The Advanced Professional Examination for "Certified Expert in Accounting and Controlling" comprises seven written and oral parts. You can find out more about the exam procedure in our self-test.

You do not necessarily have to attend a preparatory course in order to be admitted to the Higher Professional Examination (HFP) to become an expert in accounting and controlling. However, you should be aware that you will not only need to demonstrate a little knowledge in this area for the examination, but that the requirements for candidates are very high in order to be able to fulfill your future professional responsibilities. You can try to pass the exam without a preparation course, but this will cost you an exam fee of currently CHF 3,400 (as of April 2023), which you will have to pay in advance.

You can repeat the exam twice. A preparation course usually lasts three to five semesters, during which you will be trained in detail and prepared for the exam. If you feel that you are able to work on what you need to learn independently over an equally long period of time, you can make the attempt if you have sufficient self-discipline, but experience has shown that this is not recommended. Please find out about the courses and examinations at some schools first, obtain the examination regulations and the guidelines for the HFP diploma in Accounting and Controlling and consider whether you really have sufficient discipline and stamina to meet the examination requirements independently.

As a certified expert in accounting and controlling, you perform the following tasks:

• Develop controlling systems:
  • Establishment and further development of the finance and accounting organization
  • develop strategic and operational controlling systems for different areas of the company
  • Establish an internal control system (ICS)
  • Create reports
  • Develop and implement financing and liquidity planning
• Analyze and plan finances:
  • Analyzing and optimizing a company's finances and liquidity
  • Edit taxes
  • Integrate data into company databases
  • Applying controlling systems

As a certified expert in accounting and controlling or federally certified controller, you mainly work in management positions in medium-sized and larger companies in the private sector, but also in public companies in the administration. Specializations are possible in all areas of accounting and controlling as well as in related areas - this means that the federally certified controller specializes in the area of controlling. With additional further training in adult education, experts in accounting and controlling can also work as lecturers in accounting.

An "expert" in accounting and controlling usually has the following responsibilities:

• Upper squad
• Responsibility for department and personnel mostly from SMEs
• Great responsibility within the Group, as accounting and controlling influence the entire company
• Handling confidential data entails great responsibility
• Responsible for good personnel management
• Transparent communication within the company and in an international environment

The Expert in Accounting and Controlling course provides the following learning content:

• Swiss and international accounting
• Consolidated financial statements
• Special cases of accounting
• Analysis of annual financial statements
• Internal control system (ICS)
• Information technology
• Revenue and cost controlling
• Corporate planning
• Project management and controlling
• Organization
• Human Resource Management and Controlling
• Marketing and controlling
• International Management
• Information and communication technologies
• Corporate Finance
• Taxes

The main areas of expertise are therefore controlling, accounting, corporate finance and taxes. With the knowledge they have acquired, experts in accounting and controlling can provide management with business services for target-oriented planning and control. As an accounting specialist with extensive management skills, they can be deployed in all areas of accounting or can also perform managerial and advisory functions in related areas of a company.

A survey of those interested in further training as an expert in accounting and controlling revealed three triggering factors that occur with equal frequency. 33% of survey participants asked schools for additional information through a recommendation. 24% did so because they were already familiar with the school. And 43% after reading an online review. Other important motives include location or availability, as confirmed by the free text responses "Because the school is in Bern", "There are not many providers", "Location Basel", "By chance", "Aargau", "Possible online" and "Because I would like to do this course in Basel". However, "compatibility of family, education and career" is also important for prospective students.

All those who are interested in the Accounting and Controlling Expert course do so for various reasons. 83 % want to find out whether this further education course meets their own needs. This is shown by the survey conducted by the education platform Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. On the other hand, 12% of those surveyed gave a recommendation as their reason. 5 % of those surveyed did so because they had been mentioned in job advertisements. The free text response "I know this course well and am looking for an alternative to providers in Zurich" shows another personal reason. A further two statements show a certainty in the choice: "Have made up my mind" and "Already working in accounting".

The following advanced courses are available for qualified experts in accounting and controlling:

• Offers from the Controller Academy and professional organizations
• Bachelor of Science FH in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting, Controlling, Auditing, Risk&Insurance, etc.
• MAS, MBA or EMBA in Controlling, Consulting, Corporate Finance etc.

In order to be admitted to the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in Accounting and Controlling, you must provide evidence of professional experience of varying length. For example, if you have another federal professional certificate, an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE), an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE), a College of Higher Education or a University of Applied Sciences, you must provide evidence of at least three years of professional experience by the time the examination begins. In the case of a Federal Professional Examination in Finance and Accounting, at least two years must be proven. In this case, professional experience is deemed to be qualified work in the financial sector. In addition, there must be no entry in the central criminal record and participation in the 3-day management workshop (organized by the responsible body) is mandatory.