Page 126 - JobsPlus - Occupational Handbook

for that same organisation or work for an audit and accounting private firm, who are then tasked with accounting-related jobs for their clients. Financial Controllers may work in the private and public sector. In the case of small organisations, the Financial Controller may be the only source of financial expertise, while in large firms Financial Controllers typically lead a team of accounting professionals.
Accountants typically work on a full-time basis, Monday to Friday. Part-time opportunities may also be available. Working additional hours or weekends may be expected to meet the client’s and/or company’s deadlines, including legal deadlines which involve the submission of accounts and taxes.
Although the work is mainly office-based, Accountants may also be asked to meet clients outside their workplace, in which case commuting may be expected (including going abroad).
Occupation data
Entry level education / special licences / warrants
Aspiring Accountants are required to enter programmes which lead to the acquisition of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Warrant. This warrant is obtained after an aggregate of three years of working experience in the industry - of which at least one year of experience is gained after academic qualifications have been obtained – subject to the successful completion of the relevant accounting qualification, such as the Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) (University of Malta) (MQF Level 6).
Another option is to follow programmes such as the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) or the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), which lead to an internationally recognised accounting certification.
For further details on specific entry requirements, it is advisable to consult the respective educational institution’s website.
Qualifications awarded by foreign bodies need to be recognised or pegged with a particular MQF Level by the MQRIC office within NCFHE.
For related training offered by other educational institutions, it is advisable to consult the list of accredited courses on the NCFHE website.
Accountants must fulfil the mandatory Continuous Professional Education requirement in order to renew their warrant. For further information, it is advisable to consult The Malta Institute of Accountants’ website.
On-the-job training is typically offered by the employer.
Knowledge and skills
Accountants are expected to have:
• The ability to comprehend and apply financial reporting standards and regulations
• Knowledge of appropriate tax treatments for specific transactions and awareness of the implications of EU directives on the Maltese corporate tax system
• Knowledge of relevant financial services legislation in Malta
• The ability to recognise and monitor risks faced by organisations and accountants in practice
• The ability to identify potential criminal or fraudulent behaviour according to AML/CFT regulations
Number of employees (2017)
2,217
Share of foreigners (2017)
14%
Job Outlook (2018 - 2022)
+30%
Median Pay (per annum)
€23,800
Jobsplus
126