Accounting

Accounting graduates understand how to analyse, interpret and communicate complex financial information to inform business decisions across all industries.

Accounting students gain a range of skills including financial analysis, analytical and strategic thinking, risk management, problem solving and report writing. They also develop the relevant commercial awareness and communication skills crucial to supporting their clients to make important decisions. Accounting in the 21^st century focuses less on calculations which can be automated and more on adding value in targeted business areas such as compliance, auditing, reporting or industry specific accounting work.

Roles and career pathways

Accounting graduates’ ability to analyse existing accounting and business practices, offer advice to streamline processes, manage compliance and risk, and make smart financial decisions make them valuable in the job market.

Most graduates who wish to practise as a Chartered Accountant must complete professional exams after three years of relevant work experience following graduation. However, graduates with a Master of Professional Accounting degree who have taken the CA pathway do not need to pass additional professional exams. Often accounting organisations will offer financial or study support for students who do need to take the professional exams. There are a number of different providers who offer the Chartered Accounting pathway, including:

Accounting graduates can work as generalist accountants or auditors, or specialise in business or financial audit, or work as tax, management, public sector or forensic accountants. Graduates may start in coordinator, financial officer, assistant accountant, graduate consultant or analyst roles before moving into more senior positions. First roles also include accounting technician, financial administrator, accounts officer or payroll coordinator.

Accounting graduates may also work in more general finance or business-related roles such as management consultants, financial advisers, public policy advisers, board executives, as policy analysts or business analysts, or as secondary school Accounting teachers. Some of these roles will require additional study or experience, including the Chartered Financial Analyst pathway.

Accounting students often study another commerce subject such as Management, Finance, Economics, Information Systems or Public Policy. Postgraduate study can lead to more specialised consulting, research and teaching.

Where Accounting graduates work

Accounting graduates work across all industries including for banks, government, insurance or global consulting. All businesses require some accounting expertise whether through in-house staff or the services of an individual accountant or accounting firm. A number of accounting graduates work for global professional services firms, including advisory firms where consultants can often be based in the offices of their clients. Graduates may be recruited through graduate programmes or enter the field via a specific role. Smaller businesses may allow for more diversity of work, while larger organisations may offer the opportunity to specialise or work overseas.

Recent graduates have worked for organisations such as:

Build relevant skills and experience

Internships, part-time work and volunteering all help to increase career options in CA and business advisory pathways for graduates. Employers from different sectors offer internship programmes for accounting students, including Grant Thornton, Department of Corrections, Fonterra and BDO, while EY offers opportunities for first and second year students to connect with their taster student and entry-level programmes.

The University's student-led Business Consulting Club offer real-word opportunities to work on business problems with local employers during competition events. Getting involved in a University club in a role such as treasurer will also help enhance to your employability after you graduate. Programmes such as Wellington Plus and the Wellington International Leadership Programme (WILP) develop important leadership skills and community connections that can add value and diversity to an Accounting degree.

Make career connections

Some professional accounting associations such as Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand CA ANZ offer affiliated student memberships and opportunities to learn and network with future employers. INFINZ (Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand) also offers student memberships to those interested in more general finance careers. Other regional networking associations such as the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Sustainable Busines Network, and Wellington Young Professionals offer various events and opportunities for networking. VicCom is a student-led group that offers a range of business networking and social events for Commerce students. Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Alumni as Mentors scheme for final-year students can also help enhance your connections and employability while studying.