My principles of accounting teacher in secondary school sparked my interest in accounting and, by chance, I secured an internship with a well-known firm. Since then, I have continued to pursue my passion for this industry; I never imagined I would still be deeply rooted in this field after a decade.
I began my auditing career with PwC Singapore and have remained in the audit industry since graduating. After PwC I worked in internal audit for Cerebos Pacific, Sentosa Development Corporation and MOH Holdings, before my position at BDO. This reflects my passion for the field, which has remained strong over the years.
There are very few jobs that offer such exposure and opportunity
In my role as an associate director with BDO Advisory, I evaluate and enhance an organisation’s risk management, control and governance processes. I enjoy engaging with teams on the ground, understanding workflows from operations to management, and assessing the control environment alongside process owners. There are very few jobs that offer such exposure and opportunity. To be honest, there aren’t many jobs that allow you to ask a manager, head of department and CEO to open up about their business operations and strategies.
The main professional challenges in Singapore include staying updated with constantly changing standards and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of developments, so that I can effectively advise SMEs. I’m constantly inspired by success stories from stakeholders who overcome obstacles in the face of challenges. Recently, I was particularly impressed by a CEO who triumphed over bankruptcy and worked tirelessly to get his company listed.
The global recognition of ACCA has created a variety of career pathways for qualified graduates, spanning accounting, finance, audit and other industries. I graduated from ACCA 10 years ago and I’m still reaping the benefits of its global recognition and extensive network. It’s truly amazing.
My biggest career influences have come from my experiences with failure
In all honesty, attaining the ACCA qualification was quite challenging. I struggled academically and failed several papers. However, my perseverance kept me going and I’m grateful that I didn’t give up. Although it took me longer than most to achieve this qualification, I’m proud of my accomplishment. This achievement has opened numerous doors, allowing me to explore various career paths over the past decade.
My biggest career influences have come from mentors and my experiences with failure. I believe that every success story is built on attempts and setbacks. While my career path hasn’t been smooth, I’ve learned to make the most of both positive and negative experiences, emerging stronger after each setback.
I’ve always dreamed of being a celebrity. For the longest time, my family has playfully teased me about my childhood ambition to join the Singaporean TV show Star Search. Year after year, I’d tell them I’d compete the following year, until I eventually reached the age limit.
