Extending warm wishes to all the Accountants across the world
The discipline of Accounting, which was introduced to the world by the Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli, has currently become an integral part of the corporate world. Its vitality is such that it is practically impossible for any business organization to function properly in its absence. The commemoration of this credited discipline and accountants around the world happens annually, on 10th November; the day on which Father of Accounting, Luca Pacioli penned his treatise on Ancient double-entry bookkeeping.
Accounting, which was in its infancy in 1494 has gradually evolved into a discipline that is recognised and widely followed by the people around the world. This field of study was still a novelty to the Sri Lankan university curriculum in 1990’s. During such a time, with the initiation of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the studies in Accountancy and Financial Management came under the purview of the Departments of Business and Public Administration. However, neither of these departments offered a special degree in Accountancy and Financial Management, but a few subjects in this area were taught in the Business and Public Administration Programme.
The visionary leader, Emeritus Professor M.W. Wikramarachchi was successful in filling this lacuna of offering a special degree programme in Accounting, by initiating the Department of Accountancy and Financial Management (forerunner to the Department of Accounting) in 1991. This drastic transformation in Accounting education in Sri Lanka has elevated the Department of Accounting of University of Sri Jayewardenepura as the pioneer in academic Accounting education in Sri Lanka. The Department of Accounting has further enhanced its reputation by displaying its immense and unrivalled potential in fashioning globally accepted employable graduates. The B.Sc. Accounting (Special) Degree Programme that is offered by the Department of Accounting, not only encapsulates technical and theoretical knowledge but also the soft skills that are required to serve and outshine as an accountable accountant.
This programme caters to over 200 students every year and takes on the responsibility of producing the best specimens of accounting professionals. The soft skills of these entrants are further developed parallel to the delivering of subject and technical knowledge. Wisdom, Intellectual rigour, Professionalism, Truthfulness & Ethical conduct, Equality, Helpfulness, and Compassion are the core values that are cultivated in the students by this esteemed academic department. These values boost professionalism that resides in young individuals, while moulding their personalities in an exceptional manner, which enables them to step into the professional world with unwavering confidence. The unceasing demand for the admission to the Programme well manifests the popularity of this Degree Programme B. Sc. Accounting (Special) Degree Programme has received the accreditation of international professional accounting bodies such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA Australia, and ICAEW, proving the high quality of the graduates produced over the years. Furthermore, these endorsements which demonstrate the credibility of the degree Programme, enhance the attraction of more youngsters towards it.
The Department of Accounting which operates with the vision “Prosper lives through learning”, is working to realize the mission “to be the premier centre of excellence in accounting education, research and industry engagement in South Asia”. The success path that the Department of Accounting treads on demonstrates positive signs of achieving this mission in near future. Accomplishing this mission would ensure and strengthen the reputation and the quality of accounting education in Sri Lanka.
The well qualified academic staff that serves the Department is surely an asset of immense value, as they work with utmost dedication to shape, sharpen and add value to the young individuals who receive admission to the Department of Accounting. Their guidance assists the undergraduates to redefine their lives in a fruitful manner, guaranteeing both personal and professional development.
Friendliness, warmth and understanding that are shared by the staff facilitate the fashioning of accounting professionals who value humanity in a materialistic world. The example set by the staff has been successful in producing responsible and dedicated accountants who are able to add value to their work places. The staff decentralizes their knowledge to the teachers of Accounting at school level, through seminars which are conducted annually. In addition, they have also been successful in spreading across the reputation of Sri Lankan Accounting education in the Western world, through their praiseworthy work towards the field.
Through the holistic approach to accounting education equipped with the latest developments in Accounting, IT and other related fields, the Department of Accounting is poised to explore new avenues to produce resourceful graduates for employment, both locally and globally, while providing thought leadership in Accounting education in Sri Lanka. When producing globally marketable and knowledgeable young graduates who are well equipped with skills that are essential for a career path in accounting, it is vital to possess a good understanding about the global context.
At a global level we see that novel Accounting practices developed in the past few years have revolutionised the world. Accounting has gradually transformed into a subject area which cannot be contained only to traditional bookkeeping. It has branched into various other areas and has increased its territories. Moreover, it has increased its worth by adapting to new trends and enhancing its growth by coupling with Information Technology, making it a user-friendly subject.
In addition, the new trends in Accounting have made the subject more and more interesting. Forensic Accounting, Government Accounting, Public Accounting, and Resource Consumption Accounting are a few examples of new trends that are passionately embraced by the new generation. Growing numbers of people who show immense interest in the field of Accounting dissolve the myth that Accounting does not have a strong rooting in the current world. Further, the fact that Accounting has laid hands in almost all the fields and networks of the business world is a tell-tale mark of its continuity and unobstructed growth. This stabilization in the field of Accounting wipes off all the fears that reside in the minds of people regarding the validity and growth of this area of study.
Therefore, young individuals who aspire to build up their career in the arena of Accounting should not have any hesitation in pursuing their education accordingly. Their future in the field of Accounting would be crafted as a masterpiece in the same immaculate way that they keep the accounts and ledgers balanced. The unique traits that are available in the accounting would pave the way for a bright future. The essentiality, diversity, dynamic nature, flexibility, reputation, and above all the job satisfaction that the field of accounting delivers, are constituents that reflect back on your professional lives, providing the assurance that your future would be enriched furthermore. A field of education and a career path of this calibre is certainly alluring as it is worthy of the time and effort that you invest in it.
The Department of Accounting of University of Sri Jayewardenepura which has a sound understanding of the aforementioned fact took a revolutionary step, by introducing the B.Sc. Accounting (Special) Degree Programme and setting a benchmark in the field of accounting education. The broader understanding of the current trends and the novel developments in the field of Accounting would aid the degree programme to grow and flourish while exploring new dimensions in this field. With this promising future, the Department of Accounting, University of Sri Jayewardenepura wishes to express its heartiest wishes to all the accountants around the world, appreciating and commemorating their hard work on this International Accounting Day.