Career Talk

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Career Talk for Secondary School Careers Masters
and Accounting Teachers
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Hong Kong Institute of Accredited Accounting
Technicians
by Mr. Andy Li Board Member, Hong Kong Institute
of Accredited Accounting Technicians
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Rebranding

• Effective TODAY!! (18 February 2006)

The Hong Kong Association of Accounting
Technicians (HKAAT)
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AAT The Backbone of Business

• Founded in 1988. A subsidiary of the Hong Kong
  Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Nurtures a pool of outstanding accounting
  technicians to serve the business world
• Provides a seamless progression for those who
  aspire to become qualified accountants.

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Statistics Highlight

• No. of students taking our examination since
  1989 over 80,000
• Student population in 2006 7,332
• Member population over 800 (since its inception
  in May 2004)

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Why Accountancy?

• Professional qualification
• Good financial rewards
• Challenge
• Good job prospect
• Broad exposure
• Job security (no matter in good or bad economy)
• Versatile

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The Accounting Professionals
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
AAT (Accredited Accounting Technician)
Accounting Clerk
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Who are Accounting Technicians?

• Reliable, dynamic, professional people who play
  a vital role in the financial affairs of every
  organisation business or otherwise
• Companies reply on accounting technicians to
  keep the wheels of commerce turning. They are
  the backbone of business!
• Accredited Accounting Technicians are highly
  sought after in the public and private sectors
  from CPA firms, SMEs to giant multinational
  organisations.

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Career Paths of AATs
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Route to become an AAT
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Start a career as AAT OR Further academic and
professional advancement, e.g. PBE, accounting
degree
Post-ATE (Optional)
Core
Accounting Technician Examination (ATE)
Certified Accounts Clerk (CAC) Career Oriented
Curriculum (COC) course
Pre-ATE (Optional)
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Pre-ATE - Certified Accounts Clerk (CAC)

• Book-keeping and Accounts Examination
• Computerised Accounts Examination

Confirms ability in basic bookkeeping and
knowledge of computerised accounting entry
systems. Holders are qualified for entry level
accounting positions.
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Career Oriented Curriculum (COC) course

• The first COC course in accounting
• Practical and professional
• Interactive learning (workshops, projects, case
  studies, presentation and visits)
• One course for dual awards a COC certificate a
  CAC certificate (at a nominal fee 110)
• Outstanding students will be awarded scholarship
  granted by HKIAAT
• Train-the-trainers programme specially designed
  for accounting teachers in secondary schools
• Prospective AAT club for COC students

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Core - Accounting Technician Examination (ATE)
Paper 1 - Financial Accounting Paper 2 - Business
Communication Paper 3 - Cost Accounting Paper 4 -
Information Technology Applications in
Accounting Paper 5 - Hong Kong Taxation Paper 6 -
Hong Kong Business Law Paper 7 - Advanced
Accounting Paper 8 - Auditing
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Characteristics of ATE

• Syllabi match Hong Kongs market needs.
  Practical and comprehensive
• Well-recognised by the government, employers,
  educational institutes and professional bodies
• We offer flexibility. Students can attain each
  level of qualification at their own pace
• Open examination

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Multiple Entries

• Age 16 or above. No education or work
  experience required
• Exemptions are offered to those who possess a
  comparable level of competency in accountancy

HKALE Principles of Accounts Grade C or
above Exemption from Papers 1 3
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Multiple Exits
Professional Recognition
Associate (AAT) ???????
Fellow (FAAT) ?????????
Completion of ATE 1 year full-time relevant
work experience or its equivalent
Completion of ATE 5 years full-time relevant
work experience
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Multiple Exits
Career Opportunities

• A ticket to any industry sector for a secure and
  rewarding career
• A well-recognised qualification highly sought
  after in the public and private sectors
  including the government e.g. IRD
• Security of jobs ranging from accounting clerk,
  accounting assistant to accounting supervisor

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(No Transcript)
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Multiple Exits
Academic Advancement
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Post ATE Professional Bridging Examination (PBE)
Paper I Financial Reporting Paper II
Management Accounting Paper III Financial
Management Paper IV Legal Environment
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Characteristics of PBE

• Recognised by the government as an equivalent to
  an accounting degree for employment e.g. IRD,
  Treasury, Office of the Commissioner of
  Insurance, Audit Commission, Official Receivers
  Office
• Academic advancement - receives advanced
  standing for bachelor degrees (HKU SPACE
  University of Greenwich) and direct entry to
  master degree (Curtin University of Technology)
• Professional advancement enables admission to
  Hong Kong Institute of CPAs Qualification
  Programme

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New Examination Structure
To be implemented in December 2007 or the latest
in June 2008
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Objectives of Changes

• An up-to-date professional examination structure
  to help students meet the expanding challenges
• A smooth pathway for secondary school leavers to
  pursue a higher accounting qualification
• A stream-lined structure to reduce any possible
  overlap of topics

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Your views and comments on the proposed structure
are most WELCOME!
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Individual school talks can be arranged. Please
contact us at 2823 0600.
CPA (HKICPA member)
auditing experience (1-2.5 years)
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HKIAAT Secretariat
17/F., Fortis Bank Tower 77-79 Gloucester
Road Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel [phone] Fax 2823
0606 Hotline [phone] E-mail
hkiaat_at_hkiaat.org Web www.hkiaat.org
CPA (HKICPA member)
auditing experience (1-2.5 years)