Accounting

Around 60 to 70 per cent of accounting graduates from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are able to find jobs in one of the Big Four audit firms. Others go to work in places such as banks. There are clearly a lot of job opportunities for accounting graduates in the market.

To a certain extent, accountants from Hong Kong enjoy an advantage over others. As mainland companies seek to list in Hong Kong, local accountants can play a role in helping mainland companies achieve their goals. What's more, as the mainland has also been actively developing its accounting and auditing industry in recent years, it is hungry for talent. Having the ability to speak Mandarin well will greatly enhance the chance of getting hired in the mainland, though young people in Hong Kong should be aware of the competition they will face from mainland graduates.

Apart from the mainland, other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, also welcome accountants from Hong Kong, and may even provide higher salaries. If young people want to work in these places, they should improve their English skills.

Professor Chen Tai-yuan, associate professor, Department of Accounting, Business School, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
As told to Chiu Po-sze