At 28 years, Sereana Qoro became not just the youngest but the only female to become chief accountant with the Native Lands Trust Board.
With 15 staff members under her supervision, Mrs Qoro said the majority of them were males.
“Surprisingly, they accept what I say,” she said in an interview published by The Fiji Times on November 26, 1988.
“But it’s a dificult task and it depends on an individual’s approach.”
As chief accountant, her primary role involved preparing annual accounts, up to their publishing stages, as well as seeing through the NLTB’s audit functions. The preparation of cash flow was another area she looked after.
She also oversaw the NLTB’s finance and trust departments. The finance department: dealt mainly with NLTB affairs and the trust department handled landowners affairs. Her position also meant providing the management with information for decision-making based on the board’s financial results and performance.
“I took accounting as a subject in school and carried on to university level.
“I grew to realise the demands for the profession especially for iTaukei as there are not many of us in this profession at all.
“This is why I feel that more iTaukei women should be encouraged to become professionals in the area of finance.
“It is a difficult subject and it demands a lot of work.
“In 1982, I was the only Fijian female to graduate from the University of the South Pacific with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Accounting.
“I honestly thought that I would not make it.
“However, through hard work and perserverance I succeeded.
“It is an experience that I would like to share with other women as well.
“Most young girls tend to choose nursing or teaching as a career.
“I would encourage them to become more career-oriented and take up something more challenging like accounting.
“There are not many Fijian women at all in the accounting field and it would be a good opportunity for them.
“There are many opportunities for advancement in this field and women are given opportunities equal to men.
“I also don’t see why few women cannot get together and set up a practise on their own if they have available finance, then there’s nothing to stop them,” she said.
There is still a large gap between the number of men in this profession as opposed to women and I feel that much has to be done at school level to enhance public awareness of this.
“We might be able to bridge the gap a bit if children are encouraged to accept challenging careers while still at school.”
Born in Bureta, on the island of Ovalau, she attended Adi Cakobau School before graduating with a Bachelors degree from the University of the South Pacific, in 1982.
In 1984 she became a member of the Fiji Institute of Accountants after completing papers on data processing and corporate and taxation law.
“While I was studying for FIA membership there was a conflict between career interests and my family commitments.
“However, I have had the full support of my husband throughout my career and this has helped me to some extent.”
She worked as an auditor with Price Waterhouse for three years before joining the NLTB in 1986.
“It is a challenge and becomes a satisfying experience when one realises that they’ve managed a career as well as their family commitments,” she said.
“One needs to have confidence and the right approach specially when one is young and a woman at that,” she said.
