Event Review | Explore the Accounting Industry: Talent Demand and Career Development Workshop

Recently, IBSS Work placement, Employability and Career Development (WEC) team successfully held the accounting industry sharing event as part of the "Explore the Corporate World" series. This event invited senior executives from listed company finance department and the Big Four accounting firms, IBSS outstanding alumni, and IBSS professor in accounting field, to discuss the industry's expectations and demands for talents.

The event was hosted by IBSS career counsellor Ms. Hailu Hou. The roundtable forum invited four guest speakers, including Mr Ronggao Bian, Finance Director of Innovent Biologics, Inc., Ms Lijia Ye, former HR Manager of PwC, Dr Samuel Kwok, IBSS Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting, and Ms Yuxi Yang, IBSS outstanding accounting alumni, with extensive experience in both PwC and SCYTS. They analyzed the core business and development trends of the accounting industry from their respective professional perspectives and provided valuable career development advice to our students.

Dr Samuel Kwok，IBSS Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting

Dr Samuel Kwok encouraged students to maintain curiosity and creativity in the era of AI. He advised students to make full use of AI technology, focus on personal development, and cultivate their relevant abilities. He suggested that students who are not sure about their desired industry could start by gaining experience at accounting firms, and emphasized the importance of respecting corporate culture and developing a sense of identification with their work.

Ms Lijia Ye, Former HR Manager of PwC

Ms Lijia Ye introduced the core business and talent recruitment requirements of the Big Four accounting firms. She noted that the recruitment volume for audit positions is relatively large, while the competition for consulting positions is more intense. She advised students to have their own understanding of the industry, and it is important to cultivate critical thinking skills and business insights. She also suggested our students to pay attention to national policies and development directions so that they can choose their own career path.

Mr Ronggao Bian, Finance Director of Innovent Biologics, Inc.

Mr Ronggao Bian introduced the job divisions and capability requirements of the finance department in a typical listed company, mainly divided into two major areas: financial accounting and financial BP (business decision support). He advised students to delve into their professional fields during their studies and internships, while also enhancing their soft skills, preferably taking the opportunity to rotate through management trainee programme, and to plan for their future careers with a forward-looking approach.

Ms Yuxi Yang, SCYTS (state-owned tourism company) Internal Audit

As IBSS outstanding accounting alumni, Ms Yuxi Yang shared the main differences in her work experience between the Big Four accounting firm and state-owned company. She advised students to enhance self-awareness, and gradually develop some good working habits during internships, especially learn to respect rules at work, and be good at interpersonal relationships.

The accounting industry sharing event received many positive feedbacks from the students, indicating that they had a better understanding of the work content in the accounting industry and clearer about their future career plan. Ms Hailu Hou, IBSS career counsellor, stated that the WEC team is committed to bridging the gap between university and employers. Through a series of career counselling, career activities, soft skills training, CV clinics, mock interviews and other projects, they help students gain a deeper understanding of the possibilities for future career development and the skills they need to improve. WEC will continue to hold roundtable forums covering various industries, including consulting, Internet, and manufacturing, to build a platform for students to understand different industries and interact with industry professionals. We look forward to meeting with students again to explore the corporate world together.

News edited by: Xiaoyan Zhang and Ms. Hailu Hou
Photography: Yitong Liu, Yifan Zhang