ACCA Pakistan Talent Gymnasium Lahore
By Mahvash Khan (Lahore)
Accountancy, a profession I never wanted to opt in because my mind was not at all set to deal with the number crunching figures, box calculators, wear thick glasses, and have my hair go haywire. However as far as I realized this “Accounting syndrome” existed not because of my lifelong hatred for numbers but because the way were taught at school. We delved in numbers and just kept the theory right rather than establish the logic and reason with the evolving accounting concepts.
Things have changed over the last few years. In Gen-Y days, ACCA Accountants are more than mere number crunchers. They have evolved from being an ordinary Accountant to “Business Doctors /Managers”. They have gone way ahead from the traditional book keeping to problem-solve, analyze, create, seek solutions, pamper, train, teach, write books, shop, investigate, travel, and own businesses
It has been noticed that a number of ACCA students in Pakistan, despite their hard work and knowledge, do not perform well on their jobs and find coping with team conflicts as the toughest part, and even those who survive the corporate race, their roles are not up to their expectations.
With the intention of supporting such students in enhancing their success rate with the employers and to realize “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, ACCA Pakistan had organized a triathlon “Talent Gymnasium-2011” in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where the facilitators of the workshop will highlight the tactics one needs to perform well not only for their employment but understand the tactics it takes to survive in the corporate world.
ACCA Talent Gymnasium in Lahore, second of the triathlon series took place in Lahore at PC on Jan 24, 2011. Around 100 students, ACCA trainees and even management members of the ALPs attended the event all together.
Agenda
The main agenda of the program was set with the “ Ab Cruncher” session on interpersonal and team building skills facilitated by the well known Shireen Naqvi of SOL and Sohail Zindani of Learning Minds.
A “Bicep Builder” discussion forum was also scheduled led by Mr. Arif Masud Mirza, Head of ACCA Pakistan, Ms. Elena , Recruitment Manager at Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd, Mr. Jawdat Hassan , ACCA Credit Risk Review Central Risk Management Group, MCB Pakistan, Mr. Farooq Hameed Khawaja , Senior Manager Audit, Ernst & Young and Mr. Khurram Raza Bakhtayari, Manager Project Finance, Packages Ltd.
Lastly a much detailed session “Quadriceps Toner” on teambuilding and interpersonal skills was scheduled facilitated by much of the same facilitators but with the different perspective.
Q/A Session
When the forum was out up for questions, the students gave very interesting viewpoints, to which the panelists readily responded to. Some of the most prominent questions the students put up are given as below:
Q: With the growing numbers of ACCA students in the region, what efforts is ACCA Pakistan undertaking to promote the qualification with the employers and to earn their recognition?
Answered by Mr. Arif Masud Mirza: I find it very funny when students ask that with Packages on my right, E &Y , MCB and Coca Cola on my left. (pointing the company representatives sitting on his left and right).
Q: what do employers look for while screening through the resumes for the induction process?
Answered by Mr. Arif Masud Mirza: The extra curricular and interest put forward by the student that shows how outgoing and confident a student has.
Ms. Elena , Recruitment Manager at Coca Cola : I prefer looking at the projects or the companies students have worked previously with . In case of a fresh ACCA Affiliate, I look at the projects and tasks that the student undertook at academic level.
The agenda that took over discussion all the time is the years long debate of the difference between ACCA and ICAP qualifications. In my opinion, not that I am biased towards ICAP students or members but ACCA strongly emancipate style and are more diverse in their roles in Assurance Services, Consulting Services, Environmental Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Information Technology (IT) Services, International Accounting, Litigation Support, Tax and Financial Planning, Valuation Services.
Cheers for ACCA!
Comments (1)
any pics of lahore event……