APU explores the role of agility in today’s accounting and finance function and presents how students can benefit from the transformational approach for their future careers.  

TODAY's financial sector is seeing a shift that is caused by disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and innovative financial models driven by Financial Technology (FinTech), which enable speedy financial transactions, data analysis and rapid decision-making.

According to market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems Sage in its latest 2020 report, some 51% of accounting professionals believe that technological skills would have the most impact on their profession in the next five to ten years.

In addition, employers continuously seek fresh accounting and finance talent with the knowhow and knowledge of current trends such as FinTech.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) offers a comprehensive portfolio of programmes that incorporate current topics such as these into accounting, banking and finance disciplines.

Advancing transformation journeys

By tapping into the capabilities of industry partners, APU’s accounting and finance education offers  industry-relevant courses that are widely accredited and recognised worldwide by leading professional bodies such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant, Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Tax Institute Of Malaysia, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries.

Industry-focused accounting and finance activities provide students relevant industry exposure even before they graduate.

In keeping up with the movement FinTech has on the industry, the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) has embedded it into all their accounting and finance programmes. 

SAF also offers the forensic accounting specialism, which is the first amongst Malaysian private universities, which prepares accounting graduates with skills in investigating financial fraud or scams.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance, future professionals have an opportunity to learn and venture into careers with a specialism in forensic accounting, taxation, forex and investments, internal audit, e-business, banking and finance, investment and risk management, actuarial studies and FinTech.

The programme provides students with an introduction to the profession and key activities of an entry-level internal auditor.

Global recognition

Moreover, the programme will provide students with an introduction to the profession and key activities of an entry-level internal auditor.

Most recently, APU's BA (Hons) In Accounting and Finance with a specialism in internal audit has been recognised by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) as the first and only university in Malaysia to be listed in the IIA Internal Audit Academic Awareness Programme.

The IIA programme acknowledges universities teaching internal auditing as a standalone internal audit course such as Principles of Internal Auditing or Operational Auditing.

Internal audit specialism graduates would possess the knowledge and competency to face the evolving needs of industry and to enhance their employability through an audit career in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Digital self-paced learning

Besides the IIA global programme, APU also signed a memorandum of understanding with the CIMA for a new remote, digital self-paced learning programme called the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) Finance Leadership Programme (FLP).

The CGMA FLP would be available to APU’s accounting and finance students and is a new guided learning and assessment route to completing the CIMA professional qualification and earning the CGMA designation.

A major advantage is that they need to only complete three exams — operational level, management level and strategic level — to obtain the CIMA professional qualification.

ACCA Power of Ethics Competition, SAS National FinTech Challenge and Malaysian Financial Planner Award are among the awards won by APU’s accounting and finance students.

Remaining industry relevant

Among the awards gained by APU’s accounting and finance students are ACCA Power of Ethics Competition, SAS National FinTech Challenge and Malaysian Financial Planner Award.

“Accounting and finance programmes at APU not only impart knowledge in the subject domain, but also produce graduates for a digitally transformed society, who will remain relevant to industry requirements.

“The curriculum is not only recognised locally, but also globally certified. APU is the first and only university in Malaysia to be listed in the IIA Internal Audit Academic Awareness Programme and has the highest combined exemptions (61 in total) from all major Accounting Professional bodies namely ACCA, CIMA, CPA, ICAEW and others,” said School of Accounting and Finance head Prof Dr Nafis Alam.

For more information on the programme, visit www.apu.edu.my.