Meet a Chartered Accountant...

Name: Yvonne Gatis CA Position: Manager – Business Advisory Services Organisation: PKF Chartered Accountants

My journey as a Chartered Accountant began after I completed my HSC and wanted to learn how to lodge my income tax return for whatever career I chose. It may sound silly but at 18 I was concerned that if someone else lodged my tax return I would have no idea if they did it correctly. The most obvious answer to my paranoia was to enrol in an accounting degree at university.

A typical day

Like most people I imagined that as an accountant you work studiously during the day and late into the evening "counting beans" and punching the air with excitement after solving some complicated tax issue. After I started working I quickly found out that it was just a stereotype. A typical day for me usually consists of a mixed bag of responsibilities from liaising with clients and managing client work, planning work schedules for audit and tax seasons and mentoring other accountants through training programs. Each day is always different and never boring. I'm glad that I chose to do an accounting degree as I'd be lost without it.

The most exciting part of my career is that I have met some pretty famous and important people from Australia and around the world – sorry I can't name drop. Also I get to travel to some places in Australia that I've never been to before and probably would never have thought to go to.

The Chartered Accountants Program

When it came time in my career to further my studies I compared the Chartered Accountants Program against some others that were available and I chose to complete the Chartered Accountants Program as I preferred the delivery method offered. I preferred the use of learning material in conjunction with focus sessions and Blackboard, where you have an opportunity to ask questions and work through areas of less familiarity. The contact with others I believe strengthens the ability to learn concepts and put them into practice.

However, the Program is challenging and quite different to what you experience at university. You need to be fully committed to the Program by using good time management techniques to balance work, study and leisure time. Once you put in the effort the results speak for themselves. You feel challenged but at the same time know you have learned more about being an accountant than you would normally be exposed to.

The benefits of completing the Program are numerous. And it’s not just about the money!

• Employers look at you in a different light as completing the Program proves that you are not just another accountant
• You have worked hard to obtain further knowledge and this helps you stand out from the crowd
• Clients have greater respect and satisfaction that a Chartered Accountant is assigned to them
• You expand your knowledge further through new client work and this will help you to build your long term career.

Advice

Looking back, if I had my time again I would have studied harder and sooner. It wasn't easy studying while working full time and having a family. It wasn't the best idea to also add planning a big fat Greek wedding into the mix for punishment! However I wouldn't change my decision on choosing a mid tier Chartered Accounting firm like PKF as my employer during my time as a candidate. PKF encouraged me to keep up and finish my post-graduate studies. It’s a good feeling when you finish.

The best advice I can give anyone looking to become a Chartered Accountant would be to make sure you are committed before you start the Program. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication and you need to love what you are doing. The Program not only tests and strengthens your accounting knowledge but also whether you have what it takes to be a great accountant – and that makes the biggest difference.