INTHEBLACK October 2026 - Magazine - Page 41
“Often [a student's] first exposure comes through a university
business degree or even a high school accounting class. If that
first experience is focused solely on bookkeeping, debits and
credits and the mechanics of accounting, many students will
conclude that it is not for them.”
BRUCE VIVIAN, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ACCOUNTANTS
“Students engage much more with
real-world case studies, short-form content
and practical examples,” he says. “I also think
universities should make industry exposure
mandatory. It helps students understand what
the work is actually like, and it also gives
them something meaningful to put on their
CV. Structured programs such as scholarships
or rotational internships are incredibly
valuable. They set people up for employment
straight away.”
In countries like Malaysia, cross-sector
collaboration is proving an effective approach.
Evelyn Teoh FCPA, head of APAC finance
operations centre at Motorola Solutions,
explains that organisations are engaging with
local university students about the career
opportunities in accounting.
“In Penang, organisations work together
to develop the future talent pipeline,” she
says. “We spend a lot of time engaging
with students, because awareness starts
early. We explain that an accounting
qualification can lead to many different
career paths — it is no longer just about
audit. There are opportunities in commercial
finance, business partnering, analytics,
technology, transformation and many
other areas.
“Many students tell us that what we are
describing is very different from what they
have learned in the classroom,” she adds.
“That is why it is important for the industry
to share what organisations actually need
from graduates today.”
Teoh says collaborations also include
competitions and industry projects that
expose students to real business challenges.
“We encourage them to use technology,
think creatively and develop practical
solutions,” says Teoh, who also works with
local universities to review curriculum
content and provide feedback on emerging
skill requirements.
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 41
