ACCA Hong Kong held a virtual celebration to welcome new members and to mark the achievements of members who earned their FCCA designation.
‘You are joining much more than a business association – you are joining a worldwide, warm community of like-minded people,’ said Orla Collins, ACCA global president in her welcome address.
Uniting people
‘ACCA is a family that brings together people across continents and cultures, united with the common values of integrity, inclusion and innovation,’ Collins added.
‘It opens the way to so many exciting, rewarding and satisfying careers, with countless options for interesting, stimulating roads,’ said Collins. 'Employers around the world love to hire ACCA accountants, as they know ACCA is the gold standard for professional accomplishment and the highest ethical standards,' Collins added.
'Becoming a member of ACCA gives you a passport to the global financial world'
ACCA Hong Kong chairman Jennifer Tan also congratulated the new members, adding that with its wide network and high recognition around the world, an ACCA membership presents opportunities and unlocks exciting choices for members.
‘Becoming a member of ACCA gives you a passport to the global financial world, which is a proud achievement,’ she said. Tan herself is a good example of how ACCA helps with career development.
As the chairman of ACCA Hong Kong and CEO at Alipay HK, Tan said that an ACCA Qualification and the member network have helped her become a well-rounded business leader.
Tan recently won the prestigious Outstanding Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award from the Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association.
Local community
Beyond career development, ACCA also contributes to the local community. Established in 1950, Tan said that ACCA Hong Kong has cultivated many talents and contributed to policymaking.
The reports, industry consultation and conferences that ACCA Hong Kong produces have long been welcomed by the industry.
Tan added that in 2021, four Hong Kong members – Natalie Chan, Arthur Lee, Ernest Wong and Alice Yip – were elected as members of the ACCA Global Council to speak for the Hong Kong industry, which is huge progress.
Tan expects members to get involved with ACCA and share their opinions through members’ surveys and round table conferences to promote the sustainable development of the industry. Within ACCA, different committees revolve around diverse issues, such as small-to-medium enterprises. Members are encouraged to participate in these committees and task forces.
‘The only way to succeed is to keep the faith, not be afraid of challenges and keep practicing’
As well as professionally contributing to ACCA, Tan also actively participates in the Charity Task Force and manages activities for ACCA Community Day, which aims to raise funding for people in need.
‘These are all valuable experiences, which not only contribute to the industry, but also the whole Hong Kong community,’ she said.
Kelly Chan, managing director at Peony Consulting Services and a former chairman of ACCA Hong Kong for 2008/09, is a wonderful example of an individual contributing to the ACCA family and Hong Kong community. She was awarded ACCA China Advocate of the Year 2021 for her work.
‘I have been serving ACCA Hong Kong since 2000 and became the chairman in 2008. I am grateful to the ACCA platform, which allows many people to share and contribute their experiences and strengths, both in the professional field and at the social service level,’ said Chan at the ACCA China Advocacy Award prize presentation during the virtual event.
The right attitude
For finance and accounting professionals like business leaders Chan, Tan and Collins, a healthy attitude is one of the keys to succeeding in the workplace.
Staying focused, not being afraid of challenges and constantly sharpening skills are especially important habits in the workplace, said Ron Lee, an ex-Olympian and elite athlete who is now the director of the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
Lee shared on how to apply the experience accumulated from being an athlete to both professional life and personal lives.
Lee said that the workplace is like a match, which is full of difficulties and challenges. He has worked in management at many multinational companies and observed that while there is no shortcut to overcoming the challenges directly, having the right attitude is key.
When faced with a hurdle, being focused can help with analysing the problem and keeping the situation under control.
Lee took the example of Cheung Ka-long, the 2021 individual Olympic champion in fencing. Cheung is the first athlete representing Hong Kong to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing. During one of the matches in the 2021 Olympics, the score was 14-9 with Cheung trailing.
‘When facing difficulties, it is easy for us to give up,’ Lee said. But an elite athlete is trained to be focused. Despite the score not being in his favour, Cheung focused on each move to eventually come back and win. That was the key that gave Cheung six more points for a 15-14 victory.
‘The only way to succeed is to keep the faith, not be afraid of challenges and keep practicing,’ added Lee. This mantra can, and should, be applied to the workplace by ACCA members for greater success in their chosen paths.
More information
This virtual event is now available on-demand until 28 May 2022.
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