https://youtu.be/ouQSuNC3LJ0
Four accounting graduates from Universidad ORT Uruguay their experiences working for international companies during the informational session "Accountants Working for the World," which took place online on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
The event was attended by accountant Lourdes Volpi—academic coordinator of the program—and graduates Lucía Regusci—Financial Reporting NA Senior Analyst at BASF Services Americas—, Juana Villaronga—Costing Analyst at SYNGENTA AGRO S.A.—, Federico Sum—Senior Analyst at dLocal—and Andrés Gatto—Project Analyst at Globant—.
The New Role of the Accountant
“The Certified Public Accountant program prepares us to work in companies, in various roles, whether generating information or directly being responsible for decision-making,” Volpi said.
“Sometimes, living in Uruguay, it’s hard for us to grasp just how large some of the companies we might end up working for really are. Today, with globalization and digitalization, multinational companies operate worldwide and from all over the world. Because of the high professional standards of accountants in Uruguay, many Uruguayan companies choose to set up their shared service centers here to serve different countries or regions,” he added.
Juana Villaronga began working at SYNGENTA AGRO S.A., a company that produces agrochemicals and seeds, in 2019. She explained that she is part of the cost department, which, among other tasks, is responsible for analyzing product efficiency.
“Part of the team is in the United States, another part in India, and yet another part in Uruguay. So we face challenges not only in terms of communication—due to the language barrier—but also because of the time differences. There’s only one hour when all three teams are online, and that time is crucial for resolving all kinds of issues and kicking off the workday.”
Lucia Regusci explained that BASF is a chemical company open to innovation, with a particular focus on new technologies. In that regard, as a Certified Public Accountant, she plays a very active role in task automation. “Although I’m part of the reporting department, I’m in constant contact and work closely with those who are more tech-savvy, who rely on my technical knowledge of the processes and tasks involved, so that together we can automate these tasks.”
Federico Sum shared that he has been part of the dLocal team for about three years—a company that processes payments in more than 25 countries. “My boss is in Spain. We have to adapt and divide up the tasks. I’m in constant contact with people from Nigeria, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and other countries. That’s a challenge, but at the same time it’s enriching because you gain a wealth of new knowledge.”
Andrés Gatto, who works at Globant, a company specializing in IT and software development, said: “Today, with the technological advances we’re seeing, working for clients abroad doesn’t necessarily mean we have to be in another country. We can work from home and interact with people in different parts of the world.”
“These days, a lot of the time, when we see a job posting, we don’t even know which country it’s for,” he added.
A comprehensive education
“Being an accountant is often associated with accounting, auditing, or tax-related tasks, but an accountant’s training is actually much broader than that,” Volpi said.
Universidad ORT Uruguay its curriculum in 2019, recognizing that technology has transformed the professional role of certified public accountants.
The program combines the traditional strengths of the Certified Public Accountant with the latest knowledge and skills in digital transformation, globalization processes, and international regulations.
The Certified Public Accountant program prepares students to add value to the companies where they work and help them grow, through a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset.