Career in ERP Implementation

[Geminian]

Salam!

What I want is the comments of members regarding career prospects for a Chartered Accountant in the field of ERP implementation.
Basically, around the world, ERP implentation is done through Cross Functional Teams (CFT) of professionals which comprises accountants as very important members as most organizational activities requisite the application, implication or relationship to finance & accounting.

But working in such evironment (ERP Implentation) does take you somewhat away from the core specialized areas of accounting, Taxation & Financial managemet, especially during rigrous implementation phases (people having experience/knowledge in this field will readily grasp this phenomenon).

So, does this field take u away from ur core competencies by stereotyping u as a system implementor?

What r the oppurtunities for accountants having worked in this field both within Pakistan & abroad?

Pls Comment.

[XBRL]

well as far as erp in pakistan is concerned... its future is very bright in pakistan. again talkin abt lahore and native only one firm AFF is providing fopr the erp implementation through CA's. in KHI two others are there too.

ERP implementation is not an easy task. its really a long long job,,, which requires inputs at ceratin level from qualified acct. in respect of accts, fin mgt. and taxation but u r rt that one has to be only in line with erp's forgetting the core of accounting qualification.
but then still i would say that one has to select the future i mean ERP specialists are monopolistics and they are being offered in 6 figures currently. Certain org. requires it as one of the pre requisite.. so
what i say is that it has a future..its a specialist field as like Tax practice.
ya another thing it gives u a lot of revenue but still its the most risky field as u have to stick up until the post implementation period is over....

[Geminian]

Thanx for ur thoughts XBRL.

I would say that an accountants role in an ERP implementation is pretty much limited to that of an accounting system implementation. In that context, a no. of firms that are providing Accounting systems, in fact many provide their own custom-made solutions/softwares. So, the market is wider than 3 players.

I'm basically referring to the STEREO-TYPING phenomenon.

I mean does spending more time within this field create hurdles for reverting to traditional accountant fields (using ERPs only as a tool)

& does more time spent lower ur market value as an 'accountant' & not as an ERP specialist?

ur inputs please...

[Geminian]

Thanx for ur thoughts XBRL.

I would say that an accountants role in an ERP implementation is pretty much limited to that of an accounting system implementation. In that context, a no. of firms that are providing Accounting systems, in fact many provide their own custom-made solutions/softwares. So, the market is wider than 3 players.

I'm basically referring to the STEREO-TYPING phenomenon.

I mean does spending more time within this field create hurdles for reverting to traditional accountant fields (using ERPs only as a tool)

& does more time spent lower ur market value as an 'accountant' & not as an ERP specialist?

ur inputs please...

[XBRL]

Acha i got ur question,,,

Well it may be correct that accountants role in ERP is specific however it must be notred that what i have seen is that these accountants do have IT related degrees too. There ERP is specific to SAP and Oracle Financial's Modules. Professionals of Siemens, IBM and other good organisation do implement these ERP but the founders of ERP say this tends to be more like an accounting + IT person rather than a fully IT trained person (thus implying for the big three to be the top players). You can say that accountants have a competitive advantage.

Secondaly ur question is of reverting bak with the same reputation.....

Well it depends. totally depends on the nature of sector in which u r reverting bak. Some industries tends to favour specialists for every post and thus and erp wspecialist would likely to be the one , however ceratin industreis are flexible and thus they may accept rather give priority. Plus the point that will it be a difficult task in reverting bak... it may be as regards the highlyu specialised and updating areas but at the end of day this problem can ultimately be covered.....


As far as pakistani industrrial setup is concerned, ERP specialist accountants will have a better job and growth option.

(have i conveyed the answer...)

[alizain]

If one wants to be an ERP Consultant then s/he should forget that s/he is an Accountant. ERP Implementation is different profession. His background will help him somewhat. But there is a sea of knowledge to learn in many (HR, Supply Chain, CRM, Financial, Controlling, SRM etc. So one does not have be a qualified accountant to become consultant of Financials.

[Zikria Yamin]

SORRY FOR INTERRUPTION,
Please tell the meanings of ERP and its back ground along with future.

[SHaiTaaN]

how to start the career in ERP consultancy.