At a Big Four firm like Deloitte, each client offers a unique experience. We can add value to their business using practices, resources and competencies developed by Deloitte firms around the world. Despite the challenges and complexities, I enjoy it as we can make a real difference to client organisations. It gives me great satisfaction to solve someone else’s pain points.
I have a passion for training and mentoring. In fact, I set up a training firm in 2021, Universal Mind Mapper, in London, Colombo and Doha. Our programmes focus on IFRS, financial modelling and business valuation, and risk management. We partner with ACCA to provide e-qualifications, such as the certificates in international financial reporting and business valuations. We have also partnered with CPD UK to provide accredited certificates.
I’ve trained hundreds of ACCA and finance professionals across the globe in different areas of finance. I continue to support and mentor young finance professionals to set their career goals and help devise strategies to achieve them. I’m also an approved mentor for the BSc in applied accounting programme at Oxford Brookes University, which is offered in partnership with ACCA.
I’ve started to realise it’s ok to make and accept mistakes, and not be perfect all the time
I like to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy my time with our six-year-old son Baarathiyan, who surprises me with his energy and curiosity. He also helps me to realise the contributions my parents have made in my life. Taking care of my parents as they age and bringing up my son to be a good human being are the only ways to repay at least part of the debt owed to them.
My wife is also an FCCA [read ‘The view from Tharshini Umasudhan’ for her story]. I met Tharshini in 2002 at the University of Colombo, at that time both of us were studying for our bachelor’s degrees. We got married in 2011. It is great to have a partner in the same profession as this provides an opportunity to understand each other’s perspectives better, help and guide each other to make the right career decisions, and experience life together.
Over the past couple of years I’ve experienced a kind of transformation through yoga and meditation. I’ve started to realise it’s ok to make and accept mistakes, and not be perfect all the time. It also helps to experience life from a different perspective. The challenge for any human being is to be fully involved with joy and intensity, while not taking life too seriously.
I started out as a junior accountant in Sri Lanka around 20 years ago. A career in finance appeared to provide the fastest route to reach senior roles in organisations. I also realised that progression in finance could be further fast-tracked with professional qualifications such as ACCA.
I joined Deloitte’s CFO advisory division in 2022 to leverage my experience in financial services organisations. I had held senior finance roles in financial services as well as manufacturing and equity research. I have a leadership role in the banking and capital markets division and focus on providing client support with financial planning and analysis, capital optimisation, IFRS 9, financial modelling, decision-making and sector regulation.
