Apprenticeship Program Fortifies Talent Pipeline

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)recently launched the Registered Apprenticeship for Accounting and Finance Associate, a program designed to both recruit new talent and upskill those in entry-level positions.

The initiative enables apprentices to work directly for participating organizations and receive on-the-job training and mentorship, all while getting paid as part of an earn-and-learn model. Apprentices will also receive foundational and operational levels of the Chartered Global Management Accountant Finance Leadership Program. More than 140,000 finance professionals worldwide hold the CGMA designation.

The AICPA hopes that the apprenticeship program, which is a response to market feedback, will help recruit individuals into entry-level positions and advance existing employees' careers. The goals include promoting retention by keeping apprentices with employers postprogram and upskilling incumbent employees.

According to the US Department of Labor, 91 percent of employers with apprentices reported an improved pipeline. Further, 93 percent of apprentices remained employed one year after program completion.