How to become an accountant

To become a qualified accountant, you have to start by gaining a relevant undergraduate or Masters degree accredited by a professional body, such as the Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) Australia, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The next step involves gaining practical experiences such as internships and entry-level positions. Following these, specialisation in a certain area such as auditing or even management accounting along with continuous professional development will assist you to advance in your career.

But how do you know accounting is right for you?

According to Dr. Prabashi Dharmasiri, Lecturer of Accounting at RMIT, "Accounting is a diverse discipline that keeps constantly evolving due to changing stakeholder needs. The best piece of advice is to keep an open mind to the possibilities and opportunities out there ranging from simple financial recordkeeping keeping to assurance of contemporary issues such as sustainability. In addition, when planning your long-term career goals, it is imperative to understand where your talents could best suit to keep you motivated."

"At RMIT, an accounting student will experience a dynamic mix of interactive workshops, self-directed study, and industry engagement activities. Students can develop their analytical and communication skills through innovative educational tools like simulations and case studies” Dr. Thai explains.

"Students will develop critical skills and how to apply them through attending workshops. Students can also expect technology embedment across many courses in the form of games, data visualisation and analysis.” Says Dr. Dharmasiri.

Upon graduation you will be eligible for membership with a professional accounting body such as the internationally recognised CPA Australia, CIMA, ACCA, or CAANZ.  

Graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Accounting meet the educational requirements for registration as a tax agent as prescribed by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) under the Tax Agent Services Act (2009). There are other conditions to be met in order to register as a tax agent (including a supervised work experience component) and graduates seeking tax agent registration are urged to check current licensing requirements with the TPB.

A completed Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping will meet the minimum educational requirements to register as a BAS agent within Australia as prescribed by the Tax Practitioners Board under the Tax Agent Services Act (2009).