ASHA unveils groundbreaking Hotel and Restaurant Accounting program

MANILA, Philippines - Finally, entry or middle-level professionals in the hospitality industry now have a chance to rise up the ranks fast through a new program that will prepare them to become decision-makers of their companies. The Asian School for Hospitality and the Arts (ASHA) is now offering the country’s first Hotel and Restaurant Accounting program (Bookkeeping NCIII) which will be certified on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) qualifications.

Francisco B. Gonzales, ASHA School Director of Accounting and former Executive Director of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) revealed that a growing number of establishments in the country every year have more than doubled the demand for bookkeepers and accountants.

“Based on the 2003 National Statistics Office (NSO) records, there are 717,962 business establishments in the country. In the 2005 NSO survey, about 91,791 are restaurants while 4,021 are hotels. These figures go up and down by three percent depending on the economy. The ideal candidate is one who can read the financial records and analyze data,” he noted.

But the present situation shows that there is a shortage of properly trained bookkeepers and accounting clerks who can fill up these positions.

Skills upgrading

Hence, ASHA believes that the best way to address this shortage is to capitalize on the skills of professionals and further train them in bookkeeping/accounting to help them become better managers.

Gonzales added that college students who graduate with an accounting degree or pass the CPA exams may know how to read and analyze figures but he or she probably may not be ready in real-life business situations.

Proper training

Professionals and even high school graduates can take the Hotel and Restaurant Accounting program at ASHA. After taking the exam, they receive a TESDA certification. From this first level of basic knowledge on bookkeeping, they can move on to upgrade their qualification by taking the second module, Business Management, which is based on the standards of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

ASHA’s partnership with CIMA will give its graduates a certification or diploma from a globally recognized institution responsible for producing management accountants and business managers.

Ms. Tam K. Peng, Director of Learning and Development of CIMA, said that holders of its various programs have an international edge, and wider job opportunities in the world’s top firms because a CIMA qualification is one of the most respected and recognized in the world, especially in Europe. At present, there are 172,000 members and students holding top-level positions in 168 countries.

ASHA has several campuses. These are located in Antipolo in partnership with Seven Suites Hotel Observatory; ASHA Quezon City, in partnership with The Orange Place Quezon City; ASHA San Juan, in partnership with The Orange Place San Juan; ASHA West Avenue, in partnership with TCB West Avenue, and ASHA in Tagaytay in partnership with Summit Ridge Hotel.