e2i and CPA Australia launch new accounting programme

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SINGAPORE - Mid-career professionals without accounting work experience or accounting-related qualifications can now be hired and trained as accounts or audit professionals under a pilot programme run by the NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and professional accounting body CPA Australia.

Under the programme, candidates will enrol in the CPA Programme Foundation Level course to learn basic accounting, which allows them to then advance to the Professional Level course to earn the globally-recognised CPA Australia professional accounting designation. They will then undergo six months of on-the-job training with participating employers.

During training, candidates' salaries will be at least S$2,000. Upon completion of the programme, they will also receive a basic salary increase of at least 15 per cent.

e2i will provide participating employers training allowances, as well as subsidise up to 70 per cent of course fees for successful candidates. Employers that hire candidates for professional accounting roles under this programme can apply for training support of up to S$8,450 per eligible employee.

e2i Acting Chief Executive Officer Gilbert Tan said this Place-and-Train programme for accounts and audit professionals was initiated to "help address the manpower needs of the accounting sector, as well as provide a way for locals to tap into accounting or audit-related job opportunities".

Mr Melvin Yong, Singapore General Manager of CPA Australia, added: "As Singapore positions itself to become a global accountancy hub, this partnership between CPA Australia and e2i will provide an ideal doorway for those in mid-careers looking for an opportunity to join the accounting profession.

"For employers, this is a potential avenue to recruit experienced staff amidst Singapore's current tight labour market," he said.

The programme is part of the labour movement's continuous outreach to professionals in the financial and business services cluster.

TODAYonline | Singapore | e2i and CPA Australia launch new accounting programme