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Accounting students win national challenge

3 June 2009

Cameron Low, Jarrod Bayliss-McCullum, Alexei Berezner, and Daniel Hui. Anton Petrov and George Georgiades (front).
Cameron Low, Jarrod Bayliss-McCullum, Alexei Berezner, and Daniel Hui. Anton Petrov and George Georgiades (front).

Monash has once again come out on top in the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia's (ICAA) national student challenge.

The challenge, which involved solving a real-life business problem for a not-for-profit organisation, was won by Department of Accounting and Finance students Cameron Low, Alexei Berezner, Jarrod Bayliss-McCullum and Daniel Hui, otherwise known as Assurance Associates Australia.

More than 80 business, finance and commerce students from around Australia took part in the 2009 challenge, putting themselves in the shoes of a Chartered Accountant to identify, solve and debate a real business problem facing Cancer Council Australia (CCA).

Assurance Associates Australia developed a model for CCA that would allow them to evaluate proposals for licensing and campaign partnerships with third parties.

Cameron said the team wanted to use its skills and abilities to make a difference in the real-world.

"The challenge presented us with a unique competitive forum to test out our understanding and grasp of the knowledge we have gained at university," Cameron said.

"There is no doubt in our minds that winning this challenge has provided us with an edge for our future careers."

Jarrod said the challenge had given the team the opportunity to help solve a business problem faced by one of Australia's most popular charitable organisations.

"It is an amazing forum for professional and personal development," Jarrod said.

As overall winners the team won air fares to Shanghai, London, New York or Sao Paulo as well as a seat at the Ultimate Power Lunch at Sydney's Level 41 restaurant where they will present their submission to some of Australia's leading companies and accounting firms.

Monash students George Georgiades and Anton Petrov's team, The Innovators, also captured the judging panel's attention with their creative and informative communication skills to win the best presentation category.