Prospective CPA e-newsletter

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

Authorized employer:

Mabel Chan & Co.

Member-in-charge:

Ms. Mabel Chan

Registered as an AE:

2.5 years

No. of QP students under supervision:

Quality staff is the greatest asset of any accounting firm. "Qualification Programme has been providing this indispensable asset for the company's operation," says Ms. Mabel Chan, partner of Mabel Chan & Co. The firm, currently with eight QP students, has been an authorized employer under the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs' QP since 2006. Mabel explains that it is her responsibility to guide the QP students, especially the fresh graduates, throughout their learning process.

"As one of the highlights of QP, the practicality of the programme is undeniably beneficial to every QP student," says Mabel. QP has geared up the firm's staff to take up challenges at work. What makes QP stand out from other qualifications are the workshops. Through the interactive workshops, students are trained to have good team spirit, and presentation, analytical and problem-solving skills vital to their real-life daily work," adds Mabel. Click here for details.

Annual award and graduation ceremony

On 5 September 2008, the Institute conferred certificates on 1,223 students who passed the final examination of the QP. At a ceremony officiated by the guest-of-honour, Mr. Suen Ming Yeung, Michael, GBS, JP, Secretary for Education, 14 top QP candidates received the award of merit, 16 outstanding students received QP scholarships and 29 top accounting students from 11 universities and educational institutions received the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs scholarships. Please click to view the ceremony highlights, a full version of Mr. Suen's speech and a full list of December 2007 and June 2008 graduates.

Memorial prizes for top final examination candidates

Li Fook Shu Memorial Prize


The memorial prize is established by the Honourable Dr. David Li in memory of his late father, Mr. F. S. Li, one of the Institute's founding members. The value of each memorial prize is HK$10,000 and is awarded to the candidate attaining the highest marks in the final examination of each examination session. The December 2007 session award recipient is Ms. Kwan Yuk Kee, Karven (left) whilst the June 2008 session award recipient is Ms. Cheng Ting Ting, Nancy (right).

ICAEW/Simon Morris Memorial Prize


Mr. Simon Morris, who worked in Hong Kong for 25 years, was a member of ICAEW and the Institute. After he passed away, his widow made the prize donation of HK$10,000 per annum via Mr. Morris's name to the ICAEW. The value of each prize is HK$5,000 and is awarded to the graduate attaining the highest aggregate marks in the four modules of each final examination session. The December 2007 session award recipient is Mr. Chan Sheung Chi (left) and the June 2008 session award recipient is Mr. Cheng Chun Ming (right).

Certificate collection for QP graduates who did not attend the annual award and graduation ceremony

QP graduates who did not attend the annual award and graduation ceremony can collect their certificates on or before 28 November 2008 at the Institute's reception desk on 27/F, Wu Chung House. Please present your student ID or HKID when collecting the certificates.

Special consideration for QP workshops

Candidates may offer an explanation for non-attendance at a QP workshop so that their marks may be adjusted. Any request for special consideration with supporting documents must reach the director of student education & training within two weeks from the date of absence.

The Institute's examinations board is the only body empowered to decide whether or not marks will be adjusted. The board will consider each request based on its own merit, taking into account any special circumstance when finalizing the candidate's marks.

New release of questions and answers booklets

The QP questions and answers booklets for modules A and C (February 2008 session) and final examination (June 2008 session) are now available for sale at the Institute's reception desk. Each booklet costs HK$45. Alternatively, QP candidates can enjoy free online access to the Q&A at the QP learning support centre or read them at the Institute's library.

	Membership requirements

	To streamline the Institute's membership application procedures, the Council has removed the requirement for membership applicants to provide two character references. Please note that although you no longer need to provide character references when you apply for membership, you are still required to complete a declaration on whether you comply with the fit and proper criteria for membership admission in the application Form R-3.

Final examination revision course

QP candidates, who wish to sit the final examination on December 2008, are now invited to enrol in the final examination revision course. Click here for more information.

Module preparation seminars for the September 2008 session

The Institute is organizing a series of module preparation seminars on QP module A (financial reporting) and module C (auditing and information management) for the September 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.

Name:

Fiona Ng

Job Title:

Assistant Compliance Manager

Company:

Value Partners Limited

Click here to see Fiona'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.

List of authorized employers and supervisors

The Institute has recently approved five applications for registration as authorized employers and 31 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 about 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 three stages in report writing i.e. think, research and structure. Click here for the articles.

The articles were first published in the Chartered Accountants Journal (March, April and May 2008) of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) and are reprinted with permission from Ms. Gillian Christie and the NZICA.