The Student Association of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Surabaya Campus Accounting Study Program held a national online web seminar or webinar through the Zoom Cloud Meeting platform. In this opportunity, the topic chosen was “Future of Accounting Professionals” with the title of the webinar “Accountant Strategy in the Digital Era”, which pertain to fulfill the annual project of the Student Association of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Surabaya Campus Accounting Study Program for the 2020-2021 Period.

The webinar was held on Tuesday, June 29^th, 2021, and the online seminar invited three skilled professionals in the field of accounting in the digital era to be able to share insights and thoughts with the participants. The first speaker was Vierly Ananta Upa, SE, MSA., Ak., CA. (Chairman of the Accounting Study Program of Universitas Pelita Harapan Surabaya Campus). She brought some insights about “Future of Accounting Professionals – Accountant Strategy in the Digital Era”. The second speaker was Arillia Pitaloka Kurniasih, SE, QIA. (Finance and Plant Controller FKS Group Surabaya) and she discussed the “Accounting Management Strategy in the Digital Era”, while the third speaker was, Yessy Agus Ratnasari (Audit Office Manager of Imelda & Partners Public Accountant – Deloitte Indonesia) brought the topic “Audit of the Future”.

The event was officially opened with a speech, delivered by the Executive Director of Universitas Pelita Harapan Surabaya Campus, Dr. Ronald, ST., MM., CSMA., CDM., PMA who underlines how important the topics and material of the webinar, and to expect that the participants can be educated regarding the strategy of an accountant from various point of views in accordance with the broad background diversity of the participants. After a series of opening activities, the core session of the webinar, namely the delivery of material, began with the direction of Mr. Chrisdianto, SE, M.Si., Ak., A-CPAI., as the moderator.

Vierly Ananta Upa, SE, MSA., Ak., CA., as the first speaker described in explicit about the digital age and its development, in particular the plurality of accountant types in the digital era from the higher education point of view. According to her, accounting is a simple thing, if applied with effective and targeted teaching methods and strategies. Thus, through technology as the main foundation to produce the ability and capability of technical skills, business understanding skills, and soft skills. “Accounting should not be memorized, but loved, thus, if we love what we do, it’s not going to feel complicated”, she said.

In another session, Arillia Pitaloka Kurniasih SE., QIA., Described the understanding and perspective in the context of the company, which is focused on strategic management accounting, process operations, and the differences evident in the manual accounting with integrated data accounting (Integrated Data Collection). She stated that any methods and technologies used, the main essence is the should be used at maximum to support the decision-making process, particularly in the field of accounting and finance.

The third speaker was Yessy Agus Ratnasari. She said that “Audit of today is not audit for tomorrow”, which became the main pillar of the discussion. The emphasis on the unstoppable developments’ reality was presented well to the audience. She also emphasizes that not only for the auditor but also for everyone, especially professional accountant prospective. They are expected to be transformed and be better every day. From a professional accountant’s point of view, her responsibility as an audit becomes a concrete example of a society that must adapt to people, processes, and technology.

The webinar gives more than 300 participants to ask questions regarding the topics presented by the three speakers. The enthusiasm of the participants was very high, and it can be seen from the number of questions and participants in the ice-breaking session. The webinar activity was carried out well until the closing of the event.