Prospective CPA e-newsletter

	Practical experience: views from the ground
	Examination matters
	Student matters
	Student programme
	Technical updates
	Route to success with QP
	Practical experience
	Golden rules of writing well
	For your information
	Upcoming events

Authorized supervisor:

Mr. Albert Chan, Partner, Ting Ho Kwan & Chan

Registered as an AS:

5.5 years

No. of QP students under supervision:

New staff not only need technical training and experience but also stamina development. As an authorized supervisor of the Institute's qualification programme , Mr. Albert Chan, a partner of Ting Ho Kwan & Chan says, "The stamina to keep up with continuous training and observing ethics of the profession are as important as the technical skills. We are looking for staff who can really learn from QP which advocates lifelong learning. It is not just about passing the examinations." He adds that the approach taken by the workshops and the open examination style of QP are beneficial to students because they can apply what they have learnt from QP to their jobs.

On a personal level, Albert maintains a close contact with the QP students in the firm, "I have been in the profession over 30 years. I want to pass on my experience to nurture the young accountants. It is important to instil a sense of responsibility in the young accountants when they serve the clients, the firm and the profession." He sees the primary role of being an AS is to groom the next generation of professional accountants for Hong Kong. Click here for details.

	Examination results

	Examination results for QP modules A (financial reporting) and C (auditing and information management) of the February 2008 session and final examination of the June 2008 session will be announced on 2 August and 9 August 2008 respectively. QP candidates who have applied for a student login account may view their results online within two weeks of the official result release date. If you do not have a login account yet, click here for information on how to obtain one.

Enrolment for September 2008 session

The September 2008 intake for QP modules A (financial reporting) and C (auditing and information management) will commence on 8 September, and the closing date for enrolment is 8 August 2008. Please click here for enrolment application details.

Multiple choice question tutorial

The Institute has launched a multiple choice question self-learning tutorial in the QP learning support centre. The tutorial aims to provide more examination assistance for QP students. The tutorial on module D (taxation) is now available online. Click here to access the tutorial.

New books in the library

New books of high reference value for QP students preparing for their examinations are now available in the library. Please click here to view the full list of reference books.

Module preparation seminars for May 2008 session

The Institute is organizing a series of module preparation seminars on QP module B (financial management) and module D (taxation) for the May 2008 session. The seminars aim to help QP candidates understand some of the more difficult topics to be covered during the workshops and to brush up their examination techniques. The seminars are scheduled before the QP workshops. Click here for enrolment details of the upcoming seminars.

Online module preparation seminars

Webcast videos of module preparation seminars for QP module B (financial management) and module D (taxation) held on 8 and 21 June 2008 are now available online, free-of-charge, to assist your examination revision. Please visit the QP learning support centre to watch the videos.

Valuation minefields

As financial and business valuations gain prominence in company financial statements, should the industry be better regulated? Click here for more.

Name:

Ernest Ip

Job Title:

Assistant Area Manager

Company:

Interpublic Group

Click here to see Ernest's career profile:

- career and study history

- job involvement

- career achievement

- career progression

Authorized employer or supervisor experience for membership admission

For admission to membership of the Institute, practical experience acquired on or after 1 January 2005 will only be counted if it is gained under an Institute-authorized employer or supervisor.

If you are not working under an authorized employer or supervisor, please urge your employer or supervisor to apply for registration as an authorized employer or authorized supervisor with the Institute, so that your practical experience can be accepted for membership admission. Click here for more information.

In case your employer or supervisor is not qualified, you may apply to the Institute for the assignment of an external authorized supervisor.

List of authorized employers and supervisors

The Institute has recently approved eight applications for registration as authorized employers and 15 applications for authorized supervisors. Please click here for the list of newly registered employers or supervisors.

A list of all authorized employers and authorized supervisors can be found on the Institute's homepage.

For enquiries on practical experience, please contact our admission department on tel. 2287 7049 or 2287 7353.

Gillian Christie, a freelance editor and proof-reader, gives you some valuable tips on the effective use of email in business communication. Click here for the articles.

The articles were first published in the Chartered Accountants Journal (October and November 2007) of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) and are reprinted with permission from Ms. Gillian Christie and the NZICA.

QP in Guangzhou

The first QP workshop has taken place in Guangzhou for the May 2008 session. Participants include middle to senior management of CPA firms and commercial organizations in the Guangdong province. Apart from Guangzhou, another QP workshop was also held in Beijing.

2007 manpower survey report - accountancy sector

The Accountancy Training Board of the Vocational Training Council conducted a survey during the first quarter of 2007 to collect the latest manpower information on the accountancy sector. The aim is to determine manpower requirements. The survey covers accounting firms, government, commercial and and industrial establishments with 10 or more employees. Below are some findings and recommendations:

Findings

	Education/qualification requirements: 36.9 percent of the accounting positions required job holders to possess a university degree or a professional qualification.
	Years of experience: 82.7 percent of senior managers have been working in the accountancy sector for five to 10 years.
	Internal promotion: Job level of clerk/associate and supervisor/senior had better opportunities to get promotions.
	Work in mainland: Of the accounting employees who had to work in the mainland, 4.1 percent were stationed there and 95.9 percent traveled there.
	Recruitment difficulties: "Working conditions or remuneration package could not meet recruits' expectations" and "lack of candidates with relevant experience and training" were the main recruitment difficulties for employers.
	Training plans: The estimated training hours are 20 per senior manager/manager and 12.6 per supervisor/senior in the next 12 months.

Recommendations

	Basic knowledge and training courses in the accountancy field are desirable for new entrants whereas skills upgrading training programmes are more appropriate for experienced accounting personnel.
	Lifelong learning is desirable for career advancement and self-development.
	Apart from traditional training programmes, a wider spectrum of training topics such as capital financing, investment advisory services, asset management and financial management services, etc are expected to meet market needs.

To receive more information from the survey, please click here for a full report.

CPA Source - your career development partner

CPA Source is a free career matching platform exclusively for the Institute's members and students. Activate your FREE account and manage your resume here. A wide range of hot jobs is available now!

CPA Source Hotline: 2287 7888

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