News and pictures Cheah Xiao Tung
SINTOK, 12 August 2025: Accounting Competency Challenge (ACC) 2025, a prestigious international competition uniting outstanding minds in the field of accounting, successfully concluded on 4 August 2025 at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).
Hosted annually by the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) UUM Chapter, the four-day event brought together talented participants from universities across Malaysia as well as the University of Mindanao, Philippines. This year’s edition featured a series of rigorous, intellectually stimulating activities meticulously designed to assess, sharpen, and showcase the participants’ accounting expertise while fostering cross-border collaboration and professional growth.
The event officially commenced on 1 August 2025 with an opening ceremony attended by distinguished guests, including members of the ACC2025 organising committee, representatives from the event’s sponsors, as well as participating teams. The ceremony reflected the collaborative spirit of the challenge, supported by key sponsors such as ACCA (strategic partner), Sunway TES, Grant Thornton, and CIMA, whose contributions and involvement were instrumental to the event’s success.
ACC2025 featured a series of dynamic challenges aimed at evaluating and showcasing participants’ diverse accounting skills. The programme commenced with the sponsor talks and exhibition booths, providing participants with valuable insights from industry leaders, including an engaging session by ACCA. This was followed by a sequence of competitive segments: Challenge 1: Retos Financieros, a Power BI-themed challenge; Challenge 2: Sophos Logismos, which featured panelists from Grant Thornton; Repechage Challenge: Vincere Altiora; and the Final Challenge: Celestia Finale, which brought together an esteemed panel of judges from Deloitte, WeConnect, and KPMG. After the intense competitions, participants were treated to a guided UUM campus tour, providing an opportunity to recharge, network, and appreciate the university’s lush greenery.
The closing ceremony was graced by Assoc. Prof. Dr Bakti Hasan Basri, who is performing the duties of Assistant Vice-Chancellor and Dean of School of Economics, Finance & Banking (SEFB) UUM; Dr Mohd Hadzrami Harun Rasit, Deputy Dean (Student Affairs & Alumni) UUM SEFB; Dr Nor Atikah Shafai, the coordinator of BGS UUM Chapter, alongside other distinguished guests.
The event also featured exciting lucky draw prizes, adding an element of anticipation and delight for the attendees. Awards were presented to the Best Presenter in recognition of outstanding individual performance. The highlight of the ceremony was the prize presentation to the winning teams, where Assoc. Prof. Dr Bakti Hasan Basri, accompanied by Ms. Yap Zi Mi, Project Director of ACC2025, had the honour of presenting the accolades. The Champion Team received a cash prize of RM3,000, the 1st Runner-Up took home RM2,000, and the 2nd Runner-Up was awarded RM1,000, celebrating their exceptional achievements and competitive spirit throughout the event.
The grand finale of ACC2025 concluded with a celebratory banquet, leaving participants with lasting memories of an enriching and inspiring experience that celebrated both excellence and camaraderie in the field of accounting.
