Accountancy can help thousands reskill post Covid-19

·         Accountancy pinpointed as a fast-track route to professional success among youngsters

·         200,000 jobs in accountancy and finance available worldwide, as reskilling identified as short-term priority for individuals and firms

·         Delay in university and college admissions mean thousands of students are still weighing-up options

Accountancy is a global game changer for many thousands finding themselves at a career crossroads.

200,000 jobs are available on the ACCA Careers site every month as college leavers plan their next steps and career progressors continue their paths to future success. Job seekers and students are also urged to make use of ACCA Careers’ employability tools to aid them in their search.

ACCA Careers offers a free CV review and a career management session offering advice on career paths, along with virtual interview guidance and job-hunting tips. ACCA members and students are also invited to attend virtual career fairs attended by some of ACCA’s top employers such as PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG.

This support comes at a critical time for the Pakistan economy where jobseekers and students face significant challenges owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nigel Bicknell, head of ACCA Careers, underlined the important role accountants play during times of crises. He said: ‘Accountants are very much at the coalface helping businesses tackle what are hugely significant and worrying times owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘The ACCA Qualification is the future-ready career, which provides stability and flexibility. The qualification focuses on skills of the future, providing all round business acumen. When times are hard, employers are zeroing in on skills. That’s where ACCA can come into play. Our focus is on lifelong care for students – progression and evolution as an accountant is continuous.’

Thousands of students across Pakistan have recently graduated with matriculation, intermediate and O/A-Level and are currently struggling to plan their future career choices due to restrictions on international travel and delay in local college and university admissions.

Sajjeed Aslam, head of ACCA Pakistan said: ‘ACCA recognises that the university route is still popular but believes in diverse opportunities for young people to enter the accountancy profession. Professional qualifications carry greater employer trust and recognition and professionals holding designations such as FCCA and ACCA are regarded more work-ready.’

ACCA member Farah Iqbal, planning and performance manager at BP PLC said: ‘The ACCA Qualification has opened doors for me. It’s an exciting industry that’s no longer about number crunching but the path to a truly global career, with the flexibility and opportunity to specialise and work in any industry. In the future I hope to further apply my skills to focus on sustainability and environment.’

With the working world facing an uncertain future due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people, irrespective of age, should consider retraining or upskilling to change career paths.

Research from ACCA and PwC Finance Insights – Reimagined, highlights organisations focusing on the short-term reskilling of the population rather than the longer-term return on investment.

Sajjeed Aslam concluded ‘The turbulence of this Covid-19 pandemic has made many people carefully consider their future career paths. Alongside this, businesses are also reappraising the way ahead, and the they will need forward-thinking finance professionals that can solve the challenges of the future. The ACCA Qualification moves with the times, continually evolving it so it’s relevant for tomorrow’s world. And we’re reimagining accountancy for the digital age, so that the roles of the future are more interesting, more meaningful and more valuable than ever.’