The Third Millennium is the management accountants!
The prominent accounting bodies of the world agree on the point that
book-keeping and taxation services are now withering away and accountants, for
their survival and growth, will have to become business managers; communicative
and productive users of information technology. ICMAP has already planned to
prepare its students on these lines. The following career opportunities are
available to management accountants:
Management Accounting:
In recent past increasing recognition has been given to the talent and experience of management accountants in management teams. To keep aligned with emerging conditions, the Institute has upgraded
its syllabus and prescribed compulsory training scheme and classroom/examination presentations to groom the students to effectively function as members of top management teams and ultimately rise to
the position of chief executive officers.
Cost Audit:
Cost audit has recently been introduced in cement and vegetable ghee and cooking
oil industries. More industries are being brought under the scope of cost audit.
The members of ICMAP are entitled to undertake cost audit assignments under
section 258 of Companies Ordinance 1984.
Sales Tax Audit / Advisory Services:
The cost and management accountants are eligible for appointment as special
auditor under section 32(A) of Sales Tax Act 1990. A vast field has been opened
up for them to act as sales tax advisors.
Certification under Prudential Regulations:
The cost and management accounting firms are authorized to authenticate the
accounts of the borrowers under Prudential Regulation IV issued by the State
Bank of Pakistan.
Corporate Advisor:
The cost and management accountants are eligible to certify the memorandum and
articles of association of a company and represent it before Securities and
Exchange Commission of Pakistan under Section 30(2) of the Companies Ordinance
1984 read with Rule 4 (Sub clause (ii) of clause 2).
Management Consultancy:
Management consultancy is another promising area for management accountants. The
management accountants are in demand in the area of management consultancy for
their specialization in management accountancy, management systems and cost
efficiency techniques. The competitive cost and quality go a long way to
establish competitive advantage and enhance the exports. Hence, management
accountants have bright prospects within the country and abroad as cost /
quality advisors.
Withholding Tax Audit:
The Finance Act 1999, through an amendment has introduced section 4AAA in the
Income Tax Ordinance, Arbitrators, Receivers or Representatives under various
laws of the land.
Other Services:
Besides the above, management accountants can act as liquidator, trustees,
executors, administrators,arbitrators, receivers or representatives under
various laws of the land.