Advertisement

Advance Your Professional Accounting Career

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Advance Your Professional Accounting Career
An accounting top up degree allows MBAs to do exactly what its name suggests, and that is to add more education and qualification to an existing accounting degree. Business majors who earn an accounting degree often go on to work as accountants, and although an MBA is an excellent qualification in itself, depending on career ambitions, MBAs may decide that it's worth studying a little longer for an honours degree. Topping up on an accountant degree typically takes one year, a short amount of time when compared to the value that comes with an advanced degree. Accountants with advanced degrees, such as an accounting top up degree, often have an easier time landing an advanced position than accountants who have not topped up. 
Advertisement
In the business world, a bachelor's degree is the most common requirement in the accounting field. Many public and private firms require applicants to have at least a bachelor's degree to even be considered for most entry-level positions, and some organizations even require special certifications or licenses, so it only makes sense that adding to a bachelor's degree would enhance job prospects. There are several benefits to MBAs who opt for an accounting top up degree. Other than getting continued support to find a job, MBAs who top up will have demonstrated to employers that they have the academic, organizational, and management skills needed for their chosen career path. An accounting top up degree will open the floodgates of opportunity due to the added credibility. Employers give higher value to higher degrees and promotions are easier to get because MBAs who have topped up meet the educational requirements.
Due to the demand for higher education, there are several schools that offer accounting top up degree programs designed specifically for MBAs who are working or interested in working in an accounting function in business. Some of the areas covered in top up programs include financial management, taxation, auditing, and corporate governance in addition to accounting theory and its application. An accounting top up degree aims to meet maximum exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. The accounting top up degree, together with ACCA qualification, will give MBAs the greatest flexibility in career advancement. This rings true for all accounting positions, from auditing, taxation, management accounting, financial reporting, or management counseling.
In addition to the credibility and additional education, MBAs who complete the top up program are entitled to the maximum exemptions of nine ACCA papers. This brings business students closer to the status of a professional accountant. These professional qualifications allow top up degree holders to move in advanced accounting positions. Advanced positions may include supervisor, manager, controller, chief financial officers, or partner. Many experienced accountants even choose to open their own accounting firm, a much more likely possibility with the accounting top up degree.

It is plain to see that the benefits of pursuing an advanced degree in accounting are worth the extra year or more of studying. In fact, several companies often go as far as requiring current accounting employees to go back to school to further their accounting education. MBAs inherently know that it is always best to be one step ahead of the game. Successful MBAs will make the decision to get a head start on an accounting degree by taking the initiative to earn an accounting top up degree. MBAs with an interest in accounting need to connect with their school to discover if a top up degree program is offered, and if not, where one is offered. There is always room for advancement, and that is especially true in education.

Advertisement

 

Advertisement