Further training as a finance and accounting specialist: Experiences from the Head of the WB Business Division and Course Director URS HeuBERGER - Become a specialist for all topics relating to financial and management accounting
Please introduce yourself briefly, tell us about your career and your current job.
My name is Urs Heuberger. I am the Head of the Business Administration Department at BZWU Continuing Education and, as course director, I am responsible for the Finance and Accounting Specialist course.
What are the job prospects and career opportunities after graduating as a finance and accounting specialist?
With the specialist certificate in finance and accounting, our participants have the opportunity to make a big leap forward in their career. Above all, positions in specialist areas can be taken on and these can be fully mapped and processed. This means that you have the opportunity to take responsibility for specific subject areas and then, as a specialist, take care of the management and/or solution-oriented implementation of the specialist tasks in this area. In short, finance and accounting specialists are specialists for all topics relating to financial and management accounting.
What are the admission requirements for the Finance and Accounting Specialist course?
The idea behind the Finance and Accounting Specialist course is to train specialists in this field. Therefore, the prerequisite is basic accounting knowledge, whether through the accounting clerk course, a commercial apprenticeship or another federal certificate (which covers such topics in accounting). A further requirement before registering for the exam is three years of professional experience. Excel experience is also required - but we offer this as learning content within the course.
What do students learn in the advanced training course for finance and accounting specialists?
Our students in the continuing education program Finance and Accounting Specialist primarily deal with two main topics: Financial accounting and management accounting. At the end of the course, graduates are experts in this field who understand these topics in depth. This also enables them to deal with special problems in these areas. However, this also includes an understanding beyond the "edge of the plate" and for all specialist areas that follow on from this and have an impact on their own actions. The finance and accounting specialist must be able to map these subsequent specialist areas just as well.
How much does it cost to train as a finance and accounting specialist?
Training to become a finance and accounting specialist costs around CHF 20,000 - spread over two and a half years. However, the following must be taken into account: The federal government provides subsidies for this type of training, which means that the final costs after completing the specialist examination are only CHF 10,000.
What makes the Wil training location particularly interesting for students?
The Wil training location is of interest to Finance and Accounting Specialist students because it is very centrally located in a large region. This region covers the areas from Toggenburg to Lake Constance and from St.Gallen to Winterthur. We have very good connections everywhere. Our school is therefore also known beyond the region. We are also constantly thinking about what learning will look like in the future and are constantly introducing new, innovative learning methods.
How accessible is the school?
Our school is very easy to reach. We are close to Wil railroad station and therefore well connected to neighboring regions. There are also many good bus connections from Obertoggenburg to the lake. Of course, we also have parking spaces available to participants in the Finance and Accounting Specialist course. We also offer good catering facilities with our own canteen.
Why should students opt for BZWU continuing education?
I recommend the BZWU training courses for finance and accounting specialists to students because you know exactly what you're getting. We have good regional roots. We have years of experience in adult education and also offer basic education. This means that our experience from basic education can also flow into continuing education. As already mentioned, we also take a progressive approach to teaching.
What do you think makes BZWU training unique?
The USP, i.e. the unique selling point of BZWU continuing education, is certainly a good reputation in the business world. We have a good success rate for our continuing education courses - including the specialist in finance and accounting. Certainly also Learning 4.0 - a technologically advanced school that aims to introduce distance learning, self-didactic learning and coaching into everyday school life.
How is the acceptance of the qualification as a specialist in finance and accounting with a federal certificate?
Graduates in finance and accounting with a federal diploma can certainly count themselves as highly sought-after employees on the open market within the Swiss education landscape. The national quality standard is currently classified at the level of a bachelor's degree. This means that you have a very good level as a specialist in finance and accounting on the job market. In particular, it is also very exciting to build on the specialist certificate and develop into an absolute specialist. Because the certificate opens a lot of doors. You have the opportunity to take expert courses such as finance and controlling expert, auditor or tax expert. All these further steps build on the professional certificate.
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
