For Lincoln Chan, a final-year accounting and finance student at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), spending a day with a CPA professional was an insightful experience.
As one of the students at last year’s HKICPA Career Forum selected to join the Shadow CPA programme, Chan followed a CPA professional throughout his workday to get a close look at what a particular job involves.
“I was able to see first-hand what an accounting professional does during the working day,” says Chan, who spent his time with Hong Kong Science and Technology Park’s then vice-president of finance and corporate services.
Chan says in addition to attending meetings and asking questions about operations at the Science Park, he probed his mentor on what types of education and training are required for the leadership team what skills are necessary for succeeding in this career.
For Chan – who is interested in joining the consultancy area of the finance sector and, at a later stage in his career, business management – the Shadow CPA programme was a prime opportunity to see the business world through the eyes of a senior executive working at a large organisation.
Not only did Chan gain insights into the inner-workings of a possible future career, he was able to form personal relationships that could develop into beneficial networking opportunities.
“The VP asked me to follow up with him with a summary of my day, so we remain in contact,” says Chan, who is also an executive committee member of the HKUST Accounting Students’ Society. The relationship built with the VP also enables him to meet CPA partners and experienced professional services practitioners.
Furthermore, Chan says the Shadow CPA programme experience has provided him with good talking points to bring up during internship and job interviews.
The Shadow CPA programme is part of the HKICPA Career Forum. Applicants are required to register online, submit their CV and write a short essay of no more than 200 words on “Why I should be selected for the Shadow CPA Programme”.
This article appeared in the Classified Post print edition as Shadow CPA programme offers unparalleled access.
