Not everyone is cut out to be an accountant. You need to enjoy both technology and numbers as well as working with people and being a leader. You need to be able to sweat the details, yet understand the big business picture.
Aside from a penchant for numbers, do you have the personality it takes to be an accountant?
This was a question a group of Grade 11 aspiring accountants were asking themselves during a recent educational excursion to Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, aimed at providing the learners with a better understanding of how accounting is used in a business environment.
The group left Graaff-Reinet early Wednesday morning, 18 September, for their 3-day trip.
Although the learners had to get up long before the sun decided to make its appearance, the fun got off to a quick start with a lot of singing, laughing and what must have been close to a million ‘selfies’ being taken on the bus, while the kids munched on their packed breakfasts.
Upon their arrival in Port Elizabeth, the group stopped at Pioneer Foods where they were taken on a very informative tour of the SASKO factory. After the tour, they were given free goody bags and treated to some snacks.
The learners then enjoyed lunch at the Greenacres Shopping Centre’s food court, which was followed by a seminar at KPMG – an international accounting firm.
Here, the learners were lectured about the challenges and benefits of the real accounting world.
The guesthouse they stayed in for the duration of the excursion, the Treetops Guesthouse, was very accommodating and all enjoyed their stay tremendously. Union extends its thanks to the establishment for their efforts in ensuring the learners’ comfort.
Day 1 was concluded with an eventful evening at the Boardwalk.
Day 2 turned out to be just as, if not more, educational and fun as Day 1.
The learners visited the Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) plant in Uitenhage and attended a seminar at NMU hosted by Dr Heloise Sathorar, the Head of Program, B Ed FET/PGCE at NMU.
It most-definitely had the learners thinking about their future and the all-important decisions they need to make. Here, the learners also received gift packs and a packed lunch which they thoroughly enjoyed.
The group then spent their last night in Port Elizabeth at the Baywest Mall where they enjoyed a lovely sit-down dinner. The learners bonded over their shared love of accounting and got to know each other better as they enjoyed some delicious pizzas.
The excursion was concluded with a day at the beach on Friday, 20 September. Although the weather wasn’t ideal, the learners made the most of the opportunity.
A special word of thanks is extended on behalf of the learners by Meghan Basson, “We all would like to thank Mr Christopher Felix and his lovely wife for allowing us to have this experience – we hope to go on a similar, if not more exciting, trip next year”.
This trip succeeded in providing the learners with a better, more complete understanding of what the job of an accountant actually entails and the problems they might face when working in one of those jobs.
Union extends its thanks to everyone who made it possible for the learners to go on this excursion and especially to the learners for their impeccable behaviour throughout!
