Advancing your business career
AS Malaysia moves towards a developed nation status, one of the most in-demand professions, accounting and finance, remains a top preference.
Professional accountants and financial consultants have a key role to play in developing accounting standards and expanding their expertise in various areas of business, including service industries and the banking sector and being equipped to work in governmentlinked companies.
HELP University’s Master in Accounting and Finance (MAF) is an advanced study programme of accounting and financial management that enables accounting and finance graduates to gain specialised skills.
For those with professional qualifications, the master’s programme gives them the opportunity to stand out and develop deep theoretical understanding of financial issues, accounting and auditing standards.
Dr Yap Kim Len, head of HELP University’s School of Accounting and Finance, part of ELM (Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management) Business School, says that the MAF programme is designed to deliver outcomes essential in developing leadership and managerial skills.
These skills include strong analytical ability, improved articulation and communication in the area of financial reporting, and problem-solving of financial and risk management issues.
Dr Yap is involved in the development of accounting standards processes and currently holds the position of technical director of Deloitte Malaysia.
As an active contributor to the Malaysian Accounting Standards Boards (MASB) in developing exposure drafts, accounting standards and other regulatory matters and technical forums, Dr Yap encourages graduates to go beyond and develop their skills and capabilities at a broader level.
MAF lecturers are experts in their field and have relevant industry experience, thus ensuring that MAF students receive updated information in their course.
Lecturers are encouraged to use real-life examples in class discussions to enhance students’ knowledge and develop better analytical and communications skills.
The wide range of subjects ensure student exposure to current topics such as corporate governance and accountability, financial reporting and disclosure, current issues in financial accounting, corporate finance, international financial management and business economics.
Accounting and finance electives include accounting for managerial decisions, business analysis, money and capital markets and portfolio construction and risk management.
The duration of the MAF course is 18 months and the assessment mode includes exams and assignments.
Dr Yap says that the examination and coursework are skewed towards problem-solving in real-life situations.
Since the inception of the MAF programme, more than 150 graduates have graduated and are employed in corporations, including investment banks and accounting firms, while some take up positions in international firms in Shanghai and Beijing, for example.
Yau Pow Jack, Foong Yoke Sim and Justin Huan Tzeh Yih, are some of the successful local graduates of the MAF programme at HELP, who are currently employed at Deloitte Malaysia.
Many MAF graduates have gone on to work in diverse environments where their newly acquired skills have allowed them to take on challenging careers in finance or accounting.
“In the accounting world, it is important to be continuously updated on the latest developments in both national and international financial reporting and also challenges as the business world is dynamic.
“Being able to respond efficiently to these changes is important and this is what we teach in the classroom,” says Dr Yap.
For more information, call Aw Kong Hwee, 03-2711 2000 ext 1502 or e-mail awkh@help.edu.my or visit elm.help.edu.my