Personal Statement
                                Applicant: XXX Program Applied: Accounting

In the summer of 20XX, an ordinary double-decker driver named XXX became a hero in Dalian, the Northeastern city where I come from. While driving the bus, he suffered from a sudden heart stroke and, in the last minute of his life, he did three things: 1. parking the bus slowly by the roadside and applied the hand-brake to stop the vehicle with the last strength of his life; 2. opening the doors to let the passengers get off safely; 3. switching off the engine to ensure the safety of the bus as a public property. Then, he breathed the last breath of his life, his head drooped on the wheel.

The incident coincided with my entry into Beijing XXX University as an undergraduate of accounting. For a long time I kept reflecting on the heroic deeds of this ordinary bus driver whom was regarded by many as a paragon of self-sacrifice and responsibility. To me, he represents a paragon of duty, duty to his own vocation and duty to the welfare of others. On my own part, I have also been musing seriously on what constitutes my own duty as a student and as a citizen.

Now, as my undergraduate program comes to an end, I can report that a strong sense of duty is exactly what has informed my undergraduate career. As a student, I have fulfilled my duty to understand the meaning of the academic discipline that I am learning, to come up with an outstanding performance, and to develop into a research student, and to formulate well-defined future academic and professional objectives. For me, to choose to study accountancy meant to make a commitment, a commitment to academic, professional and ethic principles.

Accounting is traditionally associated with abacus in China. However, as abacus as an early calculating device gives way to the modern electronic computer, accounting has also undergone dramatic changes. Essentially, accounting is a science of precision. With the application of electronic computation, accountants are no longer restricted to the passive labor of gathering and presenting accounting information but have become more and more involved in corporate planning, budgeting and management by providing truthful, comprehensive, highly relevant, practical and efficient financial information of a corporate organization. By performing accurate statistical analysis, accounting provides the basis for the strategic decision making of the top management and accounting professionals are essential part of the overall corporate management. In addition, an accounting professional must also abide by legal and ethic principles to ensure that the corporation operates in a socially responsible manner.

Indeed, the profession of accounting is a major challenge in terms of the diversity of knowledge that one must grasp. For this reason, I have endeavored to excel in all the coursework in order to be adequately prepared for possible challenges. My academic transcript shows that my academic performance has been outstanding, achieving “Excellent Rating” for a large majority of the courses, with the highest scores in the entire grade for courses like Management and Operational Research (98100) and for Taxation Law (97/100). This is especially remarkable when a score of 85/100 is rated as “excellent” in my university and is only assigned to the top 10%. According to my university’s grading system, my overall GPA reaches 3.55 and major GPA 3.8, putting me in the top 3 ranking in a total of 54 students.

Financial Cost Management is the course that has fascinated me most. Learning the course gave me a sense of being a “corporate physician” who can diagnose all the existing and potential problems of a corporation by performing rigorous analysis of accounting data. In particular, I like the part related to investment decision-making because I gained understanding of how accounting information governs the decision-making in corporate strategy and how accountancy becomes an integral part of corporate management.

Despite the fact that reading the 970-page classic book on accounting Advanced Accounting by Debra Jeter and Paul Chaney (Wiley Press) is a Herculean task, it has nevertheless offered me a unique way to understand the American system of accounting principles and how to deal with the financial statements of the mergers. By reading the first half of the book for 4 to 5 times, I have come to understand the role played by American GAAP in promoting the international standardization of accounting principles. Although China’s accounting system has fundamental differences from that of the United States, it is nevertheless moving closer to international standards with the country’s WTO accession. For instance, between the two accounting approaches, the purchase method and the pooling of interests method, American APB has set harsh limitations on the latter and FASB has further revised APB’s provisions to eliminate it. China made a similar move in 1997 when the Treasury Ministry issued the “Accounting Regulations Regarding Corporate Merging” in which the purchase method is preferred. Yet, in real practices, the pooling of interests method is also acquiesced. In my term paper On the Choice of Accounting Disposal Method in China’s Corporate Merging Practices, based on substantial case analysis and comparative study, I criticized the pooling of interests method in terms of how it hampers the rational allocation of economic resources.

In 20xx, by participating in the research project led by Prof. XXX—“Feasibility Study of the Investment Plan of the Branch Line of the XX Railroad”, I had the chance to become a research student. As the sole undergraduate in the research team, I was responsible for a comparative financial study between the buy-out plan and leasing plan as two alternatives of investment. In addition, I was also involved in gathering, analyzing and processing the financial data for the financing of a double-track construction. In undertaking this project, I applied my knowledge of accounting, in particular, the knowledge about investment decision making as learned in financial cost management. Since this project, I have given increasing attention to China’s railway industry in its accounting and financial aspects and have undertaken independent research. The result is the completion of two research papers—“A Tentative Analysis of the Method in Preparing the Proposed Fixed Asset Write-Down in Railroad Transportation Enterprises” in China Economic and Trade Herald (published, Issue 11, 20XX) and “The Problems and Countermeasures in the Joint Venture Railway Development in China” which has been accepted by Technology Economics.

My greatest research achievement is a 10,000-word investigative report concerning the auditing scandal of China XX Airlines. As a listed company, China XX Airlines presented two different annual financial statements in 20XX. The one prepared according to international financial principles and reported to overseas investors indicated a loss of 3.5827 billion RMB while the report prepared for domestic investors indicated a slight profitability of 0.1449 billion RMB. With a gap of 3.7276 billion RMB, the irregularity rate reached 2572.85%. By studying the balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows issued by the company over a period of three years, constructing mathematical models, and making comparative cost accounting with three other major corporations in the airline industry, I discovered how China XX Airlines manipulated the accounting and auditing procedures by significantly reducing the proposed write-down and the bad debts to forge an apparent profit. By spinning the magic cube of accounting, the corporation only sought to fulfill one ulterior purpose—using the false profitability to undertake a new round of financing on the stock market. For China’s domestic listed enterprises, profitability is one of the major conditions for new attempts of financing.

Doing this research was a cathartic experience. I learned about a world of difference that accounting practices can produce, depending on how one applies them in one way or another. It is the sense of duty that makes the difference. Essentially, accounting is about principles and procedures and it is not all surprising that, considering the fact that China promulgated its first “Accounting Principles of Corporate Organizations” in 1992 and that the stock market has only a limited history of less than 20 years, the country has a long way to go in perfecting its accounting system. On the other hand, with the economic integration gathering momentum, China is to open its financial industry to foreign financial institutions on a comprehensive basis in the very near future. To meet the rapidly changing circumstances and to keep pace with the country’s vibrant economic growth, the Chinese accounting industry has yet to improve its institutional management, conformity to international conventions, professional standards, and to broaden areas of service. To meet this immense demand for well-trained accounting professionals with international academic training constitutes the very motivation of my application.

The Department of Economics and Management where I am currently studying, by entering a cooperative agreement with the U.K.-based The Association of International Accountants (AIA), has introduced a standard undergraduate program in accounting officially recognized by AIA. This unique program has well prepared me for a more advanced academic program. In my proposed program, I would like to acquire in-depth accounting concepts and knowledge in corporate financial reporting, auditing and assurance, financial statement analysis, advanced financial accounting, advanced management accounting, cost management systems, and portfolio management. Through your program, I would also like to examine how accounting and auditing are practiced in real world situations and what lessons the accounting and auditing industries have been drawing from the Anderson and Enron scandals, which will further shed light on China’s own industries which I enter upon the completion of your program.

My short-term goal is to finish your program and gain tentative practices in the local accounting and auditing industries either through internships or employment. This knowledge about the financial market will further give me perspectives about the global financial market. With this international background, I will return to China to work at leading multinational accounting and auditing firms based in China like PriceWatercoopers. In five years time, I expect to become a senior manager. My long-term goal is to work in a leading Chinese investment bank where I expect to become a department manager or a CFO in the top management. Another long-tern alternative is to launch my own accounting and auditing firm to offer consulting services to China’s medium and small enterprises that engage in international trade or seek to become listed companies on the international stock market. Whatever short-term and long-term career path I choose, I will always cherish in my heart the story of the double-decker driver and remain true to my duty.

                                个人陈述
            申请者：XXX 申请项目：会计硕士

        20XX年夏，一个名叫XXX的普通双层巴士驾驶员在我出生的东北城市大连成为了全城的英雄。驾驶过程中，他突发心脏病。在他生命的最后瞬间，他做了以下三件事：1.慢慢将车停靠在路边，用他生命中最后的一丝力气用手刹来对车辆进行制动；2.打开车门让乘客安全下车；3.关闭车的引擎以保证巴士这一公共财物的安全。接着，他呼吸了生命中的最后一次呼吸，头无力地垂倒在方向盘上。

        这一件事的发生正值我作为会计专业的本科生进入北京XX大学学习。我久久思索着这位普通巴士司机的英雄行为，在许多人的心目中，他无疑是自我牺牲和履行职责的典范。对我来说，他是不辱使命的典范，不辱自己职业的使命，不辱自己对于他人安危的使命。就我而言，我一直也在严肃思考，我作为一个学生和作为一个公民，我的使命究竟是什么。

        现在，当我本科学习行将结束之际，我能报告的是，一种强烈的使命感恰恰一直贯穿于我的本科学业过程中，作为一个学生，我不辱使命地理解了我所学习的学科的深刻意义，实现了优异的学业表现，将自己培养成一个研究型的学生，并规划出了未来自己明晰的学术与职业目标。对我来说，选择去学习会计学意味着做出一项承诺，全身心地致力于学术的、职业上的以及伦理上的各种原则。

        在中国，会计传统上一直与算盘有关。然后，随着算盘作为早期的计算工具让位于现代电子计算器，会计学科也经历了戏剧性的变化。本质上讲，会计是一门有关精确性的科学。随着电算技术的应用，会计人员不再仅限于去从事收集和再现会计信息这一被动的劳作，而是通过提供有关某一公司真实、全面、高度相关、实用且有效的财务信息，越来越多地置身于公司的规划、预算决策以及管理之中。通过进行精确的统计分析，会计为公司最高管理层提供战略决策的依据，而会计人才也成为公司整个管理层的一个有机组成部分。此外，任何一个会计专业人士必须恪守法律和伦理准则，以确保其所在的公司以具有社会责任感的方式来运作。

        确实，会计这一职业就其所需掌握的广博的知识而言对任何人都是一个重大的挑战。出于这一原因，我力争在所有课程学习中取得优异成绩，以便为未来有可能出现的各种挑战做好充分准备。我的成绩单表明，我的学业表现相当优异，绝大部分课程的成绩均为“优等”，像“管理与运筹学”和“税法”等课程，取得了全年级的最高分，分别为98分和97分。这样的分数甚为了不起，因为在我校85分即可评为“优等”，且获得比例仅为10%。按照我校的评分标准，我的总GPA达3.55，专业GPA达3.8，在全部54个学生中，名列前三。

        财务成本管理是一门最吸引我的课程。学习这门课程让我拥有了当“企业的医生”的感觉，可以通过对会计数据的严谨分析，对某一公司所有寄存和潜在的问题进行诊断。尤其是，我最喜欢与投资决策相关的那部分内容，因为我懂得了会计信息如何制约公司战略中的决策过程，以及会计如何成为为公司管理的重要部分。

        虽然阅读Debra Jeter 和 Paul Chaney合著的厚达970页的会计学名著《高级会计教程》（Wiley出版社）堪称一项艰巨的任务，但该书还是给我提供了一个独特的方式来理解美国的合计准则体系，以及如何来处理合并企业的财务报告。通过对该书前半部分详读四至五遍，我理解了美国GAAP在促进会计准则在全球规范化进程中所起的作用。虽然中国的会计体系有别于美国，但它随着中国加入WTO而与国际标准日趋接近。例如，在两大会计准则之间，即购买法与权益联营法，美国的APB对后者有严格的限制，而FASB又进一步对APB的条款进行了修订，将它彻底废止。1997年，中国采取了一项相似的步骤，财政部颁布了“企业兼并的有关会计处理问题的规定”，优先采用购买法。在我的学年论文《论中国公司合并实践中会计处置方法的择取》中，我依据大量的案例分析和比较研究，我就权益联营法如何会妨碍经济资源的合理配置提出了批判。

        20XX年，我参与了XXX教授领导的一个科研项目“XXX铁路支线投资计划的可行性研究”，有机会成为一个研究型学生。作为研究小组中唯一的本科生，我对购买方案和租赁方案这两个投资备选方案进行了财务比较分析。此外，我也参与到有关复线铁路建设的融资的财务信息收集、分析与处理。在从事该项目时，我应用了我的会计知识，尤其是财务成本管理课上所学到的投资决策知识。自从参与了该项目，我越来越关注中国铁路行业的会计与财务方面，并进行了独立的研究。结果是完成了两篇研究论文。“A Tentative Analysis of the Method in Preparing the Proposed Fixed Asset Write-Down in Railroad Transportation Enterprises ”发表在China Economic and Trade Herald上，另一篇“The Problems and Countermeasures in the Joint Venture Railway Development in China”则已被Technology Economics接受。

        我最大的研究成就是一篇10,000字的调研报告，揭露中国XX航空公司的审计丑闻。作为一家上市公司， XX航空公司20XX年给出了两份不同的年报。那份按照国际财务准则撰写并向海外投资者披露的年报显示，当年巨额亏损35827万元人民币，而向国内投资者披露的年报却显示全年1449万元的微利。两份年报相差37276万元人民币，其差异幅度高达2572.85%。通过研究该公司过去三年中发布的资产负债表，利润表及现金流量表等信息，我建立了数学模型，将它与民航业中其他三家航空公司进行比较研究，发现XX航空公司是如何通过大幅度减少计提比例及呆账，制造出表面盈利的伪像，从而操纵会计与审计程序。通过旋转会计“魔方”，该公司只为了实现其别有用心的目的——利用虚假的盈利来在中国资本市场中进行新一轮的融资，因为对于国内上市企业来说，盈利是进行新一轮融资所必不可少的重要条件之一。

        从事上述研究真是一段刻骨铭心的经历。我了解到不同的会计行为所能产生的天壤之别，取决于会计师是以何种方式来应用会计准则。本质上来说，会计就是关于准则与程序。毫不奇怪的是，考虑到中国只是在1992年才颁布了“公司会计准则”以及中国的资本市场仅有二三十年左右的短暂历史，中国在会计制度方面有着漫长的一段路要走。另一方面，随着全球经济融合日趋迫切，中国在不久的将来必须向国际金融机构全面开放其金融业。为了应对日新月异的变化以及与国内强劲的经济增长相适应，中国的会计行业必须不断完善其体制管理，符合国际规范，提高专业水平并拓宽服务范围。去满足会计业对训练有素并拥有国际学术背景的专业人才的巨大需求，这便构成了我本次申请的根本动机。

        我现在所就读的经济与管理系，与总部位于英国的国际会计师协会（AIA）鉴订了合作协议，在我系引入了一套为AIA所正式承认的标准的会计学本科教育。这一独特的学位课程为我做好了充分准备，去攻读更高一级的学位课程。在我拟进行的硕士学位的学习中，我希冀在以下方面掌握先进的会计理念与深厚的会计学知识：公司财务报告，审计与保险，财报分析，高级财务会计，高级管理会计，成本管理体系，以及投资组合管理等。通过学习，我也希望去考察会计与审计是如何在现实社会中付诸实践的，以及会计与审计行业从Anderson和Enron丑闻中正在汲取哪些教训。所有这一切会在我完成贵校学业进入中国相关行业时，对这些行业带来重要的启示。

        我的短期目标是能顺利完成贵校的学位课程，通过实习或就业在当地的会计或审计行业获得一些初步的实践经验。这种有关金融市场的知识将赋予我对国际金融市场的进一步见解。带着这一国际背景，我将回到中国，进入设在中国的一家顶级跨国会计和审计事务所工作，像普华永道。五年左右，我期望能升位高级经理。我的长期目标是供职于国内某家顶级的投资银行，希望能成为部门经理或高级管理层中的CFO。另一个可供选择的长期目标是创立我自己的会计与审计事务所，为从事国际贸易或试图在国际资本市场上成为上市公司的中国中小企业提供咨询服务。无论我选择什么样的短期与长期职业路径，我将在我心中永远铭记那位双层巴士司机的故事，永远恪尽职守。