Accountancy jobs

in Australia:

A Guide To Working & Living.

Quote Contents
ECONOMY : OVERVIEW

Australia has an enviable, strong economy with a per capita GDP

on par with the four dominant West European economies.
Emphasis on reforms, low inflation, a housing market boom, and
growing ties with China have been key factors over the course of
the economy's 17 solid years of expansion. Robust business and
consumer confidence and high export prices for raw materials
and agricultural products fueled the economy in recent years,
particularly in mining states. Drought, robust import demand, and
a strong currency pushed the trade deficit up however, while
infrastructure bottlenecks and a tight labor market constrained
growth in export volumes and stoked inflation through mid-2008.
The unwinding of the yen-based carry trade in late 2008 has
contributed to a weakening of the Australian dollar. Tight global
liquidity has challenged Australia's banking sector, which relies
heavily on international wholesale markets for funding. The
economy remains relatively healthy despite falling export
commodity prices. The government plans to counter slowing
growth in 2009 with fiscal stimulus efforts.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html
A CCOUNTANTS : O VERVIEW T E C H N OL OG Y U SE D :

Accounting software — AdaptaSoft CyberPay; Intuit QuickBooks; Sage

Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to Software BusinessWorks; Summit Software Summit Biofuels
determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, Accounting
tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Compliance software — ACCUCert software; FLS eDP PAYROLLtax;
Sample of reported job titles: Accountant, Certified Public Accountant (CPA),
Intrax ProcedureNet; Paisley Cardmap
Staff Accountant, Accounting Manager, Cost Accountant, General Accountant,
Accounting Officer, Business Analyst, Accounting Supervisor, Financial
Enterprise resource planning ERP software — AcornSystems
Reporting Accountant
Corporate Performance Management; Hyperion Solutions System 9;
T A SK S Microsoft Dynamics GP; Sage Software Platinum for Windows PFW

• Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial Financial analysis software — AuditWare software; Cartesis
statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, Magnitude iAnalysis; MethodWare ProAudit Advisor; Paisley
completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural
AutoAudit
standards.
• Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
• Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
• Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and Tax preparation software — CCH ProSystem fx TAX; Ortax Software
accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
IntelliTax Classic; Thomson GoSystem Tax; Universal Tax Systems
• Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance
with payment, reporting or other tax requirements. TaxWise
• Maintain or examine the records of government agencies.
• Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care
benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-
range tax or estate plans.
• Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports
that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
• Provide internal and external auditing services for businesses or
individuals.
• Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial
commitments, and obligations, to project future revenues and
expenses or to provide advice.
Knowledge
Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and
Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and
processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes
accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking
customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services,
and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry,

Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court
calculus, statistics, and their applications.
procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders,
agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of
composition, and grammar.
Skills
Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and
Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
systems such as word processing, managing files and records,
stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are
procedures and terminology.
saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking
questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards,
processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths
software, including applications and programming.
and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to
problems.
Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and
management principles involved in strategic planning, resource
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other
allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique,
individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective
production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
action.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and

 benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information
for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and
paragraphs in work related documents.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how
changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect
outcomes.
Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system
performance and the actions needed to improve or correct
performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Abilities
Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right
mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand
information and ideas presented through spoken words and
sentences.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand
information and ideas presented in writing.
Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide
quickly and correctly.
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific
problems to produce answers that make sense.
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few
feet of the observer).
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas
in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information
to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship
among seemingly unrelated events).
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or
is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only
recognizing there is a problem.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and
ideas in writing so others will understand.
W OR K A C TI V I TI E S
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer
systems (including hardware and software) to program, write
software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing,
calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining
information from all relevant sources.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards —
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine
whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or
standards.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific
goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying
principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down
information or data into separate parts.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates —
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by
telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date
technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and
evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships —
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with
others, and maintaining them over time.
Work Context
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being
very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Telephone — How often do you have telephone conversations in this
job?
Electronic Mail — How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — How important is repeating
the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g.,
checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to
performing this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job
require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Structured versus Unstructured Work — To what extent is this job
structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to
determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
 Spend Time Sitting — How much does this job require sitting?
Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-
face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom,
without supervision, does the job offer?
Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing
things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on
oneself to get things done.
Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing
calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

W OR K S T Y L E S
Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and
thorough in completing work tasks.
W OR K V AL U E S
Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results
oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving
Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and
them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability
dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Utilization and Achievement.

Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using

Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow
logic to address work-related issues and problems.
employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding
needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining
personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive
mastering tasks.
management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are
Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision:
Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job
Technical.
and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and

challenges.