***Embargoed until 5am AEDT 10 November 2024
LEDGER-ENDARY ACCOUNTANTS CELEBRATED ON INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTANTS DAY
Today marks International Accountants Day and Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) is celebrating the ledger-endary work accountants do to help businesses thrive and support economies.
With nearly 140,000 Chartered Accountants ANZ members making a difference alongside millions of professional accountants around the world, CA ANZ CEO Ainslie van Onselen said today is an important opportunity to showcase their vital role and attract more young people to the profession.
“Chartered Accountants are vital to the success of our businesses, not-for-profits and public institutions. They provide not only financial expertise, but leadership that makes a real difference to the communities they serve,” Ms van Onselen said.
“Accountants are behind every sporting team you support, brand you love, service you engage and game you play, which is why it is critical that we boost the number of accounting professionals in Australia.”
“Whether it’s Tiffany Slater CA smashing it as General Manager of the Women’s Elite Program or Anthony De Filippis CA, founder and lead accountant for accounting business Amplify 11 which serves clients in the music, entertainment and creative arts industries, we have members doing amazing things in creative industries, and the opportunities are huge.”
CA ANZ’s Make Epic Things Happen campaign profiles Tiffany and Anthony, as well as a range of CAs in industries from gaming and entertaining to sustainability and technology, in both articles and videos.
Although Chartered Accountants are in demand in Australia, supply is shrinking. Student enrolments in accounting degrees at universities have almost halved since 2018, leaving a 31,000-talent shortfall in the profession’s pipeline by 2028.
Ms van Onselen said CA ANZ’s Make Epic Things Happen campaign is playing an important role in attracting young people to the profession.
“Our Make Epic Things Happen campaign has reached more than 3.11 million cinemagoers, with more than 25,000 people visiting our campaign landing page to find out more about careers in accounting, audit and finance.
“The recent addition of tax accountants and auditors to Australia’s Occupation Shortage List last month highlights the need for more tax professionals but does not go far enough to address the shortfall.
“CA ANZ has called on the federal government to urgently add other critical accounting occupations, including management accountants and general accountants, to the list. We are also advocating for accounting degrees to be more affordable and recognised as a STEM subject,” Ms van Onselen said.
International Accountants Day is celebrated on 10 November each year. On this day in 1494, Venetian mathematician Luca Bartolomeo (also known as “The Father of Accounting”) published his first book on bookkeeping. The day was created to promote the industry and inspire younger generations to embark on an accounting career.
For more information on how CA ANZ is recognising the accounting profession today, please visit https://caanz.com/IAD24
ENDS
Media Contact
Gillian Bowen
M +61 (0)411 485 421
About Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand represents more than 139,000 financial professionals, supporting them to make a difference to the businesses, organisations and communities in which they work and live. Chartered Accountants are known as Difference Makers. The depth and breadth of their expertise helps them to see the big picture and chart the best course of action.