TANZANIA’S accounting sector is grappling with a widening skills gap between classroom training and labour market expectations, prompting renewed calls for structured engagement between students, employers and professional regulators.

During an Annual Accountancy Career Day held in Dar es Salaam this week, accounting students, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidates and employers admitted that graduates often enter the job market without adequate exposure to industry realities, affecting employability and productivity.

Final-year students at the event said the disconnect continues to delay their transition into work, with many struggling to understand employer expectations, practical applications of classroom theory and pathways to certification.

“I came to learn what we as students are doing wrong and what the job market actually needs. It’s also about networking and understanding the profession beyond theory,” said Halima Kassim, an accounting student from College of Business Education.

She suggested that career engagement sessions should be held more than once a year to ensure deeper participation.

Employers, training institutions and senior accountants echoed similar concerns, arguing that the profession must evolve in response to regulatory changes, digital transformation and increasing demand for competence rather than paper qualifications.

Prof Sylvia Temu, board chairperson of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors said the Career Day was created to address this gap by bringing students, CPA candidates and recruiters into direct dialogue—something that had not been organised before.

“It is a chance to measure what is taught in classrooms against what the market really needs,” she said. “Students and CPA candidates can get clarity, mentorship and sometimes direct job opportunities.”

She added that the approach also helps young professionals understand the realities surrounding certification, sector regulations and career growth.

In addition to interactions with employers, the event featured discussions on mentorship, labour market readiness and the future of the profession, particularly in areas driven by digitisation and regulatory compliance.

She described the initiative as a bridge between academic learning and practice.

More than 20 employers—including banks, public agencies and private firms—set up exhibition booths engaging students on job placements, internships and mentorship opportunities.

For many students, it was their first direct exposure to recruiters.  Lucy Pima, a final-year Accounting and Taxation student said the event gave her clarity on career pathways.

Alongside engagements, the board unveiled a new digital platform the Accountancy Hub, aimed at providing members, students and professionals with regulatory information and professional updates.