic business leader and the updated strategic business reporting exam will be introduced in September of 2018. In addition, the Ethics and Professional Skills Module will replace the existing one by October 2017.