India story has place for bean bags too

CHENNAI: The job market in India, often pegged as IT and management-centric, has also thrown open a plethora of job opportunities for traditional vocations, if sources from the Institute of cost & works accountants (ICWAI) are anything to go by.

“Globalisation and a liberalised economy have increased the demand for cost and management accountants. They’ve become a rare, sought-after breed by the rapidly growing industries in India,” said an official from the institute. Its latest placement drive saw ICWAI graduates readily snapped up by leading old and new economy firms.

The campus recruitment, organised by the Southern India regional Council, saw 150 candidates participating from the Southern states, out of which more than 50% were placed. The companies included Wipro, ITC, and Sundaram fasteners, India Cements, Lucas-TVS, GEA-Energy Systems and Saint Gobain.

The pay package this year, ranging from 3.5 to 5 lakhs annum saw an increase compared to last year’s package of 3-4 lakhs. The candidates would be inducted into the finance and costing side of company affairs.
Interestingly, cost and management accounting seems to be attracting more women, with the number of women outnumbering the men in terms of enrolment for the ICWAI courses in the ratio of 60:40.

“Cost accountants, vital to a company’s functioning can even operate as a consultant where the work schedule is not time-bound.” It is maybe this factor that has tilted the scales to favour women in this work stream.

ICWAI, had organised a seminar on soft skills and a corporate presentation prior to the recruitment process.