A man who left school at the age of 16 almost 50 years ago, and worked his way to the top of the accounting profession without any academic aids, will today vault all tertiary education levels and be presented with Charles Sturt University's highest award.

Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants and the society's NSW Director Stan Droder will be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Business at CSU's first 1999 Graduation Ceremony on the Wagga Wagga Campus, which starts at 10.30am in Joyes Hall.

Associate Professor John Williams of the CSU Financial Studies School - who will present the award at today's ceremony - said Mr Droder had never studied academic accounting nor achieved academic honours, but had enjoyed a brilliant career including almost 30 years as an executive of CSR Limited and encompassing a vast array of government and community positions.

He said there were no accountancy degrees in Mr Droder's day, when he completed his Leaving Certificate in 1953 and studied for his qualification part time in the evenings while working his way up from junior clerk to chartered accountant.

"It was this period… that enabled Stan, throughout his subsequent career, to preface his questions at meetings with these words: "I know I'm just a simple country boy from the bush but…

"Then he would ask an incisive question which would cut through the waffle and go to the heart of the matter under discussion," Professor Williams said.

In 1968 Mr Droder began his long employment with CSR, and in 1992 he became Divisional Director of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, being responsible for 25,000 members of the Society in NSW.

Professor Williams said Mr Droder always gave freely of his time and expertise to the accounting profession. His current activities include being a member of the NSW Council on the Cost of Government and the Australian Tax Law Improvement Project Consultative Committee.

In paying tribute, Professor Williams said Mr Droder was an advocate for business being about people first and foremost and in harnessing their intellectual capital.

"Stan believes that individual knowledge must be continuously maintained and replenished," he said.

"He believes that the community has a right to expect professionals to be competent and skilled in the advice they give. And he believes in giving back to the profession as is evidenced by his extensive, wide-ranging and comprehensive service to the accountancy profession in Australia."