09 Oct 2022

Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) celebrated over 350 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) students for completing their AAT qualification.

AAT is a world leading accounting technician body that produces over 100 000 accounting technicians and bookkeepers annually across the globe.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony on Thursday in Gaborone, AAT chief executive officer, Ms Sarah Beale said AAT played a pivotal role in providing members with connections, skills, knowledge and a voice.

Ms Beale added that it was an exciting time to be an AAT member seeing the impact it had in order to change lives through the qualification and also the voice of the community, to help shape better ways of doing business.

She said exciting times awaited and AAT had a strong role to play, noting that they would host their first online ‘member celebration’ event in November, which would recognisee all new members from across the world.

To the latter, she said though they were recognising graduates’ significant achievement, there would also be an opportunity for them to join the wider AAT community online soon.

“Our thanks BICA in recognition of AAT’s strong and long-standing relationship,” she said.

AAT president, Ms Christina Earls congratulated and acknowledged graduates for an outstanding achievement and recognition of hard work put in.

“I was the first in my family to go to university, worked in public sector finance roles, studied accounting qualification with CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accounts), joined CIPFA board and co-opted to AAT before becoming AAT Fellow Member (FMAAT),” Ms Earls gave personal reflections on own career journey.

She encouraged graduates to think about their own career aspirations and direction, saying that AAT offered the foundation for building their profession, opportunities from membership and further qualifications.

MS Earls added that AAT’s purpose and impact included sharing knowledge between members, providing support for members and students.

“We are open to all and have been operating for over 40 years now. I would like to acknowledge our relationship with BICA – for the support and encouragement, and the continuing partnership and new opportunities,” she said.

She said AAT qualifications were internationally respected, and had members and students in over 105 countries around the world. BOPA