Failure is just a key to success. I’ve held that sentiment close for a long time. After my dad passed away when I was seven years old, my siblings and I were raised by my mum. It wasn’t easy for her, and was I determined to be independent and not be a burden.
After completing secondary school, I studied accountancy at University Technology MARA in Malaysia, with all my education costs sponsored by the government.
At the age of 22, I began my career at Deloitte Risk Advisory, Malaysia. After a year, I got sponsored again to pursue ACCA in London and took a two-year career break. Other than fulfilling my mum’s dream, I started to realise that being ACCA qualified has helped me to do better in my profession.
My ACCA journey wasn’t as easy as expected – I failed several times – but failure is just a key to success.
My ACCA journey wasn’t as easy as expected – I failed several times – but failure is just a key to success
I provide internal audit services and other related advisory roles to clients. Many people think that internal audit is just a fault-finding job but it’s actually about how to improve business operations, as well as complying with regulatory requirements.
What I enjoy most about my role is that through every engagement or task I get to learn about people and different working cultures. I’m exposed to the different natures of the industry and, most importantly, I’m able to help organisations to improve internal control processes and therefore performance.
Our world has been impacted by Covid-19. Most businesses now realise how important technology is to sustain them. In the digital age, internal audit must commit itself to elevating its value proposition, embracing change and continuously improving. This means innovating and transforming itself to an agile, multi-skilled and technology-enabled function – a so-called next-generation function.
To harness the potential of technology to effectively respond to the crisis, it’s essential to prioritise its use through a human rights lens aimed at protecting citizens, maintaining essential services, communicating life-saving information and fostering socioeconomic interactions for the benefit of all.
If I weren’t an accountant, I’d be a world traveller. Meeting people from other cultures has taught me that the way I have been looking at the world isn’t the way everybody else does. Seeing the world for myself has improved my vision and grip on reality.
I’m glad to be part of the ACCA community and am grateful to the Malaysian government for sponsoring me throughout my educational journey. Success is not measured by how many failures, but by how you overcome obstacles.
In life, we are not in a competition with anyone. We run our own race. Life is a journey that you take at your own pace. Just aim to be better and improve on what you were before.
