Who is accountant? Does accountant equal to “ a person who do the accounts”? The answer is, yes and no. Yes, in simple term to define just a small part of an accountant’s job, and no because of the fact that a person who do the accounts doesn’t mean that he or she is an accountant.
Like other professionals, to be recognised as a doctor or a lawyer, it must be in accordance with the respective law regulating the profession. In Malaysia, the word “Accountant” is protected under Accountants Act 1967. An accountant must be a member of Malaysia Institute of Accountants (MIA).
So what is the difference between a professional accountant and individual who know how to keep financial record?
As a professional accountant, our experience, knowledge is not just confine to accounting related matters. A professional accountant could be well verse in tax, companies act, auditing or human resources issues just to name a few.
Most important fact that set us apart from the others, is our effort is being recognised by the law. We took step by step, spent thousands of hours from getting the academic qualification, getting the required years of practical experience until being recognised as a “Chartered Accountant”.
As members of MIA, our profession is regulated, we are required to fulfil the continuing professional education, compliance with the by-laws, subject to practice review, investigation and even disciplinary action. All of this, is to ensure our clients or our employers getting the competent professional service.
How can we identify a chartered accountant?
An accountant in Malaysia carries the designatory letters C.A.(M), L.A(M) or A.M.(M) after their name or alternatively, a member search function is available on the MIA website.
Way forward
The world is changing, so as the economy, business and technology. Our profession adapt to the changes consistently to ensure our clients, our employees and member of the public get the best out of us and we are ready to serve.