19 November 2007 
 
Domestic and international students studying accounting have attained prestigious paid work experience placements with Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia accredited firms. 
 
The 210 first year students secured places as part of Achiever Work Experience, the Institute’s annual initiative that recognises outstanding up and coming accounting talent across Australia.  
 
International Achiever Work Experience was introduced for the first time as a pilot in South Australia with five placements, to utilise the large number of international students in the state. 
 
The students will gain valuable hands-on experience in the accounting profession that will help them learn skills that may help them later in their degree and more importantly provides the opportunity to make a lasting impression with a potential graduate employer. 
 
The students that passed the initial application were selected to attend a rigorous selection process involving group activities and one-on-one interviews with Institute personnel and recruiters from accounting firms. 
 
“The Achiever Work Experience program helps marry students and employers together where students are chasing work experience opportunities, and employers are attempting to secure new accounting talent early on in their development and be less reliant on competitive graduate recruitment periods,” said Sheena Frenkel, General Manager Chartered Accountants Program, for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. 
 
Australia has experienced four years of continuous economic growth that, coupled with static domestic accounting students, has increased demand for accountants. The Achiever Work Experience program is the latest initiative from the Institute to help students learn more about the profession and help alleviate the accounting skills shortage for local employers.  
 
The work experience placements are from two to 12 weeks with Institute accredited firms ranging from the Big 4, mid-tier public practice firms, government and commerce organisations. The placements will be taken during the 2007 summer break.