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Womens conference offers advice for all
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16 August 2007 
 
Career development, mentoring, flexibility and enjoying life were the key themes covered in the ‘Women in Finance’ conference hosted this week by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the G100 in Sydney. 
 
More than 100 finance professionals attended the inaugural conference that addressed issues relating to career planning and development of people in finance roles in business, with particular emphasis on the perspective of women.  
 
The conference gave essential career advice to the predominantly female audience:

  • Career development is a conscious decision - ask, “What do I want to achieve?”
  • Be mentored - have a soundboard for your career
  • Enjoy what you do - only by being true to yourself can you achieve fulfilment
  • Lead by example - take control of your professional situation.
“The response from this conference shows that all organisations can benefit from creating a workplace that supports career development and flexibility. The acute skills shortage in this profession means that no employer can afford to be complacent. The conference highlighted how some high profile female executives have managed their career and what Australian organisations need to do to help create a sustainable culture,” said Lisette Cochineas, General Manager NSW, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. 
 
Delegates heard from Tom Pockett from Woolworths, Gillian Larkin from Citi Australia, Neil Waters from Ergon Zehnder International, Anne Brennan from CSR Limited, Cathryn Carver from ANZ Investment Bank, Kit Cheong from Coles Group Ltd and Rob DiMonte, the National President for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. 
 
“Mentoring was covered in detail as a policy that can have a positive effect on career growth and staff retention in the workplace. Even if your workplace doesn’t have a mentoring policy, everyone can find a mentor that will help structure and provide the direction to gain a fulfilling career,’ said Cochineas.  
 
The Institute introduced a formal three-year mentoring initiative with the Practical Experience Program last year, as part of the Chartered Accountants Program, the graduate diploma candidate’s study to become a Chartered Accountant. 
 
The Practical Experience Program was launched to meet the International Federation of Accountants standard that requires a structured, competency-based approach to developing the practical knowledge, skills and values of a professional accountant.