The “The PAC 2024 – ESG Leadership In Public Accounting” competition: Bridging the gap between academia and practice for Vietnamese accounting and auditing students.

On the evening of December 1st, 2024, the Final Round of THE PAC 2024 – The Public Accountant Competition, organized by the Faculty of Accounting and Auditing, Ho Chi Minh City Open University in collaboration with other units, took place in Hall 202, 35-37 Ho Hao Hon Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Participants took a commemorative photo at the event.

THE PAC 2024 is proud to have the support of experts from prestigious organizations such as Smart Train, Misa, PwC, ACCA, CPA Australia, ICAEW, T.A.D Learning, U&I Auditing Company, and many other strategic partners. Aiming to create a learning and networking environment, the competition is an opportunity for students to not only hone their professional knowledge but also develop essential skills for their future careers.

Marking its second year, THE PAC 2024 is a special academic event attracting strong interest from students nationwide, with over 700 applications. It’s a meaningful and rewarding platform for young people passionate about Economics, Accounting, Auditing, Finance, and Taxation. The competition not only provides an opportunity for contestants to showcase their abilities but also connects economics students from across the country, creating a diverse and dynamic academic community.

With the theme “ESG Leadership in Public Accounting,” THE PAC 2024 encourages contestants to contribute creative ideas and innovative solutions to promote sustainable development in public accounting. The competition rounds not only help participants improve their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills but also hone their teamwork abilities – crucial elements for their future careers.

The competition consists of four main rounds, each offering exciting challenges that test the creativity and strategic thinking of the contestants.

Round 1 – PHENOMENA: Contestants participate in a multiple-choice test to assess their general knowledge of Economics, Accounting, Auditing, Finance, and Taxation, as well as their English proficiency and logical thinking skills.

Round 2 – LEVERAGE: This is a simulation round where contestants learn about the market and how to build a startup strategy, seeking sustainable growth opportunities in the public accounting industry.

Round 3 – QUESTING:

Stage 3.1: Contestants will build a complete accounting system for a business.

Stage 3.2: Contestants will participate in a fundraising round, seeking investors for their project, helping them develop presentation and negotiation skills.

Round 4 – FINAL:
Stage 4.1: Contestants will solve a real-world case study on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in a business environment.

Stage 4.2: Contestants will solve real-world case studies in the fields of Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation.

Stage 4.3: Contestants will role-play as the board of directors of a company to address strategic issues and make important governance decisions.
The judging panel of the competition includes leading experts in the field of Accounting and Auditing, including Dr. Ho Huu Thuy – Head of the Accounting and Auditing Department and Ms. Tran Tuyet Thanh – Deputy Head of the Accounting and Auditing Department, along with representatives from prestigious organizations such as Smart Train, Misa, PwC, ACCA, CPA Australia, ICAEW, T.A.D Learning, and U&I Auditing Company.

Dr. Ho Huu Thuy – Head of the Accounting and Auditing Department

“I was impressed with the practical scenarios in the “The PAC 2024 – ESG Leadership in Public Accounting” competition, which aims to help students not only understand theory but also bridge the gap between the classroom and future work. This is a great opportunity for young people to hone their skills and prepare themselves for a career in accounting. I am very honored to be a part of The PAC 2024 competition.” These were the words of Pham Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau – Head of External Relations, Education and Training Division, ACCA Vietnam, when participating in The PAC 2024.
After three intense rounds of competition, the teams shone with creative solutions and outstanding strategies. In the final results, a total prize value of 1.7 billion VND was awarded to the following teams:

Team GUNNERS won first place, receiving a cash prize along with valuable scholarships, including ICAEW, ACCA, CMA, and CFA scholarships, and an internship opportunity at MISA.

Team GUNNERS – Champion

Team LTL won second place, receiving a cash prize along with scholarships and an internship opportunity at MISA.

Team LTL – Runner-up

Team SUSTAINTRIO & Team THE FLASH were honored as third-place winners, receiving cash prizes along with prestigious scholarships.

Team SUSTAINTRIO & Team THE FLASH – Third-place winners

All winning teams received attractive prizes from the competition’s partners such as MISA, ICAEW, T.A.D Learning, and Smart Train, promising to continue their career development in the Accounting, Auditing, and Finance industries.

The enthusiastic and responsible support of our esteemed professors, lecturers, and partner organizations has significantly contributed to creating a prestigious academic platform for students, providing valuable opportunities for them to explore and develop their careers in the field of Accounting.