Skills for Change | Celebrating International Accountants Day

Today is the International Accountants Day! On this day, we celebrate and recognize the contributions of all accountants. Skills for Change especially acknowledges the internationally-trained accountants and the hundreds of accountants whom we had the privilege to serve and work with.

For more than fifteen years, Skills for Change has run Accounting programs for hundreds of internationally trained professionals who come to Canada with professional experience in Accounting/Bookkeeping and Finance. Through our accounting programs, we have supported new Canadian immigrants and refugees in gaining the proper training and right employment in the field of Accounting. Continuing to this day, our Accounting program is one of our popular programs at Skills for Change.

This year in December, we are excited to have 15 students graduate from our Occupational Bridging Program in Accounting and Finance. Designed for internationally trained professionals, this program provides training on Canadian Accounting and Financial systems in Canada. Just in the recent past four years, our Occupational Bridging Program in Accounting has provided 85 internationally-trained professionals with up-to-date accounting and financial software training. Since the students who enroll are usually new to the country, Skills for Change’s Accounting program provides workshops about Canadian workplace environment and culture, and training to enhance language, interpersonal and technical skills needed in the Canadian context. Through this program, Skills for Change has supported hundreds of internationally trained accountants to gain Canadian work experience and employment in their field.

Mentoring Event at CPA Ontario Office

Radhika Sharma leads the Bridging Program in Accounting at Skills for Change and says that one of the highlights of the program is the opportunity for the program participants to connect with different employers, especially with companies like CPA Ontario.

“In addition to the accounting training, we hold information and mentoring sessions with our partner CPA Ontario, which has been a very popular component for our students. Most of our students are interested in getting their CPA designation. As such, mentoring sessions, symposiums and workshops led by CPA Ontario staff points our students in the right direction and provides insights into advancing their career in Accounting. Such events also help our clients connect with many established professionals in the Accounting field.”

Skills for Change has held many events with different companies including mentoring events in partnership with companies such as RBC on career workshops and has brought big and small employers to lead resume workshops, career training, interviewing coaching, etc.

Workshop led by CPA Ontario staff at Skills for Change

Radhika says that her favourite part of running this program over the years has been seeing the end result where students of this program get employment, especially when they are employed by the company of their placement.

“It gives me an immense pleasure when our students get employed after our program. Many of our students come from all around the world. Many lack direction in taking a new career step in a new country and many are on social assistance. However, through our Bridging Program in Accounting, we are able to support our program participants in becoming independent and getting a good job in their field. That is very rewarding to me,” says Radhika.

Skills for Change’s Occupational Bridging Program in Accounting & Finance is offered in partnership with the City of Toronto – Toronto Employment & Social Services Division. The duration of the program is for 26 weeks, which includes 20 weeks of training and 6 weeks of placement.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, we encourage you to visit our website: http://skillsforchange.org/accounting-finance-program/ For additional information you can contact Radhika at 416.658.3101 x216 or email her at rsharma@skillsforchange.org

Below are some more details about the program:

Program Requirements:

Legally entitled to work in Canada
Have Canadian Language Benchmark Level 7+
Be familiar with keyboards/computers
Have knowledge and experience in the accounting or finance field
This program is open to all suitable candidates on social assistance

Training Includes:

Review of Bookkeeping and Accounting Principles and System
MS Word/Google Docs/Cloud computing
E-Communication
MS Excel, Access, Powerpoint
Business Administration Procedures
Financial Planning
SAGE 300 ERP 2012 (ACCPAC)
SAGE 50 2013 (Simply Accounting)
Quickbooks

Employment Preparation:

Action Planning
Resumes/Cover Letters
Networking
Job Interviews
Managing Change
Keeping the Job

26 weeks – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (3:00 – 5:00pm one-on-one counselling, as needed)

* Includes 6 weeks unpaid job placement (post training); 6 months post-program support

Accounting