I started exploring accounting in high school. Accounting is not just about mathematics, but also theories and concepts. I found it really interesting as it is the language of business, which measures the results of an organisation’s economic activities and conveys this information to a variety of stakeholders, including myself. I picked accountancy as the major for my bachelor’s degree and earned my professional qualifications after graduation.
I am currently a senior finance manager at Quality HealthCare Medical Services, which is part of Bupa. I am mainly responsible for financial reporting, management reporting and financial control, as well as supporting ad hoc projects such as company restructurings, liquidations and profit optimisation.
We need an entirely different set of skills to become accountants in today’s world
I love my current role since it gives me an opportunity to work with people from different business areas, backgrounds and countries. I love chatting with different people. Everyone is unique; we can always learn something from others’ stories and experiences, which encourages me to be more active-minded and make new possibilities happen.
There are also many learning opportunities. Performing financial analysis and building finance models for ad hoc projects helps me strengthen my business acumen, as I’m not just focusing on financial information, but also looking into the market and trends.
Although the basic principles of accounting have more or less remained the same, the technology has drastically improved over the past decade. This has provided the industry with new avenues to explore, helping innovate different products and services while also allowing accountants to take on new responsibilities.
The rise of technology in the accounting industry has brought an aspect of creativity to the role. Now, accountants are less focused on bringing financial transparency and more on overhauling the financial frameworks of organisations. We need an entirely different set of skills to become accountants in today’s world, as we are increasingly involved in direct interaction with clients, decision-making and strategy-making.
Although I am not an expert in technology, I always remind myself to be open to its potential. I revisit and challenge the current workflows of my company, and look for opportunities using robotic process automation or artificial intelligence to make our business processes more efficient and effective.
Challenges and changes are not always negative; we just need to accept, adopt and make good use of them
Flexibility is an essential part of resilience and I am better equipped to respond when I face any changes and uncertainties. For example, hybrid work was not widely acceptable before the pandemic but now most organisations and employees are used to such arrangements. We have to prepare for the worst and get ready for any changes, so that we may utilise these uncertain events as an opportunity to branch out.
My advice is to be open-minded and ready for change. In this rapidly changing environment, we need to look at the market and trends. This helps us plan ahead for any changes and convert them into opportunities. Challenges and changes are not always negative; we just need to accept, adopt and make good use of them.
Outside of work, I am a foodie; I enjoy exploring restaurants and bars with my friends. Chilling with a glass of wine is always my favourite activity on Friday nights. Travel is also part of my life; Tokyo is the next place I plan to visit.
