CA Sri Lanka focuses on the importance of good mentoring

Monday, 5 December 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) in its efforts to recognize the invaluable role played by ‘Supervising Members’ in helping groom top notch Chartered Accountants to both the country and the world, recently conducted an interactive session on “The Supervising Member - as a Mentor and a Leader”.

Conducted by renowned speaker Dinesh Weerakkody, Managing Director of Cornucopia Lanka Ltd, the session held at the Institute’s Colombo 7 premises was well attended with 220 Chartered Accountants from public practice and non-public practice training organizations attending the workshop which focused on the importance of a Supervising Member as a leader while emphasizing on the required leadership skills necessary to lead an organization in today’s context.

Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool and over the years with priceless guidance from qualified and well experienced senior Chartered Accountants, hundreds of aspiring Chartered Accountants embark on an ambitious journey to achieve professional success.

Weerakkody also elaborated on motivating employees while understanding and learning to develop and retain good trainees for the benefit of the company’s longer term benefit, after they complete their training period.

The value of a good mentor is immeasurable and is an effective way of helping people to progress in their careers. Mentoring is a partnership between two people (mentor and mentee) and a mentor can help to alleviate frustration interns and new employees often feel in their first few months on the job/internship. By sharing their insights and knowledge of both the company and the industry, new recruits in the field can be spared a great deal of stress which is often felt by new employees and interns when adapting to a new work environment.

Head – Risk & Control of Brandix Lanka Ltd, Ms. Aroshi Perera who made the second presentation emphasized that a good mentor can advise and support the employee and help avoid an unnecessary resignation due to feelings of incompetence and isolation. A successful mentor can support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and contribute positively to the firm. She noted that the time and effort put by a Supervising Member is immeasurable as they review trainees career goals and recommend strategies towards achieving these goals. Over the years, the guidance by the Supervising Member has been invaluable apart from mentoring the new trainees giving them a new perspective on the opportunities available to them helping them succeed in their future ambitions.

Supervising Members play an integral and dynamic role in helping groom Chartered Accountants to the world and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka recognizes Supervising Members as an important stakeholder in this priceless endeavor.