11-20-2004, 01:29 PM
Azeem
It is quite interesting to guess your background in accounting in U.K.
A part of this argument going back and forth between accountants ACCA AND CA, I have really enjoyed some of the learning aspects. I wanted to bring to your attention that I admire your broad thinking approach or what you referred to as 'global'. Unfortunately, in Pakistan a lot people fail to look at things from a 360 standpoint. I am upset about the fact that some of us put us in a box. That is one reason why you can see us left so far behind from the rest of the World.
In my opinion, (and I am sure you will agree with me on this) accounting is not just a profession of technical skills, it is a lot more than that communication skills, diplomatic skills, team building skills, team leading skills, negotiating skills and most importantly coordinating skills between all the other skill sets.
Now, one thing I will agree - Pakistani CA's probably excel at technical skill of the profession, About other skills I am not sure if ICAP does a good job testing them and so I have a big question mark on that aspect. (In my opinion) Studying one thing for 7-10 years to get a CA desigantion will not help as much as getting out in the real world and working for a Big 4 for a couple years. What I am trying to say is that ICAP tests students on the ability to retain information. Which is ofcourse not a fault of ICAP students, but indeed of the institution itself. They talk about their own Pakistan standards and prestige, but in the end now they are all following ACCA's and AICPA's standards. But one thing I did wanted to mention Azeem, and that is don't argue over this global and broad approach that you look at things with because it is a very hard concept to grasp for Easterners and frankly its not their fault, cus thats just the way system works around there! You wont be able to talk that global sense into them... However will all due respect I consider CA candidates very very hardworking if not anything else.
I am fortunate to explore that option earlier in my career and made a move to States AND I encourage every brother from back home to pursue the same step. This is my last year of accounting in college and I am joining Ernst & Young in the up coming year. Anyway, apart of this discussion I wanted to mention this Sarbanes Oxley (SOX 404) has increased workload on accountants to an escalated degree here in U.S.
How has this impacted in UK, or has it?
Pls post your comment cus it will be interesting discussion point for me. You may want to email me so we can get this personal discussion going onthe side...
Thanks much bro..
Talha Khan
[email protected]
It is quite interesting to guess your background in accounting in U.K.
A part of this argument going back and forth between accountants ACCA AND CA, I have really enjoyed some of the learning aspects. I wanted to bring to your attention that I admire your broad thinking approach or what you referred to as 'global'. Unfortunately, in Pakistan a lot people fail to look at things from a 360 standpoint. I am upset about the fact that some of us put us in a box. That is one reason why you can see us left so far behind from the rest of the World.
In my opinion, (and I am sure you will agree with me on this) accounting is not just a profession of technical skills, it is a lot more than that communication skills, diplomatic skills, team building skills, team leading skills, negotiating skills and most importantly coordinating skills between all the other skill sets.
Now, one thing I will agree - Pakistani CA's probably excel at technical skill of the profession, About other skills I am not sure if ICAP does a good job testing them and so I have a big question mark on that aspect. (In my opinion) Studying one thing for 7-10 years to get a CA desigantion will not help as much as getting out in the real world and working for a Big 4 for a couple years. What I am trying to say is that ICAP tests students on the ability to retain information. Which is ofcourse not a fault of ICAP students, but indeed of the institution itself. They talk about their own Pakistan standards and prestige, but in the end now they are all following ACCA's and AICPA's standards. But one thing I did wanted to mention Azeem, and that is don't argue over this global and broad approach that you look at things with because it is a very hard concept to grasp for Easterners and frankly its not their fault, cus thats just the way system works around there! You wont be able to talk that global sense into them... However will all due respect I consider CA candidates very very hardworking if not anything else.
I am fortunate to explore that option earlier in my career and made a move to States AND I encourage every brother from back home to pursue the same step. This is my last year of accounting in college and I am joining Ernst & Young in the up coming year. Anyway, apart of this discussion I wanted to mention this Sarbanes Oxley (SOX 404) has increased workload on accountants to an escalated degree here in U.S.
How has this impacted in UK, or has it?
Pls post your comment cus it will be interesting discussion point for me. You may want to email me so we can get this personal discussion going onthe side...
Thanks much bro..
Talha Khan
[email protected]
