Getting the right advice

WA’S two major accounting bodies are introducing mentoring programs to improve their members’ career development.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia’s WA branch launched its mentoring program this month and already has signed up 20 mentors. It expects to extend that to 100. The Australian Society of CPAs has been piloting a mentor program in its Victorian and Queensland branches that will be extended to WA next year. ICAA regional manager Con Abbott said young accountants used to be mentored in the “good old days” but that practice had fallen by the wayside.

“Younger members were telling us last year that they had no idea of who to go to for career advice,” Mr Abbott said. “We want to take advantage of the intellectual capital we have in our membership.”

CPA Australia WA director Justin Walawski said the Society’s mentor program would build on the experience requirements of its CPA program. To become a CPA a candidate must complete three years of supervised work experience. That will be changed to three years of supervised or mentored work experience.