6 minute read
Between completing an internship, working at the University’s Tax Clinic, representing Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), and being a Residential Advisor (RA), Abhishek Singh has certainly made the most of his student experience at The Australian National University (ANU).
“ANU professors are some of the best researchers in their fields. The learning in-class was based on real-workplace scenarios and not just what is in the books, which is critical, as you are learning what you are more likely going to experience in real life,” shares Abhishek, who is graduating with a Master of Accounting from the ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE).
Through CBE Internships, Abhishek recently interned at BellchambersBarrett, a local accounting firm in Canberra, where he has since secured an ongoing role as an Auditor.
The opportunity enabled him to gain valuable workplace skills that he now continues to put into practice.
“This is my first job in the accounting industry. As a trainee, I was able to apply the concepts I had learnt in my courses. I was engaged in all the stages of external audits, where I primarily assisted senior staff and partners in the planning and fieldwork stages,” he says.
Abhishek also participated in other ANU initiatives during his studies to enhance his experience and knowledge, including the ANU Tax Clinic, which assists unrepresented taxpayers in understanding their tax affairs.
Working under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners to provide clients with relevant information and guidance, he learnt about providing support services for the public.
“As an Administrative Assistant at the Clinic, I was able to assist members of the Canberra and neighbouring communities in obtaining tax assistance. I gained insights about the different tax issues people are facing, especially in the COVID-19 environment,” Abhishek recalls.
ANU has helped me gain the required theoretical knowledge through the courses offered and CBE Internships helped me to take my first step as an accountant.
His role as a student representative for CAANZ, an organisation that promotes the Chartered Accountant (CA) designation and delivers education services for its members, also allowed him to interact with industry professionals while learning on the job.
“I assisted in promoting the CA program across universities and schools in Canberra, through attending student organisation events, market days and career fairs. I was also involved at CAANZ events, where accountants provided insights on their respective roles, which helped attendees understand how the different accounting pathways work. It was great to have the opportunity to directly meet employers in the industry and also network with them,” he explains.
Besides the accounting-related positions he undertook, Abhishek expanded his responsibilities even further by assisting fellow students as an RA at Burgmann College.
“As an RA, I was expected to show leadership, and exemplify maturity, individuality and initiative. The primary role of the position was to provide pastoral care to fellow residents and ensure the overall wellbeing of the Burgmann community, especially during the recent lockdowns,” Abhishek notes.
As a new ANU and CBE alumnus, he reflects on this combination of experiences, which he has found both fun and informative.
“I enjoyed working at and outside of the University, as it has enhanced my professional development. Living in Canberra, I also had the opportunity to explore the regional areas of the country, and experience life in the bush capital and Australia,” he says.
The Director of the ANU Research School of Accounting is proud of him and his accomplishments.
“It has been a pleasure having Abhishek in our Master of Accounting program. We are always thrilled to see our students excel and make a positive contribution. I congratulate him on his achievements,” says Professor Juliana Ng.
Abhishek is now focused on obtaining his CA qualification and aspires to be a forensic accountant.
“Forensic accounting has intrigued me since I was in high school and motivated me to study accounting. ANU has helped me gain the required theoretical knowledge through the courses offered and CBE Internships helped me to take my first step as an accountant,” he shares.
The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.