BAF3M
Careers in Accounting
Rationale:
In order for students to fully appreciate the accounting course it is important for them to be exposed to the diversity of careers available to those with an accounting background, degree and/or professional designation. There are a number of stereotypes and preconceived ideas about accounting that may keep students from considering a rewarding and diverse career path.
The Task:
Part A: Exploring Current Accounting Career/Job Opportunities via the Internet
1.
Goto http://english.monster.ca
2.
Click on "Search Jobs"
3.
Under "Key Words," you will be entering CMA, CGA, Chartered Accountant, and bookkeeping for different searches
4.
Under "Location Search" choose a geographic location of interest or multiple locations
5.
Under "Category Search" select all or any number of categories
6.
Sort by "date" and View "detailed."
7.
Explore and read through a number of job opportunities available: skills, experience, and educational requirements requested; suggested salaries; job description; position title; and background on the company.
8.
You will select 5 job postings that you find interesting. Of these five you must include at least one private company and one public accounting firm (private sector), and one government job
(public sector). The final two can be any job posting of interest to you.
9.
For each job posting you are to include the following information: i.
Position Title ii.
Name of the company and identify the industry and the sector to which the company belongs, as well as the type of business ownership. iii.
Brief description of job responsibilities iv.
Brief description of skills, experience and educational requirements
requested/suggested. v.
Potential Salary Range
**Note: Be sure to select job postings that provide you with the information required in
steps 3-5.
**You may also goto Yahoo HotJobs to search for job postings though monster.ca is a
better website.

Part B: Professional Designation Educational Paths
1.
You are to select an Accounting Professional Designation of your choice that you wish to investigate. (CA, CGA, or CMA)
2.
You are to prepare a detailed written report outlining the information required below by visiting the selected designation website: a.
CGA - www.cga-ontario.org
b.
CMA - www.cma-ontario.org
c.
CA - www.icao.on.ca
Information to include in your report: i.
Full name of the related Professional Organization, Head Office address, phone number, email address and designation granted. ii.
Brief description of possible career and salary opportunities with this designation. iii.
What high school courses should a student take who is considering this career path? iv.
College and/or University Requirements and Courses v.
Full description of designation program (May include required hours of completion and additional course requirements including additional testing and examinations. vi.
Work experience requirements
Your report should include:
1.
A title page;
2.
A table of contents;
3.
Appropriate topic headings for the information required;
Your information may be arranged in chart format if it is easier for you to organize and present it in that format.
4.
A detailed description on what you have learned about career opportunities for
those who pursue accounting studies. What information has surprised you ? Has
your opinion on the value of studying/taking accounting courses changed? Explain.

Task Evaluation Rubric for BAF3M: Careers in Accounting
Task Description:
Students are to research, gather and organize information pertaining to careers associated with professional accounting designations and bookkeeping.
Students will include job descriptions, potential salary ranges as well as a description of skills, experience, and educational requirements necessary for the designation and job position.
Used to evaluate the following overall expectations:
ICV.03
describe professional accounting designations and career opportunities.
Specific Expectations:
IC3.01
distinguish among the professional accounting designations in Canada and the corresponding areas of specialization for accountants (e.g., financial accounting, management accounting, auditing);
IC3.03
identify and describe various accounting career opportunities that do not require professional accounting designations;
IC3.04
summarize, on the basis of research, the educational requirements of various career paths requiring a background in accounting.
Criteria
Knowledge and
Understanding
Demonstrates an understanding of career opportunities associated with various accounting designations.
Demonstrates an understanding of educational requirements for various career opportunities.
Thinking and Inquiry
Use of planning skills to gather and organize accounting career opportunities and educational requirements and skills
1-
52%
Level 1
1
55% designations. understanding of for various career opportunities. limited effectiveness
1+
58%
Demonstrates a limited understanding of career opportunities associated with various accounting
Demonstrates a limited educational requirements
Uses planning skills with
2-
62%
Level 2
2
65%
Demonstrates some some effectiveness.
2+
65% understanding of career opportunities associated with various accounting designations.
Demonstrates some understanding of educational requirements for various career opportunities.
Uses planning skills with
3-
72%
Level 3
3
75%
Demonstrates considerable understanding understanding of career opportunities associated with various accounting designations.
Demonstrates considerable understanding of educational requirements for various career opportunities.
3+
78%
Uses planning skills with considerable effectiveness
Level 4
4-
84
%
4
89%
4+
95%
4++
100%
Demonstrates thorough understanding of understanding of career opportunities associated with various accounting designations.
Demonstrates thorough understanding of educational requirements for various career opportunities.
Uses planning skills with a high degree of effectiveness

Use of processing and critical/creative thinking processes. (evaluation of information, problem solving, decision making)
Communication
Expression and organization of ideas and information in a clear, logical, format.
Makes use of accounting conventions, vocabulary and terminology in written form.
Uses processing and creative thinking skills with limited effectiveness
Expresses and organizes ideas and information with limited effectiveness.
Makes limited use of accounting conventions, vocabulary and terminology in written form.
Uses processing and creative thinking skills with some effectiveness
Expresses and organizes ideas and information with some effectiveness.
Makes some use of accounting conventions, vocabulary and terminology in written form.
Uses processing and creative thinking skills with considerable effectiveness
Expresses and organizes ideas and information with considerable effectiveness.
Makes considerable use of accounting conventions, vocabulary and terminology in written form.
Uses processing and creative thinking skills with a high degree of effectiveness
Expresses and organizes ideas and information with a high degree of effectiveness.
Makes use of accounting conventions, vocabulary and terminology in written form with a high degree of effectiveness.