MARCH 2022
Quarterly Educators Newsletter
Insights into the world of business & accounting for teachers, career advisors and academics brought to you by Chartered Accountants ANZ .
In this edition
Welcome to the new Educators Newsletter!
We are excited to introduce you to our new, re-imagined, Educators Newsletter. The modern design and platform will make access to our newsletter and resources easier than ever.
We’ve included articles, industry updates and profiles that highlight the opportunities and resources available to educators.
In this edition we discuss inclusive and fair workplaces and the gender pay gap, hear from a recent participant of the CA ANZ Achiever programme and we’ve got the latest industry findings on Artificial Intelligence in accounting.
— Chartered Accountants ANZ Careers Team
Say hello to the CE team!
The Careers Engagement team have recently been enjoying getting back on campus and seeing the happy faces of students and educators after a big hiatus. The CE team are on hand year-round to offer advice to students, career advisors and academics on what opportunities are available for students through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. It’s great to be back on campus, and for those who haven’t yet returned, we hope to see you soon!
Contact the Careers Engagement team in your region:
New Zealand
careersnz@charteredaccountantsanz.com
Australia
ACT – careers.act@charteredaccountantsanz.com
NSW – careers.nsw@charteredaccountantsanz.com
SA & NT – careers.sa@charteredaccountantsanz.com
QLD – careers.qld@charteredaccountantsanz.com
VIC & TAS – careers.vic@charteredaccountantsanz.com
WA – careers.wa@charteredaccountantsanz.com
NEWS
Accountants urged to act on ‘uncomfortable numbers’
A new CA ANZ playbook reveals the latest insights on how to create a more inclusive and fairer workplace, narrow the gender pay gap and attract talented professionals.
In Australia, female accountants earn 27% less than men on average while in New Zealand, women earn 34% less than their male colleagues, according to CA ANZ’s 2021 Member Remuneration Survey.
But research shows closing the gap improves an organisation’s performance, workplace culture and ultimately boosts the bottom line.
According to the report’s findings, organisations that fail to address gender pay gap also risk losing top talent to more progressive organisations, resulting in high staff turnover and higher recruitment and training costs.
NEWS
CA ANZ launches a major research report on AI, ethics and ESG
Based on a survey of more than 5700 members and business leaders, the report proposes an ethical and sustainable approach to AI adoption.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that has left the laboratory and is now being adopted at scale.
As AI is introduced across all sectors of the economy, its implementation raises key issues around its ethical use. This presents considerations across dimensions that are driving business and investment.
The accountancy profession, with its explicit and long-standing commitment to ethical practices, is well placed to guide organisations along a responsible path for AI adoption.
ACCOUNTING SPECIALISATION SPOTLIGHT
What does a commercial accountant do?
Selecting an accounting specialisation can sometimes feel overwhelming for students, with many different and varied opportunities and types of work available.
One such option is commercial accounting. A commercial accountant is any type of financial accountant working for a business or corporation. Their primary duties include analysing financial information and irregularities, forecasting, commercial reporting, data analysis, financial analysis reports and elements of business partnering.
Commercial accountants need to have a broad knowledge of current market conditions, as well as a company’s sector and competitor performance. They hold a key and active role in the strategic and commercial decision-making processes that will impact an organisation.
WHAT’S NEW
The Quitch accounting competition is back
CA ANZ is working with Quitch and Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) again to bring first-year accounting students across Australia and New Zealand the opportunity to take part in an online accounting competition this year.
The ten-week competition will test students’ accounting knowledge via the Quitch platform – a gamified, mobile e-learning app – with prizes up for grabs.
The top three learners on the Quitch leader board at the end of the competition will win prizes of $1,000, $700 and $300 respectively while educators will also be in the running for a teacher’s prize worth $500.
The competition is specifically designed for first year accounting students and is a fantastic opportunity get students involved on a platform that they can relate to and provide them with a learning opportunity that meets their needs.
The competition is now open and runs until May 24. Students can start the competition at any time during the competition period and can answer the questions when it suits them.
CA PROFILE SPOTLIGHT
Finding your passion: Madhu Borra on the Achiever programme
Madhu Borra, a recent participant of the CA ANZ Achiever programme, shares his experience and how it sparked his passion for external auditing.
The Achiever programme provides accounting students in their penultimate and final year paid practical work experience. During 2021, 116 students were successfully offered placement opportunities with participating employers across Australia and New Zealand.
Madhu found out about the Achiever programme while undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce at The University of Queensland and had never considered external auditing before undertaking the programme. Now, he does it full-time and is planning a long-term career in the industry.
Applications for the 2022 Achiever Programme close on March 27th. Find out more.
NEWS
The future of work is here: Hybrid workplaces
Flexible work and study arrangements are here to stay, and it’s giving educators and students the best of both worlds – face-to-face and from home.
Since 2020, our attitudes towards working from home have changed significantly. The shift has caused many of us to reflect on workplace flexibility, where we are most productive, and how to carry these learnings into the workplace in the future.
With hybrid working environment now the new norm we explore how educators can create a home office environment that facilitates motivation and maximises productivity.
SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Pacific Scholarship winners 2021
Recipients of the 2021 Pacific Scholarship discuss how their life experiences informed their successful applications.
Each year, Chartered Accountants ANZ awards Pacific Scholarships to tertiary students of Pacific heritage living in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to enable students to complete their accounting degrees, become difference makers and pursue their career goals.
In 2021 CA ANZ offered awards to three outstanding participants: Epenisa Taukafa, Salvis Maurice Laurenson and Sinclair Pandinduo. The 2021 Pacific Scholarship recipients share how they are determined to break the cycle of intergenerational financial struggle and give back to their communities.
Coming soon!
Soon we will be introducing the next opportunity in the Forage virtual internship program, a unique program that gives students an understanding of finance, business performance, and how to make complex decisions.
In this coming virtual internship Camille Woods CA, owner of the Yoga studio Monday Mind, teaches students skills in expanding and improving business offerings, researching, forecasting and understanding business and financial performance.
The upcoming program will give students first-hand experience in running a business and teach them valuable on the job budgeting and accounting skills.
Contact us
Got any questions, feedback or want more information? Get in touch today:
Australia
1300 137 322
6am—7pm (AEST)
Monday—Friday (excl. public holidays)
New Zealand
0800 469 422
8am—9pm (NZ Time)
Monday—Friday (excl. public holidays)
Be social
