Becoming an accountant truly was a fluke for me. Nothing else seemed right, and doing ACCA was one of those decisions I made on a whim. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, as I’ve ended up having a career in something I actually enjoy doing. I always had a knack for numbers even in high school, but that became more apparent as I was studying ACCA.
I do financial reporting. It can sometimes feel like it is all about following rules and doing things a certain way, but I like the order of things and being able to look at the full picture, and not just a fragment of the picture. I enjoy bringing numbers to life, understanding what drives them and what makes them tick. I like knowing how things work and how to improve them.
Doing ACCA was one of those decisions I made on a whim. It was the best decision I’ve ever made
The biggest business trends and changes I’m noticing in Malaysia currently relate to risk. Risk appetites are lower due to the pandemic. People are aware that their livelihoods are at risk. This has sparked a trend of low-cost home businesses and second jobs. Unfortunately, it also leads to people being less engaged in their current roles.
Learning new things is extremely important. Formal continuous learning and training is important, but there is a lack of interesting and interactive content out there for accountants. The most difficult topics are addressed by hour-long lectures by intelligent people, but they are not necessarily the best presenters and are often unable to hold the attention of their listeners.
My family has always strongly influenced my career decisions. They are the best support system I could possibly have and I owe my success to them. My parents have always played a key role in my decision-making. I am grateful that they support me in everything that I do.
I am lucky to have made good decisions with my career and approach to life. I am most proud of having become a manager by the age of 26 and of surviving five years in audit. As rewarding as the journey was, it truly was a challenge. My short-term aspirations are to become a CFO at a multinational. In the long term, I’d like to be the CEO at a multinational.
If I weren’t an accountant, what would I be? I would definitely still be doing something with numbers. Or perhaps a flight attendant.
