IT JUST ALL ADDS UP writer SARA CARBERY // photographer DEAN NORRIE Even though she loves her job as an assistant accountant, ZINGARA McDOUGALL jokes she didn’t choose accounting. “Accounting chose me!” “I’ve always been fascinated by numbers and working with money, and I have good administrative and problem-solving skills, so I’m not surprised I am working in the accounting industry,” she says. “I just wish I had decided this earlier so I could have worked on obtaining a qualification in accounting straight after school.”
Instead, she found her way into accounting accidentally after returning home to Kaikoura from a short stint studying sport and recreation at Lincoln University. The owners of the supermarket where she had worked as a checkout operator during high school heard she was looking for a job and offered her a cashier/ administration position – her first taste of accounts. A move to Christchurch two years later saw her landing a similar role in the tourism industry. In the six years she was there, Zingara was introduced to a range of accounting tasks, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliations.
I ENJOY PROBLEM SOLVING – especially the satisfaction of COMPLETING A reconCILIATION! ZINGARA McDOUGALL
“I enjoy problem solving – especially the satisfaction of completing a reconciliation! I also enjoy helping other people solve problems and creating processes and making improvements to make everyone’s job easier.” Now working at Ryman Healthcare, Zingara’s job involves processing banking transactions, monthly reconciliations and investigations, processing monthly journals and reporting. “I also help to facilitate any bank-related admin, such as opening new bank accounts, credit cards and merchant IDs.” Eager to learn more and gain a qualification, Zingara is working towards a New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) through Open Polytechnic, with the goal of being recognised as an Accounting Technician through CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand). Juggling study with fulltime work, sport and a social life, Zingara hopes to complete her diploma early next year. In the future she might consider further study to become a Chartered Accountant. “Otherwise, my goal is to continue progressing my career and learning more. I’d love to lead a team one day.” In Year 13 at Kaikoura High School, Zingara took English, Maths, PE, Biology and Art. Maths was useful, she says, but “English is undoubtedly the most useful subject as effective communication skills are so crucial in any industry”. In hindsight, she wishes she had studied Commerce at high school. “I think this could have potentially made me consider an accounting qualification earlier on.” Zingara’s advice is to explore a range of career options, even those careers you don’t think you’re interested in. “If someone had said to me in Year 13 that I would be going down the accounting pathway I would have disagreed as I wasn’t even considering it! “I also think it’s important that if you aren’t sure, you don’t force yourself into a decision. Take a gap year and get some real-life experience because nothing beats it – and even if it is slightly harder, you are never too old to study.”
KEY FACTS ■ ZINGARA McDOUGALL WORKS AS AN ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT AT RYMAN HEALTHCARE. ■ SHE STUDIED ENGLISH, MATHS, PE, BIOLOGY AND ART IN YEAR 13 AT KAIKOURA HIGH SCHOOL AND SAYS MATHS AND ENGLISH HAVE BEEN THE MOST USEFUL IN HER ACCOUNTING CAREER. ■ ZINGARA IS WORKING TOWARDS A NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS (LEVEL 5) THROUGH OPEN POLYTECHNIC.
For more information on studying to become an Accounting Technician, visit youunlimitedanz.com/ accounting-technician
LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #24
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ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
ACCIDENTALLY ENTERING ACCOUNTANCY
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