"There could be as many as 1,000 new IPOs over the next three or four years, which means it will be a very exciting but challenging time for financial professionals involved in this area of the industry," says Roy Lo, FCPA (Aust.), deputy managing partner at Shinewing (HK) CPA.
"No two projects are ever the same, which ensures the work is interesting. For instance, employees have the opportunity to work with clients across industry sectors including resources, telecommunications, automobile manufacturing, banking, industrial and technology," he says.
Lo, whose firm focuses on mainland assurance, taxation, audit, IPO advisory facilities, risk management and corporate finance consultancy, says working on IPOs could provide a stepping stone to other career paths.
"Involvement with the mainland and Hong Kong capital markets, including the A-share markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen, means there is interaction with regulatory bodies, including the Securities and Futures Commission," he says.
"This type of work is good preparation to become a chief finance officer of a listed company or launch a career in investment banking."
He adds that to become successful, young accountants need to be prepared to learn about the mainland business culture, corporate governance and develop communications skills, which include achieving a high standard of Putonghua.
Lo says Shinewing provides employees with on-the-job training along with the coaching and the necessary support to obtain qualifications. He says the firm's top-down experience sharing and mentoring helps employees correct weaknesses and maximise their strengths.
