Asper School of Business receives international accounting accreditation
Partnering with ACCA, Asper School expands career paths for accounting students
The Asper School of Business is now accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), making the University of Manitoba the first university in Western Canada to receive this prestigious, globally recognized accreditation.
ACCA is the world’s largest professional accountancy body with over 233,000 members in 178 countries. By earning accreditation from ACCA, Asper joins a community of more than 900 universities across the globe, accessing a vast employer and accountancy network.
International reach, local excellence
Steven Zheng, professor and head of the accounting & finance department at Asper, explains why the School pursued this accreditation.
“We strive to serve our diverse student population by offering more high-level career pathways and opportunities,” he says.
“Asper welcomes many international students who may return to their home country to work. There are also Canadian students who want to explore opportunities overseas. By receiving ACCA accreditation, we are giving all students the chance to pursue an internationally recognized qualification and elevate their professional skills.”
Seven Asper courses are now accredited by ACCA. If Bachelor of Commerce students wish to pursue their ACCA accreditation, they will now be able to receive seven course and exam exemptions from ACCA while completing required credits for their BComm. The School will continue to work closely with ACCA to accredit two additional accounting courses in the new year, achieving the maximum number of ACCA exemptions and allowing students who pursue their ACCA designation to advance further and save even more time.
Zheng emphasizes the contributions this development makes to business here in Manitoba. “This is great news for local firms. Many businesses in Manitoba are international in scope. As ACCAs, our graduates working in international business relations with overseas clients will have an advantage as well-rounded, adaptable accounting professionals trained in ACCA standards.”
Expanding career paths
“ACCA is recognized globally and is a standard in the accounting profession for many international businesses,” adds Zheng. “By offering this new accreditation in addition to our longstanding CPA accreditation, we are offering students more options and further enriching course content further.”
Asper courses have been accredited by CPA Canada since it was established in 2013. This partnership allows BComm accounting students to enter directly into its Professional Education Program. CPA Canada is the premier national credential for professional careers in accounting and business, while ACCA offers a more international reach. Zheng highlights how Asper grads have benefitted greatly from early engagement with CPA-accredited courses. “Our students’ pass rate for the CPA final exam has consistently been higher than the national average.”
Noting the School’s impressive record of CPA graduates and the department’s commitment to continued growth and adaptation, Zheng sees this latest accreditation with ACCA as the beginning of a productive partnership of accounting professionals committed to excellence, thought leadership and accountancy for a better world.