SHANGHAI, September 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 10th, the Association of International Accountants (AIA) and the Shanghai-based ORACLE BAY CO., LTD. reached an agreement of cooperation and held a signing ceremony for the agreement at ORACLE BAY's headquarters. That afternoon, AIA also signed an agreement with the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics to establish a joint training program on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Auditing.

The goal of AIA's collaboration with ORACLE BAY is to provide participants with more opportunities to engage in academic exchange, as well as provide specialized guidance with regards to career planning. On the sharing of academic resources, the agreement reached by the two organizations will allow the organic integration of human resources exchange and opportunities for hands-on engagement thus creating a well-equipped center for participants who have aspirations in the accountancy and financial sector. With regards to accreditations, this agreement will be of great benefit to both parties. On the matter of communication between job-seekers and companies' HR departments, this collaboration will create an opportunity for freer decision making for both professionals in the financial sector and companies in search of employees.

ORACLE BAY, an organization that serves as a gathering place and launch pad for professionals in the accountancy and financial sector, will hold regular academic programs in finance as well as activities promoting exchange for outstanding professionals in the financial sector. The company will also provide currently employed professionals in the field with the opportunity to pursue further studies and gain additional accreditations. ORACLE BAY coordinates companies' needs, the resources of institutes of higher education, and the various capabilities of professionals, in order to create a platform for educational experience and achievement. The company aims to bring in academic programs in finance from well-known schools both in China and abroad, as well as accreditation courses from Chinese and foreign financial industry associations, in order to provide finance professionals under its guidance with excellent further education and degree-granting educational programs as well as high-level licensing programs and accreditation services.

AIA entered China in 1997, and in the same year authorized Metro Consulting (Shanghai) to oversee its training programs in the country. More than 80% of the training programs' graduates are high-level management executives in multinational companies. In recent years, AIA has actively promoted its expansion in the Asia-Pacific region as well as its programs of cooperation with mainland Chinese and Hong Kong accounting organizations, and it is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. The academia of Metro Consulting (Shanghai)have extensive experience in the accountancy and financial field, which enables them to promote the complete integration of theory and practice in AIA's courses. Metro Consulting (Shanghai) has also established a Career Development Center (CDC) for participants, which enables its students and graduates to receive free-of-charge services in the area of career placement.

The agreement of cooperation established between AIA and the team of lecturers at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics will focus on comprehensive research of the newest changes in IFRS and auditing and will set up a professional curriculum for the study of IFRS and auditing. This program aims to help participants to gain a complete understanding of the entire framework of IFRS, become familiar with the preparation of IFRS statements, effectively solve accounting and management related problems that may come up on the job, and understand the latest changes in IFRS as well as the impact of these changes.

Upon completion of the course, participants may choose to take the public examinations for IFRS or auditing held by AIA. Those who pass the examination will be awarded a Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards or a Diploma in Auditing by the AIA, as well as a Certificate of Completion for the Course in International Financial Reporting Standards or a Certificate of Completion for the Course in Auditing by the Center for Academic Exchange of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

The Shanghai University of Finance and Economics was founded in 1917, and is the longest-standing institution of higher learning dedicated to the study of finance and economics in China. Under the authority of the Ministry of Education, it is included in the National 211 Program, the 985 Excellent Academic Innovation Platform, and the National High Level University Construction Program.

Contact: Iris Kim Communication Executive +86-21-6448-1228(Tel) +86-21-6448-1698(Fax) iris.kim@aia.edu.cn

SOURCE: Association of International Accountants

CONTACT: Iris Kim, Communication Executive, +86-21-6448-1228,iris.kim@aia.edu.cn