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How to become an Accountant? ATAR? Degree? (1 Viewer)

El Magnifico

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Been looking into accounting as a possible career path as it quiet interests me, but i have no idea what degree/s i would have to complete or even ATAR required to do these degrees and i've been searching the webs for awhile now. Any help?
 

ad infinitum

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Been looking into accounting as a possible career path as it quiet interests me, but i have no idea what degree/s i would have to complete or even ATAR required to do these degrees and i've been searching the webs for awhile now. Any help?
To become accountant:
-Make a list of things you enjoy
-Add to that list things you find interesting/funny/profound
-Contact Satan
-Trade this list (+your soul) to Satan for an accounting spot
-Live life of extreme boredom as a calculator drone
 

El Magnifico

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To become accountant:
-Make a list of things you enjoy
-Add to that list things you find interesting/funny/profound
-Contact Satan
-Trade this list (+your soul) to Satan for an accounting spot
-Live life of extreme boredom as a calculator drone
Okay done... now about the degree and Atar?
 

Shadowdude

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I think you just need General Maths - so you don't really need much. Maybe a TAFE course.
 

kroiston

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I think you just need General Maths - so you don't really need much. Maybe a TAFE course.
To get into accounting, you need more than a bloody TAFE course. If you want to be an actual accountant and work as one, you'll need to become a "Chartered Accountant" which means yu have to first get a Uni Degree. Degree's in things like Commerce, Economics, even some business courses might be able to get you to Charter level. Then after you do your degree you just do a accounting test thing, and you get your Chartered Accountant certificate.

Hope I helped you :)
 

bottomsup

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I would start off with a commerce or business degree with a major in accounting. UAI/ATAR cut-off varies with each uni but for most uni's in sydney you will need at least 90.

After you finish your degree you can consider doing your CA or CPA to become more qualified.

Have a look at these websites for more information:

How to become a Chartered Accountant

CPA Australia - Lounge

Hope this helps :)
 

ascentyx

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have u actually done accounting before because i suggest you do some at uni before decided you want to be an accountant. if you have fair enough but if you haven't you might realise it's the most boring career choice you could possibly choose :p
 

Monstar

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Alot of people seem to think its boring..

At first it does. But as the degree progresses youll find that the pieces fall into place and it starts to take shape. Its not that bad too be honest.

Finance is also very interesting.. but imo it really depends on the teaching staff.
 

whoisurdaddy

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I think the TAFE diplomas are only enough for bookkeeper/data entry roles. You definitely need a degree with an accounting major or CA/CPA qualifications to become an actual accountant.
 

shoxgeneration

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yea so as kroiston and others have said...

if you want to be a bookkeeper or admin/accountant etc type role: tafe should do it.

otherwise, if you want to be an actual accountant, regardless of the type - be it tax, forensic, audit, general etc - then you need a bachelor's degree.

traditionally, it should be something like B Business/Economics/Commerce/Actuarial - which normally for USYD/UNSW, it's around a 94-95 ATAR from the last time I checked. UTS is around lower 90s and not sure about the other uni's. You major normally in accounting and if possible, a 2nd major as well, then you graduate, and before you do you should get some prof. office experience - getting an internship with an accounting firm etc would be good and can guarantee you a graduate offer. Ultimately, you graduate and you work as an accountant in a firm - to be further specialised/increase your salary in the mid-term etc, it would be advisable to apply for and study to be a Chartered Accountant either via the CPA or CA normally whilst you're working. Your choice really.

Or otherwise of course, you can do a non-traditional degree if you have a strong interest in studying something other than accounting, and still apply for internships during uni for accounting firms, as some firms tend to open up to those who are not studying business degrees I believe?

that's the general gist of it.

and the best way to find out if you really are interested in being an accountant would be to get some real job experience working in the accounting field. and also, doing the intro courses to accounting which are normally compulsary for business degrees at uni - or of course, doing accounting as a course if it's offered, for your hsc.

ps. i don't want to be an accountant (any more) :) but good luck to you!
 
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Absolutezero

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You can do a B Commerce at uni, and just major in accountancy. You can get in with an ATAR around 75 at some uni's (possibly less). After that, you just have to become chartered, as bottomsup has listed.
 

meilz92

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this is what my friend is doing to become an accountant

1. advanced diploma of accounting (can be obtained via TAFE, dunno why shes going to TAFE though considering her ATAR was 91.80)
2. 1.5 years later, she will enter a bachelor of commerce majoring in accounting, which will only take another 1.5 years or something due to her diploma
3. register with CA/CPA to officially become an accountant

note: go to the CPA or CA website, and make sure u check the list of degrees that will be accepted by them for registration with teh CPA or as a chartered accountant.


edit: i did it for you...

http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/files/documents/2009 ATC List FINAL_08Dec09.pdf

http://www.cpacareers.com.au/apps/a...earch.aspx?CPSSessionID=SID-3F57FECB-D17D3BB2
 
Last edited:

El Magnifico

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Late, late reply i know, however the input had been quite appreciated.

I was too wondering however, how math based doing the Bachelor of commerce with a major in accounting will be?
 

RDX

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Late, late reply i know, however the input had been quite appreciated.

I was too wondering however, how math based doing the Bachelor of commerce with a major in accounting will be?
depends on the uni, most uni's just have a compulsory 1st year statistics subject which isn't too hard, but I know that some other uni's have a few other statsy subs thrown into an Accounting major (UoM definitely does!)

Other than that it shouldnt be too bad.
 

Absolutezero

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I'm doing the first year subject for it now, and the maths load is very minimal. From what I've heard, it doesn't get too much harder mathwise.
 

El Magnifico

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I'm doing the first year subject for it now, and the maths load is very minimal. From what I've heard, it doesn't get too much harder mathwise.
Is 2 Unit Maths compulsory, can i do the course with out it?

I'm currently in 2 Unit Maths, but am considering dropping to General as in the end it could give me another 5-6 ATAR points.
 

Absolutezero

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From what I can remember, for most courses it is not a prerequisite. UNSW might, but you'd have to check the website/ask someone here.
 

kaz1

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Is 2 Unit Maths compulsory, can i do the course with out it?

I'm currently in 2 Unit Maths, but am considering dropping to General as in the end it could give me another 5-6 ATAR points.
My mate who is doing an accounting major in Commerce said there's minimal maths so far in his accounting subject but he's only been in 5 weeks of a semester so there might be maths later on.
 

El Magnifico

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My mate who is doing an accounting major in Commerce said there's minimal maths so far in his accounting subject but he's only been in 5 weeks of a semester so there might be maths later on.
Yeah from what i have heard with the Accounting major, maths is minimal and im sure my knowledge of the course already will be more then enough. However is it compulsory to get into the course?
 

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