The tradition of mentoring has long been a key element in the overall experience of a trainee Chartered Accountant, Sheena Frenkel General Manager of the Chartered Accountants Program & Admissions, shares her thoughts on this important role.

Two years ago the International Federation of Accountants brought out a new standard which formalised the role of mentor as a mandatory part of accountancy education. That’s why the Institute introduced a new Practical Experience Framework in 2006 in which the mentor plays a central role. Key to this new approach is to realise that the role of the mentor, while central, is not one of supervisor or line manager, although it shares some elements.

From the candidate’s perspective the role of mentor in essence should be someone:

• To be accountable to – allowing you to shape your goals and to keep you on track
• To help you refine your ideas – using the mentor’s experience to road test an idea before letting it loose on unsuspecting clients or colleagues
• That has good ideas to advance your career – exposing you to the right work experience and progressively more challenging assignments
• That has the contacts you need – and knows where to find the information you need
• Who is independent – who can see things afresh when you have a problem.

A mentor’s aim is to show how rather than just doing it. To guide candidates in who they need to be, to do what they need to do, and to have what they want to have. For Chartered Accountants this is embodied in the values, ethics and standards of your training and your profession.