Management Skills, What Are They? Mickayla September 19, 2018 Business, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Business Management skills: First of all, let’s review what we mean by management skills. These are skills are universal, and apply not just to physical and mental management, but also to managing yourself as an individual. Number one on this list is communication; being clear and concise with those around you and your workmates is a premier skill. Let’s make a list to show the skills them clearly. Communication Clear, concise – both written and spoken forms Using the right language with customers, being encouraging, being time efficient with meetings, negotiation, and keeping the lines of communication open between employees are just some of the ways where communication is really important. Sometimes it takes practice, but being conscious and observing others can help you pick up those small tips and tricks to nail communication. Technical skills Know the company, know the job, know the product. This may also include IT skills, social media, reports and presentations, data security, etc. These really are individualised to the position at hand. Mental investment in the company pays off if you’re looking for a higher-level job. Motivation In terms of your motivation in addition to the motivation of employees. You can do this through providing appreciation, incentives for performance, supporting workmates who are under stress, and empowering employees to be proud of their work. Motivation makes the environment not only more positive, but also more energetic, and productive. Problem solving Problem solving skills are useful in every situation, we all have to identify and work through issues. Working this problem back to its origins and understanding the cause helps you to see and predict future problems too. This would also include planning as a form of problem prevention Innovation Innovation is shown through solutions to customer needs, creative marketing campaigns, redesigning or altering processes to create a more productive, functional, and smooth flow. Professionalism This is what makes you stand out as a leader. Diplomacy, strong moral values, initiative, as well as curating an excellent customer service attitude shows your employees the standard to strive for. Other skills that are super important to demonstrate as a manager of anything (these are combinations of/ or subcategories that needed special mention): Planning – effective, anticipatory, and course of actions plans Organising – hand-in-hand with planning, organising is fairly essential in managing yourself, projects, and teams. Directing – similar to communication, directing is more about being able to distribute tasks in an effective way to streamline projects. So now you know the skills, how do you work on improving yours? Honestly, you need to be conscious and observe others. That’s the simplest way to see how it’s done; then you can start implementing version of what you see (so long as it’s appropriate). You may do this through practicing communication with friends and family, showing innovation and problem solving with your daily tasks or assignments, and, motivating yourself and those around you. This way you can see what works and what doesn’t, and when you show these skills in the workplace you will demonstrate your potential as a manager. Check out our BSB51915 Diploma of Leadership and Management if you feel like you want to upgrade your management skills. boss,business,management,management skills,self improvement,selfmanagement,skills,small business Choosing the Right Career Mickayla April 23, 2018 Career & Business, Career Tips, Study Tips Exciting Wouldn’t it be great to be in a career that you love, doing exciting things and feeling like you made the right choice every day? It can be stressful to make that decision, or even start thinking about it. Most young school leavers feel pushed to make a choice so early, and feel they will be trapped in what they choose forever. But that is not the case, most people change careers two or three times in their lifetime. So making a change when you’ve realised you don’t like a career, or like something else better, doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Purposeful For many millennials, the predominant factor is finding work that is purposeful. You know, that thing that makes you get up in the morning, the passion for accomplishment. There are a few steps you can take to narrow down the surprising amount of choice in front of you. Find what you’re passionate about? What do you find yourself thinking about or doing in your spare time? Maybe you actually really like maths class, or you enjoy writing songs or poems. What are you actually good at? Be realistic about it, but also realise that most things get better with practice. Keep at it! Do one of those career quizzes, it could tell you something you don’t know; such as this: http://joboutlook.gov.au/CareerQuiz.aspx Try an internship or ask for advice from someone in the field. Internships can be excellent ways of finding out the reality of the job and if you do really enjoy it. If all else fails, take some time to figure it out. Taking a gap year and working a temporary retail position can give you the time to see what you are passionate and interested in. Maybe you’ll even enjoy the retail work and aim for a managerial job? Career If you find an interest in a not-so-mainstream career path, make sure to plan how to get there. Being an artist or musician or poet (stereotypical alternative pathways) can still work out better for you than a corporate/retail position. You may even make it into a business. If you want to start a career but aren’t ready for university, we offer short courses in business, accounting and management. For those of you who want to be leaders; are good at maths; or want to make their passion into a business. Here’s our course catalogue: https://lindencollege.edu.au/faculty-schools/course-catalogue/ Career Planning,Career Tips,study Millennial’s in the Workplace Mickayla April 21, 2018 Linden Blog Millennial’s in the Workplace As the population of millennial’s have entered the workforce, many industries are noting a change in the aspirations of their younger employees. It seems that younger people are moving from job to job more often than their older counterparts. However, they still have solid and evolving career goals. Their goals and lifestyles may be different, but, all the same, millennial’s need to think about their goals and aspirations for each position they apply for. These are some things to note, that potential employers might ask you about when applying for a job. 1. What are your short-term career goals? When a recruiter asks “What are your short-term career goals?” they are really trying to ascertain whether you are going to leave as soon as you get a better offer, says Amy Adler, a career coach and the founder of Five Strengths. Kim Ann Curtin, executive coach and the author of Transforming Wall Street, agrees that priority number-one for most interviewers is to get a sense of the likelihood that you’ll stick around. “The biggest fear employers have with millennial’s right now is that they won’t stay and have a tendency to leave after a year or two,” Curtin said. 2. What are your long-term career goals? This question is aimed at figuring out whether you are realistic about the career path in this industry, your intentions for the future and the reason you’re interested in the job, Curtin says. “Headhunters are looking for what millennial’s say that indicates how likely they are to stick around,” she said. “That’s at the heart of what headhunters are asking millennial’s about.” Sometimes the question is rephrased as “What do you see as your next step after this job?”, but it’s basically trying to find out the same thing. “Do they want to be out in a year, or promoted within a year?” said Alyssa Gelbard, the founder and president of Resume Strategists. “Baby Boomers don’t have that expectation of ‘I gotta be in, then I gotta get out and move on to the next thing.’” This is the classic “where do you see yourself in five years?” The company wants to know if you will be a committed employee, willing to invest yourself into your career – with them. 3. How do you handle feedback? A common way of wording this question is “What kind of feedback do you want to receive and how often?” Questions related to handling feedback or constructive criticism are geared toward evaluating how well you respond to being given direction and redirection, Adler said. “There’s a big difference between the way feedback is delivered in school and on the job,” said Gelbard. “Millennial’s should talk about times when they’ve had to handle something difficult, dealing with a client in person or over the phone, not just via text or email.” This can also be a tangential way of gauging how sensitive you are and how you respond when things don’t go your way. Talk about a time when you were passed over for a promotion or an award that you felt you deserved and how you handled that disappointing situation. Be diplomatic. “They should demonstrate that they’re OK dealing with failure, lack of success,” Gelbard said. “Working at a bank or hedge fund in the financial sector, not everyone gets a trophy, so hiring managers want to know, ‘How did you handle a time when you weren’t successful?’ – they value resiliency.” 4. What’s your ideal workday schedule? Adler suggested hiring managers ask this one to make sure you are going to show up on time and work the proper number of hours within the firm’s standard work day. It’s important to be in tune to how your job responsibilities can bleed into your life outside the office. “Millennial’s in the industry should keep in mind that the person you’re interviewing with has probably gotten accustomed to the fact that you’re always on, seven days a week,” Curtin said. “Even after working long hours in the office, now everyone’s on their phone checking work emails 24/7.” Talk about a project, assignment, presentation or deal that ran longer than expected or another example of how you faced unexpected challenges, Gelbard said. 5. How do you define “rewarding” work? This one can be translated as: “What do you need to feel appreciated?” Adler said. Candidates considering a career in financial services should go in with eyes wide open that their job is all about the money. “Millennial’s should realize that they are likely speaking to an organization that is not quite as evolved as they will eventually become,” Curtin said. “Millennial’s coming from a place of wanting to make a positive contribution and work a job that has value in the world need to dial it down”. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want to be authentic, but maybe it’s not as important a conversation to have with [hiring managers] on Wall Street as it would be with those at more future-focused, younger companies,” she said. Hiring managers are looking for an alignment of what the millennial candidate thinks the job requires and the actual responsibilities that the role entails, Gelbard said. “Interviewers want to know what they’re expecting to do – ‘What do you think this job requires?’” she said. “Candidates may have a great work ethic and skills, but if they have no clue what they’d be expected to do if they were hired, that could be a problem. 6. What is your ideal work environment or company culture? During any interview, the interviewer takes a look at the candidate’s lifestyle, searching for indicators of a cultural fit, or lack thereof. “Do some work around talking to people who are already in the organization,” Curtin said. “This is about getting you in the door, who you are, your authenticity, ultimately you need that person interviewing you to feel that you’re one of them and you understand how their firm works, be informed about the culture, speak in ways that communicates that you’re comfortable with that culture and it’ll be a fit. 7. What are some of your hobbies? While not every interview will ask this one, those who do are really trying to figure out whether or not they’d like to work with you on a daily basis. Is this person fun? “If you’re in someone’s office, look for something that you have in common and you can get them to talk about that’s not work-related – human interaction between you can only help,” Curtin said. “You don’t just want to be locked into formal interview mode – you want to form a personal connection. It helps to build rapport for future conversations/interviews. “They’re a human being, so say something that makes them feel like you see them that way,” she said. “‘You like the Yankees? I love the Yankees!’” Millennial’s have their own benefits to offer older companies too. New ideas, a younger outlook, something to help to company grow into the future and evolve. They are adaptable and creative. Older counterparts have had time to build their career and gain experience. Millennial’s are looking for companies to invest in them, in the same way that they are looking to invest in their career. Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! career,study Starting your own accounting firm? Jacqueline Hodges April 21, 2018 Accounting, Linden Blog, School of Finance We’ve got some important steps for you to keep in mind, and facts that we hope can help you too! Current state of the accounting industry Before you begin starting an accounting firm – or rather, any type of venture – it is important to do your research and understand the industry that you’re aiming to get into and the factors that impact it. According to Bankwest’s Industry Review report on the accounting sector, more than 133,000 Australians are employed in accounting services. Between 2014 and 2015, the accounting services sector was responsible for generating $17 billion in revenue. These numbers reflect just how significant the accounting services plays in the professional services industry. Many accounting businesses are located in major Australian cities. Bankwest has found the majority of these businesses to be based in New South Wales. While it’s easy to imagine that the majority of the firms in the accounting industry are large, smaller firms are the dominant. The ‘Big Four’ of the accounting industry only account for roughly 30% of the available market share (AFP Business Brokers). The profession can be separated into the ‘Big Four’, 2nd tier, mid-tier, medium sized and small accounting firms. There are many different markets that these firms cater to – meaning that there is plenty space in the market for the smaller firms to enter and compete in (AFP Business Brokers). The important questions Before you start an accounting company, ask yourself: Do I have enough experience to help the needs of other businesses and individuals? Do I have one year’s worth of capital to begin and operate for one year? How will I differentiate what my accounting company has to offer from others in the market? Entering the market Develop your Business Plan Like every business venture, your accounting firm will need a business plan. Your business plan should cover the following areas: Your goals for the business Target market research What services you offer Your chosen business structure Breakdown of costs and capital requirements Marketing your business Pricing strategy Office location and requirements Projected costs to start up, budget and revenue model Insurance Try it out part-time If you’re still feeling some hesitancy before taking the plunge to break out on your own, consider picking up some clients part-time and see whether you enjoy working on a full-time basis and starting out on your own. How about it, partner? Two heads can be better than one. By finding the right partner or joining the right franchise, you can potentially have more service offerings, share costs and may appeal to a larger customer base. Old issues, fresh start One of the perks about starting out is that you aren’t beholden to any business legacy issues that may push down profits such as an old fee structure, old equipment and software or client service issues from the past. Make sure that you can market your services and price yourself accordingly. Brush up on the management of your marketing, pricing, selling and practice! Know your software Familiarise yourself with online accounting and bookkeeping software that is often used for small businesses, such as MYOB, Xero or QuickBooks. Cloud computing now offers accounting firms Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, allowing firms to be able to use flexible and extensive software applications that operate with strong data security at fixed rates. Join industry and professional groups If you are a member of any industry or professional groups, utilise them for information and support! If you aren’t a member of any of these groups, then sign up. Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia are two of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a global membership and offers many core services to its members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. Know the guidelines and legalities Starting your business can be stressful but it can be even more stressful when you don’t know the guidelines and legalities around your business operations. There are many resources out there for new businesses to understand the requirements of practicing in Australia. CPA Australia has compiled a list of resources and information for public practices, including links to resources and support that the Australian Government offers as well. Check out our Certificate IV of Accounting. Accounting,Accounting Business Plan,business Unknown Famous Accountants Linden College October 27, 2017 Accounting, Linden Blog Unknown Famous Accountants Accounting first began in Ancient Mesopotamia. Then accountants worked for temples, tracking taxes paid on sheep and agricultural produce. They used cuniform, a writing practice, to keep receipts. But, there have been many developments and accomplishments since then. Let’s take a look at some notable accountants that changed the game. 1. Mary Addison Hamilton An Australian feminist, she was underestimated by her peers and surpassed expectations by received the highest mark on her exams and becoming the first female Chartered Public Accountant. She was offered a permanent position in the public sector, which is especially significant because in that time, women were not usually offered jobs in government. She worked as a clerk in the public service, using her skills to train new accountants and assist a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. 2. Josiah Wedgwood If you recognise the name, that’s because he is in fact the founder of Josiah Wedgwood and Sons – the famous Wedgwood china. He created the first reliable system in the 1700’s to track bottom-line costs and profits, and tested it on his own company during economic downturn. His system proved so successful, it even brought to light an embezzlement scam run by his head clerk. Obviously good accounting is undeniably beneficial. Wedgwood is still around today, more successful than ever. 3. John Pierpont Morgan He was an American financier and banker in the late 1800’s. He dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation, directing the banking coalition that stopped the panic of 1907 and aiding the banking industry through the 1890’s. John’s global market leading financial services firm still carry’s his name, so successful, that is annually donates $200 million to non-profit organisations. His impact was so significant, that upon his death, the NY Stock Exchange stopped trading until midday. 4. Frank Mason Robinson Frank started a business with associates called the Pemberton Chemical Company. They were playing with a medicinal formula using coca leaves and kola nuts… do you see where I’m going? Frank eventually coined the name Coca Cola, and even designed the logo written in Spencerian (the Accountants script of the time). So successful was their marketing that they were able to keep the same price of 5c from 1886 to 1959, which was approximately worth $1.20 including inflation. 5. William Welch Deloitte Deloitte, also a founder of one of the Big 4 accounting firms, was an accountant from London. He began his own business sorting out bankruptcy at a young age. He also became the first independent auditor ever appointed at the Great Western Railway, and invented a system for railway accounts to protect investors from mismanagement of funds. In his time, he was also president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He retired a year before his death, as the oldest practicing accountant at the time. Clearly, accountants have a lot to offer the world, including Bubble Gum (look up Walter Diemer) and Phil Knight – the co-founder of Nike. You never know where an accounting career will lead. Linden offers a Certificate IV in Accounting (FNS40615)… just saying. accountant,Accounting,accounting courses online,coca cola,deloitte,famous accountants,wedgwood Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts Menu HomeAbout Us▼Faculty DirectoryGreat PathwaysLinden College Policies▼Privacy PolicySC14: Complaints and Appeals PolicySC15: Fees & Refund PolicyCoursesCurrent StudentsNews & EventsContact Us
Choosing the Right Career Mickayla April 23, 2018 Career & Business, Career Tips, Study Tips Exciting Wouldn’t it be great to be in a career that you love, doing exciting things and feeling like you made the right choice every day? It can be stressful to make that decision, or even start thinking about it. Most young school leavers feel pushed to make a choice so early, and feel they will be trapped in what they choose forever. But that is not the case, most people change careers two or three times in their lifetime. So making a change when you’ve realised you don’t like a career, or like something else better, doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Purposeful For many millennials, the predominant factor is finding work that is purposeful. You know, that thing that makes you get up in the morning, the passion for accomplishment. There are a few steps you can take to narrow down the surprising amount of choice in front of you. Find what you’re passionate about? What do you find yourself thinking about or doing in your spare time? Maybe you actually really like maths class, or you enjoy writing songs or poems. What are you actually good at? Be realistic about it, but also realise that most things get better with practice. Keep at it! Do one of those career quizzes, it could tell you something you don’t know; such as this: http://joboutlook.gov.au/CareerQuiz.aspx Try an internship or ask for advice from someone in the field. Internships can be excellent ways of finding out the reality of the job and if you do really enjoy it. If all else fails, take some time to figure it out. Taking a gap year and working a temporary retail position can give you the time to see what you are passionate and interested in. Maybe you’ll even enjoy the retail work and aim for a managerial job? Career If you find an interest in a not-so-mainstream career path, make sure to plan how to get there. Being an artist or musician or poet (stereotypical alternative pathways) can still work out better for you than a corporate/retail position. You may even make it into a business. If you want to start a career but aren’t ready for university, we offer short courses in business, accounting and management. For those of you who want to be leaders; are good at maths; or want to make their passion into a business. Here’s our course catalogue: https://lindencollege.edu.au/faculty-schools/course-catalogue/ Career Planning,Career Tips,study Millennial’s in the Workplace Mickayla April 21, 2018 Linden Blog Millennial’s in the Workplace As the population of millennial’s have entered the workforce, many industries are noting a change in the aspirations of their younger employees. It seems that younger people are moving from job to job more often than their older counterparts. However, they still have solid and evolving career goals. Their goals and lifestyles may be different, but, all the same, millennial’s need to think about their goals and aspirations for each position they apply for. These are some things to note, that potential employers might ask you about when applying for a job. 1. What are your short-term career goals? When a recruiter asks “What are your short-term career goals?” they are really trying to ascertain whether you are going to leave as soon as you get a better offer, says Amy Adler, a career coach and the founder of Five Strengths. Kim Ann Curtin, executive coach and the author of Transforming Wall Street, agrees that priority number-one for most interviewers is to get a sense of the likelihood that you’ll stick around. “The biggest fear employers have with millennial’s right now is that they won’t stay and have a tendency to leave after a year or two,” Curtin said. 2. What are your long-term career goals? This question is aimed at figuring out whether you are realistic about the career path in this industry, your intentions for the future and the reason you’re interested in the job, Curtin says. “Headhunters are looking for what millennial’s say that indicates how likely they are to stick around,” she said. “That’s at the heart of what headhunters are asking millennial’s about.” Sometimes the question is rephrased as “What do you see as your next step after this job?”, but it’s basically trying to find out the same thing. “Do they want to be out in a year, or promoted within a year?” said Alyssa Gelbard, the founder and president of Resume Strategists. “Baby Boomers don’t have that expectation of ‘I gotta be in, then I gotta get out and move on to the next thing.’” This is the classic “where do you see yourself in five years?” The company wants to know if you will be a committed employee, willing to invest yourself into your career – with them. 3. How do you handle feedback? A common way of wording this question is “What kind of feedback do you want to receive and how often?” Questions related to handling feedback or constructive criticism are geared toward evaluating how well you respond to being given direction and redirection, Adler said. “There’s a big difference between the way feedback is delivered in school and on the job,” said Gelbard. “Millennial’s should talk about times when they’ve had to handle something difficult, dealing with a client in person or over the phone, not just via text or email.” This can also be a tangential way of gauging how sensitive you are and how you respond when things don’t go your way. Talk about a time when you were passed over for a promotion or an award that you felt you deserved and how you handled that disappointing situation. Be diplomatic. “They should demonstrate that they’re OK dealing with failure, lack of success,” Gelbard said. “Working at a bank or hedge fund in the financial sector, not everyone gets a trophy, so hiring managers want to know, ‘How did you handle a time when you weren’t successful?’ – they value resiliency.” 4. What’s your ideal workday schedule? Adler suggested hiring managers ask this one to make sure you are going to show up on time and work the proper number of hours within the firm’s standard work day. It’s important to be in tune to how your job responsibilities can bleed into your life outside the office. “Millennial’s in the industry should keep in mind that the person you’re interviewing with has probably gotten accustomed to the fact that you’re always on, seven days a week,” Curtin said. “Even after working long hours in the office, now everyone’s on their phone checking work emails 24/7.” Talk about a project, assignment, presentation or deal that ran longer than expected or another example of how you faced unexpected challenges, Gelbard said. 5. How do you define “rewarding” work? This one can be translated as: “What do you need to feel appreciated?” Adler said. Candidates considering a career in financial services should go in with eyes wide open that their job is all about the money. “Millennial’s should realize that they are likely speaking to an organization that is not quite as evolved as they will eventually become,” Curtin said. “Millennial’s coming from a place of wanting to make a positive contribution and work a job that has value in the world need to dial it down”. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want to be authentic, but maybe it’s not as important a conversation to have with [hiring managers] on Wall Street as it would be with those at more future-focused, younger companies,” she said. Hiring managers are looking for an alignment of what the millennial candidate thinks the job requires and the actual responsibilities that the role entails, Gelbard said. “Interviewers want to know what they’re expecting to do – ‘What do you think this job requires?’” she said. “Candidates may have a great work ethic and skills, but if they have no clue what they’d be expected to do if they were hired, that could be a problem. 6. What is your ideal work environment or company culture? During any interview, the interviewer takes a look at the candidate’s lifestyle, searching for indicators of a cultural fit, or lack thereof. “Do some work around talking to people who are already in the organization,” Curtin said. “This is about getting you in the door, who you are, your authenticity, ultimately you need that person interviewing you to feel that you’re one of them and you understand how their firm works, be informed about the culture, speak in ways that communicates that you’re comfortable with that culture and it’ll be a fit. 7. What are some of your hobbies? While not every interview will ask this one, those who do are really trying to figure out whether or not they’d like to work with you on a daily basis. Is this person fun? “If you’re in someone’s office, look for something that you have in common and you can get them to talk about that’s not work-related – human interaction between you can only help,” Curtin said. “You don’t just want to be locked into formal interview mode – you want to form a personal connection. It helps to build rapport for future conversations/interviews. “They’re a human being, so say something that makes them feel like you see them that way,” she said. “‘You like the Yankees? I love the Yankees!’” Millennial’s have their own benefits to offer older companies too. New ideas, a younger outlook, something to help to company grow into the future and evolve. They are adaptable and creative. Older counterparts have had time to build their career and gain experience. Millennial’s are looking for companies to invest in them, in the same way that they are looking to invest in their career. Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! career,study Starting your own accounting firm? Jacqueline Hodges April 21, 2018 Accounting, Linden Blog, School of Finance We’ve got some important steps for you to keep in mind, and facts that we hope can help you too! Current state of the accounting industry Before you begin starting an accounting firm – or rather, any type of venture – it is important to do your research and understand the industry that you’re aiming to get into and the factors that impact it. According to Bankwest’s Industry Review report on the accounting sector, more than 133,000 Australians are employed in accounting services. Between 2014 and 2015, the accounting services sector was responsible for generating $17 billion in revenue. These numbers reflect just how significant the accounting services plays in the professional services industry. Many accounting businesses are located in major Australian cities. Bankwest has found the majority of these businesses to be based in New South Wales. While it’s easy to imagine that the majority of the firms in the accounting industry are large, smaller firms are the dominant. The ‘Big Four’ of the accounting industry only account for roughly 30% of the available market share (AFP Business Brokers). The profession can be separated into the ‘Big Four’, 2nd tier, mid-tier, medium sized and small accounting firms. There are many different markets that these firms cater to – meaning that there is plenty space in the market for the smaller firms to enter and compete in (AFP Business Brokers). The important questions Before you start an accounting company, ask yourself: Do I have enough experience to help the needs of other businesses and individuals? Do I have one year’s worth of capital to begin and operate for one year? How will I differentiate what my accounting company has to offer from others in the market? Entering the market Develop your Business Plan Like every business venture, your accounting firm will need a business plan. Your business plan should cover the following areas: Your goals for the business Target market research What services you offer Your chosen business structure Breakdown of costs and capital requirements Marketing your business Pricing strategy Office location and requirements Projected costs to start up, budget and revenue model Insurance Try it out part-time If you’re still feeling some hesitancy before taking the plunge to break out on your own, consider picking up some clients part-time and see whether you enjoy working on a full-time basis and starting out on your own. How about it, partner? Two heads can be better than one. By finding the right partner or joining the right franchise, you can potentially have more service offerings, share costs and may appeal to a larger customer base. Old issues, fresh start One of the perks about starting out is that you aren’t beholden to any business legacy issues that may push down profits such as an old fee structure, old equipment and software or client service issues from the past. Make sure that you can market your services and price yourself accordingly. Brush up on the management of your marketing, pricing, selling and practice! Know your software Familiarise yourself with online accounting and bookkeeping software that is often used for small businesses, such as MYOB, Xero or QuickBooks. Cloud computing now offers accounting firms Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, allowing firms to be able to use flexible and extensive software applications that operate with strong data security at fixed rates. Join industry and professional groups If you are a member of any industry or professional groups, utilise them for information and support! If you aren’t a member of any of these groups, then sign up. Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia are two of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a global membership and offers many core services to its members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. Know the guidelines and legalities Starting your business can be stressful but it can be even more stressful when you don’t know the guidelines and legalities around your business operations. There are many resources out there for new businesses to understand the requirements of practicing in Australia. CPA Australia has compiled a list of resources and information for public practices, including links to resources and support that the Australian Government offers as well. Check out our Certificate IV of Accounting. Accounting,Accounting Business Plan,business Unknown Famous Accountants Linden College October 27, 2017 Accounting, Linden Blog Unknown Famous Accountants Accounting first began in Ancient Mesopotamia. Then accountants worked for temples, tracking taxes paid on sheep and agricultural produce. They used cuniform, a writing practice, to keep receipts. But, there have been many developments and accomplishments since then. Let’s take a look at some notable accountants that changed the game. 1. Mary Addison Hamilton An Australian feminist, she was underestimated by her peers and surpassed expectations by received the highest mark on her exams and becoming the first female Chartered Public Accountant. She was offered a permanent position in the public sector, which is especially significant because in that time, women were not usually offered jobs in government. She worked as a clerk in the public service, using her skills to train new accountants and assist a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. 2. Josiah Wedgwood If you recognise the name, that’s because he is in fact the founder of Josiah Wedgwood and Sons – the famous Wedgwood china. He created the first reliable system in the 1700’s to track bottom-line costs and profits, and tested it on his own company during economic downturn. His system proved so successful, it even brought to light an embezzlement scam run by his head clerk. Obviously good accounting is undeniably beneficial. Wedgwood is still around today, more successful than ever. 3. John Pierpont Morgan He was an American financier and banker in the late 1800’s. He dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation, directing the banking coalition that stopped the panic of 1907 and aiding the banking industry through the 1890’s. John’s global market leading financial services firm still carry’s his name, so successful, that is annually donates $200 million to non-profit organisations. His impact was so significant, that upon his death, the NY Stock Exchange stopped trading until midday. 4. Frank Mason Robinson Frank started a business with associates called the Pemberton Chemical Company. They were playing with a medicinal formula using coca leaves and kola nuts… do you see where I’m going? Frank eventually coined the name Coca Cola, and even designed the logo written in Spencerian (the Accountants script of the time). So successful was their marketing that they were able to keep the same price of 5c from 1886 to 1959, which was approximately worth $1.20 including inflation. 5. William Welch Deloitte Deloitte, also a founder of one of the Big 4 accounting firms, was an accountant from London. He began his own business sorting out bankruptcy at a young age. He also became the first independent auditor ever appointed at the Great Western Railway, and invented a system for railway accounts to protect investors from mismanagement of funds. In his time, he was also president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He retired a year before his death, as the oldest practicing accountant at the time. Clearly, accountants have a lot to offer the world, including Bubble Gum (look up Walter Diemer) and Phil Knight – the co-founder of Nike. You never know where an accounting career will lead. Linden offers a Certificate IV in Accounting (FNS40615)… just saying. accountant,Accounting,accounting courses online,coca cola,deloitte,famous accountants,wedgwood Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts Menu HomeAbout Us▼Faculty DirectoryGreat PathwaysLinden College Policies▼Privacy PolicySC14: Complaints and Appeals PolicySC15: Fees & Refund PolicyCoursesCurrent StudentsNews & EventsContact Us
Millennial’s in the Workplace Mickayla April 21, 2018 Linden Blog Millennial’s in the Workplace As the population of millennial’s have entered the workforce, many industries are noting a change in the aspirations of their younger employees. It seems that younger people are moving from job to job more often than their older counterparts. However, they still have solid and evolving career goals. Their goals and lifestyles may be different, but, all the same, millennial’s need to think about their goals and aspirations for each position they apply for. These are some things to note, that potential employers might ask you about when applying for a job. 1. What are your short-term career goals? When a recruiter asks “What are your short-term career goals?” they are really trying to ascertain whether you are going to leave as soon as you get a better offer, says Amy Adler, a career coach and the founder of Five Strengths. Kim Ann Curtin, executive coach and the author of Transforming Wall Street, agrees that priority number-one for most interviewers is to get a sense of the likelihood that you’ll stick around. “The biggest fear employers have with millennial’s right now is that they won’t stay and have a tendency to leave after a year or two,” Curtin said. 2. What are your long-term career goals? This question is aimed at figuring out whether you are realistic about the career path in this industry, your intentions for the future and the reason you’re interested in the job, Curtin says. “Headhunters are looking for what millennial’s say that indicates how likely they are to stick around,” she said. “That’s at the heart of what headhunters are asking millennial’s about.” Sometimes the question is rephrased as “What do you see as your next step after this job?”, but it’s basically trying to find out the same thing. “Do they want to be out in a year, or promoted within a year?” said Alyssa Gelbard, the founder and president of Resume Strategists. “Baby Boomers don’t have that expectation of ‘I gotta be in, then I gotta get out and move on to the next thing.’” This is the classic “where do you see yourself in five years?” The company wants to know if you will be a committed employee, willing to invest yourself into your career – with them. 3. How do you handle feedback? A common way of wording this question is “What kind of feedback do you want to receive and how often?” Questions related to handling feedback or constructive criticism are geared toward evaluating how well you respond to being given direction and redirection, Adler said. “There’s a big difference between the way feedback is delivered in school and on the job,” said Gelbard. “Millennial’s should talk about times when they’ve had to handle something difficult, dealing with a client in person or over the phone, not just via text or email.” This can also be a tangential way of gauging how sensitive you are and how you respond when things don’t go your way. Talk about a time when you were passed over for a promotion or an award that you felt you deserved and how you handled that disappointing situation. Be diplomatic. “They should demonstrate that they’re OK dealing with failure, lack of success,” Gelbard said. “Working at a bank or hedge fund in the financial sector, not everyone gets a trophy, so hiring managers want to know, ‘How did you handle a time when you weren’t successful?’ – they value resiliency.” 4. What’s your ideal workday schedule? Adler suggested hiring managers ask this one to make sure you are going to show up on time and work the proper number of hours within the firm’s standard work day. It’s important to be in tune to how your job responsibilities can bleed into your life outside the office. “Millennial’s in the industry should keep in mind that the person you’re interviewing with has probably gotten accustomed to the fact that you’re always on, seven days a week,” Curtin said. “Even after working long hours in the office, now everyone’s on their phone checking work emails 24/7.” Talk about a project, assignment, presentation or deal that ran longer than expected or another example of how you faced unexpected challenges, Gelbard said. 5. How do you define “rewarding” work? This one can be translated as: “What do you need to feel appreciated?” Adler said. Candidates considering a career in financial services should go in with eyes wide open that their job is all about the money. “Millennial’s should realize that they are likely speaking to an organization that is not quite as evolved as they will eventually become,” Curtin said. “Millennial’s coming from a place of wanting to make a positive contribution and work a job that has value in the world need to dial it down”. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want to be authentic, but maybe it’s not as important a conversation to have with [hiring managers] on Wall Street as it would be with those at more future-focused, younger companies,” she said. Hiring managers are looking for an alignment of what the millennial candidate thinks the job requires and the actual responsibilities that the role entails, Gelbard said. “Interviewers want to know what they’re expecting to do – ‘What do you think this job requires?’” she said. “Candidates may have a great work ethic and skills, but if they have no clue what they’d be expected to do if they were hired, that could be a problem. 6. What is your ideal work environment or company culture? During any interview, the interviewer takes a look at the candidate’s lifestyle, searching for indicators of a cultural fit, or lack thereof. “Do some work around talking to people who are already in the organization,” Curtin said. “This is about getting you in the door, who you are, your authenticity, ultimately you need that person interviewing you to feel that you’re one of them and you understand how their firm works, be informed about the culture, speak in ways that communicates that you’re comfortable with that culture and it’ll be a fit. 7. What are some of your hobbies? While not every interview will ask this one, those who do are really trying to figure out whether or not they’d like to work with you on a daily basis. Is this person fun? “If you’re in someone’s office, look for something that you have in common and you can get them to talk about that’s not work-related – human interaction between you can only help,” Curtin said. “You don’t just want to be locked into formal interview mode – you want to form a personal connection. It helps to build rapport for future conversations/interviews. “They’re a human being, so say something that makes them feel like you see them that way,” she said. “‘You like the Yankees? I love the Yankees!’” Millennial’s have their own benefits to offer older companies too. New ideas, a younger outlook, something to help to company grow into the future and evolve. They are adaptable and creative. Older counterparts have had time to build their career and gain experience. Millennial’s are looking for companies to invest in them, in the same way that they are looking to invest in their career. Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! career,study Starting your own accounting firm? Jacqueline Hodges April 21, 2018 Accounting, Linden Blog, School of Finance We’ve got some important steps for you to keep in mind, and facts that we hope can help you too! Current state of the accounting industry Before you begin starting an accounting firm – or rather, any type of venture – it is important to do your research and understand the industry that you’re aiming to get into and the factors that impact it. According to Bankwest’s Industry Review report on the accounting sector, more than 133,000 Australians are employed in accounting services. Between 2014 and 2015, the accounting services sector was responsible for generating $17 billion in revenue. These numbers reflect just how significant the accounting services plays in the professional services industry. Many accounting businesses are located in major Australian cities. Bankwest has found the majority of these businesses to be based in New South Wales. While it’s easy to imagine that the majority of the firms in the accounting industry are large, smaller firms are the dominant. The ‘Big Four’ of the accounting industry only account for roughly 30% of the available market share (AFP Business Brokers). The profession can be separated into the ‘Big Four’, 2nd tier, mid-tier, medium sized and small accounting firms. There are many different markets that these firms cater to – meaning that there is plenty space in the market for the smaller firms to enter and compete in (AFP Business Brokers). The important questions Before you start an accounting company, ask yourself: Do I have enough experience to help the needs of other businesses and individuals? Do I have one year’s worth of capital to begin and operate for one year? How will I differentiate what my accounting company has to offer from others in the market? Entering the market Develop your Business Plan Like every business venture, your accounting firm will need a business plan. Your business plan should cover the following areas: Your goals for the business Target market research What services you offer Your chosen business structure Breakdown of costs and capital requirements Marketing your business Pricing strategy Office location and requirements Projected costs to start up, budget and revenue model Insurance Try it out part-time If you’re still feeling some hesitancy before taking the plunge to break out on your own, consider picking up some clients part-time and see whether you enjoy working on a full-time basis and starting out on your own. How about it, partner? Two heads can be better than one. By finding the right partner or joining the right franchise, you can potentially have more service offerings, share costs and may appeal to a larger customer base. Old issues, fresh start One of the perks about starting out is that you aren’t beholden to any business legacy issues that may push down profits such as an old fee structure, old equipment and software or client service issues from the past. Make sure that you can market your services and price yourself accordingly. Brush up on the management of your marketing, pricing, selling and practice! Know your software Familiarise yourself with online accounting and bookkeeping software that is often used for small businesses, such as MYOB, Xero or QuickBooks. Cloud computing now offers accounting firms Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, allowing firms to be able to use flexible and extensive software applications that operate with strong data security at fixed rates. Join industry and professional groups If you are a member of any industry or professional groups, utilise them for information and support! If you aren’t a member of any of these groups, then sign up. Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia are two of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a global membership and offers many core services to its members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. Know the guidelines and legalities Starting your business can be stressful but it can be even more stressful when you don’t know the guidelines and legalities around your business operations. There are many resources out there for new businesses to understand the requirements of practicing in Australia. CPA Australia has compiled a list of resources and information for public practices, including links to resources and support that the Australian Government offers as well. Check out our Certificate IV of Accounting. Accounting,Accounting Business Plan,business Unknown Famous Accountants Linden College October 27, 2017 Accounting, Linden Blog Unknown Famous Accountants Accounting first began in Ancient Mesopotamia. Then accountants worked for temples, tracking taxes paid on sheep and agricultural produce. They used cuniform, a writing practice, to keep receipts. But, there have been many developments and accomplishments since then. Let’s take a look at some notable accountants that changed the game. 1. Mary Addison Hamilton An Australian feminist, she was underestimated by her peers and surpassed expectations by received the highest mark on her exams and becoming the first female Chartered Public Accountant. She was offered a permanent position in the public sector, which is especially significant because in that time, women were not usually offered jobs in government. She worked as a clerk in the public service, using her skills to train new accountants and assist a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. 2. Josiah Wedgwood If you recognise the name, that’s because he is in fact the founder of Josiah Wedgwood and Sons – the famous Wedgwood china. He created the first reliable system in the 1700’s to track bottom-line costs and profits, and tested it on his own company during economic downturn. His system proved so successful, it even brought to light an embezzlement scam run by his head clerk. Obviously good accounting is undeniably beneficial. Wedgwood is still around today, more successful than ever. 3. John Pierpont Morgan He was an American financier and banker in the late 1800’s. He dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation, directing the banking coalition that stopped the panic of 1907 and aiding the banking industry through the 1890’s. John’s global market leading financial services firm still carry’s his name, so successful, that is annually donates $200 million to non-profit organisations. His impact was so significant, that upon his death, the NY Stock Exchange stopped trading until midday. 4. Frank Mason Robinson Frank started a business with associates called the Pemberton Chemical Company. They were playing with a medicinal formula using coca leaves and kola nuts… do you see where I’m going? Frank eventually coined the name Coca Cola, and even designed the logo written in Spencerian (the Accountants script of the time). So successful was their marketing that they were able to keep the same price of 5c from 1886 to 1959, which was approximately worth $1.20 including inflation. 5. William Welch Deloitte Deloitte, also a founder of one of the Big 4 accounting firms, was an accountant from London. He began his own business sorting out bankruptcy at a young age. He also became the first independent auditor ever appointed at the Great Western Railway, and invented a system for railway accounts to protect investors from mismanagement of funds. In his time, he was also president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He retired a year before his death, as the oldest practicing accountant at the time. Clearly, accountants have a lot to offer the world, including Bubble Gum (look up Walter Diemer) and Phil Knight – the co-founder of Nike. You never know where an accounting career will lead. Linden offers a Certificate IV in Accounting (FNS40615)… just saying. accountant,Accounting,accounting courses online,coca cola,deloitte,famous accountants,wedgwood Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts Menu HomeAbout Us▼Faculty DirectoryGreat PathwaysLinden College Policies▼Privacy PolicySC14: Complaints and Appeals PolicySC15: Fees & Refund PolicyCoursesCurrent StudentsNews & EventsContact Us
Starting your own accounting firm? Jacqueline Hodges April 21, 2018 Accounting, Linden Blog, School of Finance We’ve got some important steps for you to keep in mind, and facts that we hope can help you too! Current state of the accounting industry Before you begin starting an accounting firm – or rather, any type of venture – it is important to do your research and understand the industry that you’re aiming to get into and the factors that impact it. According to Bankwest’s Industry Review report on the accounting sector, more than 133,000 Australians are employed in accounting services. Between 2014 and 2015, the accounting services sector was responsible for generating $17 billion in revenue. These numbers reflect just how significant the accounting services plays in the professional services industry. Many accounting businesses are located in major Australian cities. Bankwest has found the majority of these businesses to be based in New South Wales. While it’s easy to imagine that the majority of the firms in the accounting industry are large, smaller firms are the dominant. The ‘Big Four’ of the accounting industry only account for roughly 30% of the available market share (AFP Business Brokers). The profession can be separated into the ‘Big Four’, 2nd tier, mid-tier, medium sized and small accounting firms. There are many different markets that these firms cater to – meaning that there is plenty space in the market for the smaller firms to enter and compete in (AFP Business Brokers). The important questions Before you start an accounting company, ask yourself: Do I have enough experience to help the needs of other businesses and individuals? Do I have one year’s worth of capital to begin and operate for one year? How will I differentiate what my accounting company has to offer from others in the market? Entering the market Develop your Business Plan Like every business venture, your accounting firm will need a business plan. Your business plan should cover the following areas: Your goals for the business Target market research What services you offer Your chosen business structure Breakdown of costs and capital requirements Marketing your business Pricing strategy Office location and requirements Projected costs to start up, budget and revenue model Insurance Try it out part-time If you’re still feeling some hesitancy before taking the plunge to break out on your own, consider picking up some clients part-time and see whether you enjoy working on a full-time basis and starting out on your own. How about it, partner? Two heads can be better than one. By finding the right partner or joining the right franchise, you can potentially have more service offerings, share costs and may appeal to a larger customer base. Old issues, fresh start One of the perks about starting out is that you aren’t beholden to any business legacy issues that may push down profits such as an old fee structure, old equipment and software or client service issues from the past. Make sure that you can market your services and price yourself accordingly. Brush up on the management of your marketing, pricing, selling and practice! Know your software Familiarise yourself with online accounting and bookkeeping software that is often used for small businesses, such as MYOB, Xero or QuickBooks. Cloud computing now offers accounting firms Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, allowing firms to be able to use flexible and extensive software applications that operate with strong data security at fixed rates. Join industry and professional groups If you are a member of any industry or professional groups, utilise them for information and support! If you aren’t a member of any of these groups, then sign up. Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia are two of the world’s largest accounting bodies with a global membership and offers many core services to its members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. Know the guidelines and legalities Starting your business can be stressful but it can be even more stressful when you don’t know the guidelines and legalities around your business operations. There are many resources out there for new businesses to understand the requirements of practicing in Australia. CPA Australia has compiled a list of resources and information for public practices, including links to resources and support that the Australian Government offers as well. Check out our Certificate IV of Accounting. Accounting,Accounting Business Plan,business Unknown Famous Accountants Linden College October 27, 2017 Accounting, Linden Blog Unknown Famous Accountants Accounting first began in Ancient Mesopotamia. Then accountants worked for temples, tracking taxes paid on sheep and agricultural produce. They used cuniform, a writing practice, to keep receipts. But, there have been many developments and accomplishments since then. Let’s take a look at some notable accountants that changed the game. 1. Mary Addison Hamilton An Australian feminist, she was underestimated by her peers and surpassed expectations by received the highest mark on her exams and becoming the first female Chartered Public Accountant. She was offered a permanent position in the public sector, which is especially significant because in that time, women were not usually offered jobs in government. She worked as a clerk in the public service, using her skills to train new accountants and assist a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. 2. Josiah Wedgwood If you recognise the name, that’s because he is in fact the founder of Josiah Wedgwood and Sons – the famous Wedgwood china. He created the first reliable system in the 1700’s to track bottom-line costs and profits, and tested it on his own company during economic downturn. His system proved so successful, it even brought to light an embezzlement scam run by his head clerk. Obviously good accounting is undeniably beneficial. Wedgwood is still around today, more successful than ever. 3. John Pierpont Morgan He was an American financier and banker in the late 1800’s. He dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation, directing the banking coalition that stopped the panic of 1907 and aiding the banking industry through the 1890’s. John’s global market leading financial services firm still carry’s his name, so successful, that is annually donates $200 million to non-profit organisations. His impact was so significant, that upon his death, the NY Stock Exchange stopped trading until midday. 4. Frank Mason Robinson Frank started a business with associates called the Pemberton Chemical Company. They were playing with a medicinal formula using coca leaves and kola nuts… do you see where I’m going? Frank eventually coined the name Coca Cola, and even designed the logo written in Spencerian (the Accountants script of the time). So successful was their marketing that they were able to keep the same price of 5c from 1886 to 1959, which was approximately worth $1.20 including inflation. 5. William Welch Deloitte Deloitte, also a founder of one of the Big 4 accounting firms, was an accountant from London. He began his own business sorting out bankruptcy at a young age. He also became the first independent auditor ever appointed at the Great Western Railway, and invented a system for railway accounts to protect investors from mismanagement of funds. In his time, he was also president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He retired a year before his death, as the oldest practicing accountant at the time. Clearly, accountants have a lot to offer the world, including Bubble Gum (look up Walter Diemer) and Phil Knight – the co-founder of Nike. You never know where an accounting career will lead. Linden offers a Certificate IV in Accounting (FNS40615)… just saying. accountant,Accounting,accounting courses online,coca cola,deloitte,famous accountants,wedgwood Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts Menu HomeAbout Us▼Faculty DirectoryGreat PathwaysLinden College Policies▼Privacy PolicySC14: Complaints and Appeals PolicySC15: Fees & Refund PolicyCoursesCurrent StudentsNews & EventsContact Us
Unknown Famous Accountants Linden College October 27, 2017 Accounting, Linden Blog Unknown Famous Accountants Accounting first began in Ancient Mesopotamia. Then accountants worked for temples, tracking taxes paid on sheep and agricultural produce. They used cuniform, a writing practice, to keep receipts. But, there have been many developments and accomplishments since then. Let’s take a look at some notable accountants that changed the game. 1. Mary Addison Hamilton An Australian feminist, she was underestimated by her peers and surpassed expectations by received the highest mark on her exams and becoming the first female Chartered Public Accountant. She was offered a permanent position in the public sector, which is especially significant because in that time, women were not usually offered jobs in government. She worked as a clerk in the public service, using her skills to train new accountants and assist a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. 2. Josiah Wedgwood If you recognise the name, that’s because he is in fact the founder of Josiah Wedgwood and Sons – the famous Wedgwood china. He created the first reliable system in the 1700’s to track bottom-line costs and profits, and tested it on his own company during economic downturn. His system proved so successful, it even brought to light an embezzlement scam run by his head clerk. Obviously good accounting is undeniably beneficial. Wedgwood is still around today, more successful than ever. 3. John Pierpont Morgan He was an American financier and banker in the late 1800’s. He dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation, directing the banking coalition that stopped the panic of 1907 and aiding the banking industry through the 1890’s. John’s global market leading financial services firm still carry’s his name, so successful, that is annually donates $200 million to non-profit organisations. His impact was so significant, that upon his death, the NY Stock Exchange stopped trading until midday. 4. Frank Mason Robinson Frank started a business with associates called the Pemberton Chemical Company. They were playing with a medicinal formula using coca leaves and kola nuts… do you see where I’m going? Frank eventually coined the name Coca Cola, and even designed the logo written in Spencerian (the Accountants script of the time). So successful was their marketing that they were able to keep the same price of 5c from 1886 to 1959, which was approximately worth $1.20 including inflation. 5. William Welch Deloitte Deloitte, also a founder of one of the Big 4 accounting firms, was an accountant from London. He began his own business sorting out bankruptcy at a young age. He also became the first independent auditor ever appointed at the Great Western Railway, and invented a system for railway accounts to protect investors from mismanagement of funds. In his time, he was also president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He retired a year before his death, as the oldest practicing accountant at the time. Clearly, accountants have a lot to offer the world, including Bubble Gum (look up Walter Diemer) and Phil Knight – the co-founder of Nike. You never know where an accounting career will lead. Linden offers a Certificate IV in Accounting (FNS40615)… just saying. accountant,Accounting,accounting courses online,coca cola,deloitte,famous accountants,wedgwood Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts Menu HomeAbout Us▼Faculty DirectoryGreat PathwaysLinden College Policies▼Privacy PolicySC14: Complaints and Appeals PolicySC15: Fees & Refund PolicyCoursesCurrent StudentsNews & EventsContact Us
Your Key to Understanding Successful Study Mickayla March 24, 2018 Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Successful Study There are three essential steps to developing good skills: Self-awareness – insight into yourself (and other’s opinions about your abilities can impact your capacity to achieve them) Strategy – developing good habits and applying the best approach Personalised approach: adapt your strategies to suit your strengths, interests and circumstances Take some time to think about and reflect on these, maybe write down some points to remember about how you study effectively. Intelligence Have confidence in your own intelligence. Without this confidence, you will doubt yourself and that’s not productive for study. What does intelligence mean to you? What is intelligence? Here are some examples of common thoughts about intelligence: Intelligence is an underlying, general cleverness which is fixed by genetics; Intelligence has many kinds (linguistic, musical, kinaesthetic, logical, etc.); Intelligence can be developed; Intelligence depends on your life opportunities; Intelligence may be interpreted differently in different people; Intelligence if about applying what you know easily to new contexts; Intelligence is a question of how much you know; Intelligence is easy to measure; Intelligence is about applying effective strategies that can be learnt; and Intelligence is a question of habit and practice. Do you feel a truth in one or more of these responses? Now you are more self-aware about your predispositions about intelligence, that’s step 1. We can move on to learning. Successful Learning Successful learning is a process. It can be unconscious or conscious, use varying senses, different levels of attention, be fast or slow. Conditions for successful learning include: new experiences, foundations, rehearsal/practice, processing new information and understanding on a new level. Optimal learning happens in many different environments and conditions, including: working out which time, place, space, or routine works for you is really beneficial. A place that you learn best might be a classroom with bright lights and others, or at home where it’s quiet and you can focus. Knowing your optimal learning conditions allows you to replicate the conditions in different places. If you truly enjoy what you are learning, the environment might not even matter. Build your habit and routine of learning; keeping notes and due dates organised is a general help to most students. There are many different ways to describe the different learning styles. Knowing your learning style may help you understand your optimal learning conditions. If you have a visual or kinetic learning style, you may need to adapt the way you receive the knowledge. Personalisation Personalising your learning by combining all of the above will improve your self-awareness of your learning process or style. Personalising your learning environment and conditions will take some experimenting. If you prefer to study with a group, you will need to set up or find a study buddy or group. If you are an auditory learner and lectures and recordings really work for you, you will need to plan your learning and revision around these. Keep in mind not to narrow the range of conditions too much. You may want to try and use various skills to learn. Happy studying! Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts
The Accounting Industry: What it’s like. Linden College October 21, 2017 Accounting, Career & Business, Linden Blog, School of Finance The Accounting Industry There’s been talk that the accounting industry might be declining thanks to technological advancements. But this is simply not true. Accounting has too many complexities and intricacies for a machine. Most individuals and every company in every industry needs an accountant. There are many different types of accountants, and many different area to work in. Some examples include – accounts administrators, reconciliation clerks, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeepers and SMSF administrators. Then there are accountants who work in accounting practices. These accountants have roles such as – auditing (who examine company’s financial statements), management accounting, taxation advising or business services. Business services accountants work across all areas of accounting consulting to small business and individuals. Some accountants are consultants, who help businesses with their decision making, or in specialist tax areas, like film production. Other accounting roles include forensic accounting – which involves fraud prevention and detection; cost accountants, project accountants, as well as analysts. There are unique areas like environmental accounting, which involves analysing the environmental impacts of business such as the financial damage from ecological disasters. Do you have a particular interest in an area outside of accounting? You could combine your passion with work as an accountant within areas – such as a sports or music company. There are also industry specialisations, such as SMSF accountants and Real Estate Trust Accountants. What Do Accountants Do? The accounting industry is diverse. Accountants prepare reports, analyse, and assess on many various financial or tax items, which yes, does include tax returns. They also interpret and apply regulation, as well as keep up with ever-changing legislation. A good accountant is adaptable, diligent, committed and detail-orientated. Some accounting positions can be stressful, with tight deadlines. Mostly, accountants also need to be affable, as they work with people. From our CEO – What do you like most about the accounting industry? The most interesting thing about the accounting industry is the people you meet. Definitely, its the people, you meet new clients and catch up with old clients. You learn about their life, their family, their business, their investments, their goals and objectives. Then it’s the problem solving. How can I help this person meet their goals and objectives, how can I help them save on their taxes, is their business tracking well? Knowing that you can’t please everyone all of the time is important. Knowing that you are helping your clients and getting positive feedback is the ultimate goal for any accountant. To move up in the accounting ranks; You can begin an accounting career with a Certificate IV in Accounting and develop the skills and knowledge to move ahead. With a Certificate IV in Accounting your career will commence with jobs such as an accounts clerk, payroll clerk, accounts clerk, bookkeeper or assistant accountant. Starting with a Certificate IV in Accounting is also a great way to springboard into university with a little prior knowledge. There are many professional associations in Australia including the Australian Bookkeepers Network, Association of Accounting Technicians, and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association. If you would like to find out more about our Certificate IV in Accounting phone us on 1300 228 338 or complete the contact form and one of our staff will respond to you as soon as possible. Accounting,Become an Accountant,Career Planning Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts
Developing Your Study Skills for Success Mickayla August 24, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Developing your student skills Following on from the first post, ‘Success as a Student’, this post is about the study skills you will use and how to develop them. Since it’s been a while, here’s a reminder of the last topic, I’ve copied the skills needed to be a successful student. Skills valuable to the student: self-motivated self-discipline organised goal-orientated perseverance routine perspective problem solving and stress management Basic Research Skills This is the ability to find information, speed reading, using multiple sources, making notes of important information, organisation skills, as well as using numerical data. Basically, these are all skills required when completing homework or assignments. This will come naturally to some, but others need time and practice to build these skills. One helpful tip I can give, is to use keywords when looking for information, and speed reading. Thinking Skills Now, this one really does rely on you. It’s about decision makings, such as which piece of information to use; memory skills; critical thinking; creative problem-solving, and understanding. Memory skills are quite obviously important, and there are many strategies available to aid your memory recall. Critical thinking skills will be essential in all studies. It requires you to evaluate the quality of sources, interpretation of information and building a strong line of reasoning. Your understanding of the content and the task at hand is instrumental in using these skills, so you will need to be engaged in the material and discussions to practice these skills. Written and Other Communication Skills This is about how you write, getting your ideas across in a clear and precise manner. This brings in organisation and planning, the style and format, the audience, referencing, specialist terminology, academic integrity and using subject appropriate conventions. This is also where having organised notes from research will be beneficial. People Skills Studying with others requires you to take an active part, make a constructive contribution in classes, give feedback, work collaboratively, and support your fellow students. This doesn’t have to be a big thing, and if you don’t know what to do to help in a group setting – ask another group member. Task Management Skills Task management is like a combination of self-discipline, time management and the above skills, in one. As a student you will have to produce set items, like essays, reports, and presentations, etc. You will find that there is criteria to meet, formats that you need to follow, and potentially – specific resources that you are require to use. Therefore, having good task management skills means you have to be organised, goal orientated, motivated, develop self-management and stress management skills. It takes time to build these skills, if you haven’t already, however, in the studying environment you will find these come quickly from observation of fellow students. Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts
Success as a student Mickayla August 10, 2017 Linden Blog, School of Business, School of Finance, Student Life, Study Tips, Uncategorised Managing yourself for study – Success as a student. We all desire success when commencing a new study. This blog is the first in a series that will provide more insight into getting the best out of your study. What is expected of you? In vocational and higher education, there is more freedom of when and what time you learn – however, this also means you need to have more determination, persistence and self-discipline. That last one especially. You need to be independent – which includes looking for your own answers instead of asking the course facilitator or lecturer. Be self-motivated, organised, goal-orientated, and open to group work. You need to figure out how you learn best, and how you study best. This could be at a particular time of day, in a certain space, with or without music, etc etc. It’s also helpful to make goals and keep track of due dates. I find this works best for me with a monthly calendar and a whiteboard to write the weeks priorities. You are expected to manage your own time and life, which often requires a bit of organisation. How vocational and higher education differs from previous levels? The teaching methods are different, with you partly being responsible for your own learning. The work is harder, more complex, and takes more time – which makes time management is essential. Lecturers/tutors will encourage debate and self-research, but ultimately, it requires you to be open to new learning opportunities, and take some initiative with your own education. You will find that a lot of the material and content requires you to be tech literate. How to make the best of the experience? Studying in vocational and higher education, it may feel like you have more time, more choice, but you also have more control, more responsibility, and less guidance. To make the best of the experience, you will need to learn some new skills (some mentioned in the “what is expected of you” section). Self-discipline and time management are the most critical student skills. Building your self-discipline, i.e. the thing that makes you sit down and finish the reading or assessment instead of bludging or going out, will enable you to stay on top of work and meet deadlines. None of which can happen if you aren’t organised, and don’t manage your time well. The best thing to do is to write out all the due dates, and plan some time in the weeks before to get the work done. Once you get the hang of it, you will find student life less stressful – and you may even have a better study-life balance. How to build resilience as a student to maximise success: Resilience helps you manage when study and life gets stressful and tough. Starting a vocational or higher education course can feel like a lot of change, but have confidence in yourself. When you are challenged, it is resilience that makes you push back. Key skills that aid resilience are; motivation, perseverance, routine, perspective, problem solving and stress management. Other things to consider are: What success looks like for you? what makes you feel successful realistic goals What are your anxieties and resources? stresses, pressure family, friends, college or university student services, experience Student relationships that are beneficial for both parties study buddies going to class together Inspiration taken from ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell, 4th Edition. Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts
Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Jacqueline Hodges August 3, 2017 Bas Agent, Linden Blog, School of Finance Do you want to become a BAS Agent? Have you ever considered becoming a BAS Agent, which is a specialist Bookkeeper? A Bookkeeper maintains the records of the financial affairs of a business, however, a BAS Agent advisors on the BAS tax affairs of the business. The path for this career is simply a case of having the relevant experience and qualifications. There are two qualifications that will enable you to work as a BAS Agent. What do BAS Agents do? BAS Agents provide their clients with advice, in addition to completing a BAS Service for their clients business. A BAS Service requires you to work out and advise on any taxes that are included in the Business Activity Statement (BAS). Usually this will include working out or advising on the taxation liabilities, obligations or entitlements of clients. These taxes typically include the following: goods and services tax (GST) law wine tax law luxury car tax law fuel tax law Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, and Applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Tax File Number (TFN) Dealing with Superannuation The Tax Practitioner’s Board website provides more information about BAS Services, and the qualifications and experience which are required to become a BAS Agent. BAS Agent requirements? To become a BAS Agent, you must meet the requirements to be registered. Anyone who provides a BAS service for a fee, must: Complete a FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting or FNS402015 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or higher to be eligible for registration. Complete an approved course in basic GST/BAS taxation principles, such as the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. Register with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and follow the requirements of the TPB, which are: Be a fit and proper person Have the education outlined above Have the relevant experience Maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance Meet the continuing Professional Development requirement The approved courses in basic GST/BAS taxation principles are: The current approved GST/BAS taxation units offered are within either the FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting, as well as through the BAS Agent Registration Skill Set. To meet the education requirements, you must complete these two units: FNSBKG404 Carry out business activity and installment activity statement tasks and FNSBKG405 Establish and maintain a payroll system. Gain the relevant experience To become a Registered BAS Agent you must have at least 1,400 hours of experience. If you have been a member of a professional organisation over the last four years, it’s only 1,000. This includes hours working under the supervision of a registered Tax Agent or registered BAS Agent. Study Options If you are interested in becoming a BAS Agent and are seeking further information about possible study pathways, please contact us at: info@lindencollege.edu.au Linden College School of Finance offers the following courses: BAS Agent Registration Skill Set FNS40615 Certificate IV in Accounting Become a Bas Agent,Registered Bas Agent Post navigation ← Older posts
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