INTRODUCTION:
ACCA encourages students to work alongside their studies to ensure they are well-trained with professional skills as well. For this purpose, the qualification has made it an academic obligation for ACCA students to gain 36 months of practical work experience in a relevant professional role. On the other hand, the trend for remote jobs has also reached the financial sector, as the world is moving towards flexible options professionally to ensure work-life balance. Professionals of every sector are invested in looking for better remote opportunities, especially students who aim to manage work and studies together.
In old times, no one could have imagined that the financial sector would someday become so advanced that it would have remote working jobs for accounting professionals. But here we are, there are various remote accounting jobs in Singapore, and for an ACCA student, it is a blessing as availing such opportunities can lessen much of their burden and enable them to efficiently manage studies alongside professional commitments. This blog will help you explore more about remote accounting jobs in Singapore.
UNDERSTANDING THE REMOTE ACCOUNTING JOB MARKET IN SINGAPORE:
The location of Singapore is ideal for having such remote opportunities and can benefit an ACCA student, as it is a global financial hub where a number of remote opportunities are available in the job market. Multinational organizations, large corporations, and outsourcing companies are actively looking for skilled finance and accounting professionals to take over remote accounting jobs in Singapore. The offered professional roles are typically in accounting, finance, auditing, or taxation. However, it is a great opportunity for an ACCA student looking for remote work, but here is a catch: the competition for such roles is super high, and to stand out amongst other candidates, you must have the right mix of skills, visibility, and strategies.
POPULAR REMOTE ACCOUNTING JOBS IN SINGAPORE:
An ACCA student can take over a remote working opportunity under the following professional titles:
- Audit trainee
- Junior Accountant
- Finance Assistant
- Bookkeeping support for SMEs and Startups
- Accounts Executive, etc.
INDUSTRIES HIRING REMOTELY:
If an ACCA student is interested in taking over a remote professional role, they must keep track of the industries typically hiring account professionals remotely; these industries include e-commerce, Fintech, consulting firms, and outsourcing companies. Interested students are advised to look for job listings in these industries and keep applying for such roles, as the competition is quite tough.
BUILD A REMOTE-READY SKILLSET:
As mentioned before, to avail such opportunities, you must have a mix of skills; amongst these skills, the most essential ones are the effective virtual communication skill and the ability to manage tasks independently. To be more precise, the skills the employers of such accounting jobs in Singapore are looking for include:
- Technical skills such as: Proficiency in digital financial and accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle NetSuite, and SAP. Other than that, a very strong understanding and use of MS Excel, financial modeling, and Google Sheets is expected. Additionally, for digital collaborations, the candidate must be familiar with tools like Zoom, Slack, Trello, etc.
- Soft skills are also quite essential if you want to stay eligible for acquiring such remote roles; you must have skills like time management, clear and concise written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and self-discipline.
LEVERAGE YOUR ACCA QUALIFICATION PROGRESS:
ACCA is an advanced qualification that sits well with the requirements of the modern financial world; hence, employers value affiliates, members, and students of this qualification. This preference can help them stand out amongst the candidates with other accounting qualifications; to make your profile stronger, you can highlight your progress with ACCA (number of exemptions or paper successes); during the interview, you can also mention your commitment and determination for this qualification to reassure employers with your long-term career plan.
EXPLORE REMOTE JOB PLATFORMS:
Individuals who are eagerly looking for remote accounting jobs in Singapore may also explore the remote job platforms, including freelance platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, etc. They can also look for job opportunities on Global job boards, including remote.co, Accounting fly, etc. They can also join different groups and share their details efficiently with the relevant persons.
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OPTIMIZE YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE:
An ACCA student who is actively looking for a remote work opportunity must have a well-maintained professional profile on online platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, etc; the portfolio should be attractive, showcasing your accomplishments (case studies, assignments, freelance services) not only for students in Singapore, but Globally.
GAIN EXPERIENCE THROUGH FREELANCING OR INTERNSHIPS:
Usually, employers prefer candidates who have some relevant experience, therefore, it is advised for students to begin with internships and freelance work, from which they can gain experience and add to their profile to make it look stronger and take on better, remote accounting jobs in Singapore; an ACCA student can offer freelance services like bookkeeping, accounting support, etc; they can also volunteer for NGOs as a finance assistant to create a strong portfolio.
CONCLUSION:
Getting a good remote accounting job in Singapore can be a bit challenging as the competition for remote jobs is quite high, but as the region is a global financial hub, the number of opportunities is more than usual. So, if an student ACCA in Singapore follows all the tips and makes a strong positive impression on employers, the chances of success are higher. Therefore, if you are really desperate to take over a remote accounting job, make sure you are already working for it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q1: Can remote job experience be included in the practical work requirements of ACCA?
Answer: Yes, it can be counted in PER if the employer they are working for is ACCA-approved and the professional role they are working in is relevant to the qualification.
Q2: Which digital financial software should I learn to enhance my chances?
Answer: To get a remote financial opportunity, you must have great digital financial skills; therefore, familiarity with platforms like SAP, Xero, and QuickBooks is essential.
