By Joanne Kaczmarek
I may be generalising, but I believe that as Indigenous Australians we have a shared desire to help our mob. So, when I read that Indigenous university enrolments are increasing, I hope they’re enroling in accounting degrees. I’m not just saying this because I’m Indigenous or because I’m an Accountant. I’m saying this because we genuinely need Accountants; and not just any Accountants – we need Indigenous Accountants.
If you don’t believe that a collective altruism exists within our community, then just check out these Federal Government figures which show that the overwhelming majority of Indigenous university enrolments are in the Society and Culture, Health and Education fields of study – all disciplines which lead to jobs that directly help our mob and our communities.
While it’s great to see more Indigenous people setting off on the higher education path and the journey to becoming doctors, nurses, social workers, teachers and the like, our communities need Accountants too! And if you don’t believe that there’s a need for Indigenous Accountants then consider this: Indigenous Accountants Rock (seriously, we do…check out the link!) and we’re seriously underrepresented in a profession that has a hand in just about every aspect of our daily lives.
Indigenous communities, organisations and individuals need Accountants, Auditors, Tax Advisors, Financial Planners, Management Consultants, Asset and Resource Managers, Corporate Advisors, Financial and Strategic Managers, Risk Analysts… the list goes on. The point is that there’s a real need for accountants in all the vocations, however there’s a shortage of Indigenous accountants to provide those services!
We need more Indigenous people who are proficient in the ‘language of business’ to educate and empower individuals; to advance organisations and communities; and to smash the common misconception that Indigenous people are unable to govern our affairs. (Yes, Governance is yet another field in which Accountants can dabble).
But don’t just consider doing an accounting degree for community…consider doing it for you because an accounting degree can open doors. The skills you gain through an accounting degree are highly sought after the world over – meaning if you want to, you can also work abroad. Do it for the money because Accounting and Accounting-related jobs pay well and job prospects are always solid. Do it for the respect that professional association brings because CPA or CA status (upon completion of the requisite programs) elevates your position in the world, and the ongoing professional development you’ll undertake will ensure that you never lose your edge or your business smarts.
Not interested in numbers? No worries! I didn’t study accounting because I was good with numbers or because I liked numbers – I wasn’t and I didn’t – I chose accounting for the options because I knew that there are many ‘non-conventional’ career paths available to Accountants. With an accounting degree, you can follow your passion because everyone needs accountants – individuals, Governments, corporates, not-for-profits, councils, associations, and so on. With an accounting degree you can work for yourself or you can work in an accounting role in an area that interests you while contributing valuable expertise to the many facets of your organisation. In my career as an Accountant in the Australian Public Service (which has now spanned over a decade), it’s only 8 months ago that I moved into a role with ‘Accountant’ in the job title – prior to that I was representing Australia serving as a diplomat overseas at the Australian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar (2009-2012).
If you’re worried that Accounting is boring, or limiting, then stop! The role of the Accountant in organisations is changing – we are no longer the bean counters that our predecessors were. Accountants in today’s organisations are across the business – the whole business. We build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. We do more with less and we do it faster than ever before. We are involved in every major business decision. Our position in today’s organisations provides us with the ability to challenge and innovate – we hold influence. And this is why we desperately need Indigenous Accountants.
In a world driven by short-term gain and dotted with colourful financial flops, Indigenous perspectives are becoming more important globally. There’s scope for Indigenous innovation in our approach to accounting and business and there’s a shortage of qualified Indigenous professionals to provide this perspective.
So, to the growing numbers of Indigenous vocational students, I say: choose Accounting. It’s a choice that worked for me and it could work for you too. If you’re still not convinced, get in touch with Indigenous Accountants Australia to find out more.
Do it for your community. Do it for your family. Do it for you.
And if you are interested in a career in DFAT please go to http://www.dfat.gov.au/jobs/indigenous/