My ACCA journey got off to a tricky start. Financial constraints amid the pandemic caused me to pause my ACCA studies and take up an unpaid accounts internship while working as a barista to make ends meet. I was then laid off during the second lockdown. Back at square one, I self-studied for the strategic business reporting module using a second-hand textbook and passed with 71%.
In 2021, I landed my first full-time role in credit control. I was determined not to take the opportunity for granted and applied everything I’d learned, including the soft skills developed during my time as a barista. In my first year, I received a company employee recognition award. That milestone reminded me that setbacks do not have to define your journey.
Volunteering for a migration project allowed me to collaborate with senior colleagues
I accepted an offer from a global risk and consulting company in 2023. As a staff accountant within the Kuala Lumpur banking team, my primary role involves validating daily banking transactions, reconciliations and month-end duties for various countries. I enjoy the analytical side, particularly investigating unusual or complex discrepancies, collaborating across departments to resolve issues, and participating in process improvement discussions.
In my first year at my current workplace, I volunteered for a cloud reconciliation migration project aimed at replacing legacy systems and manual reconciliation workflows. The experience allowed me to learn quickly, collaborate with senior colleagues and contribute to a significant process change. I won another employee award.
The ACCA qualification has been highly valuable to my career. It represents rigorous technical knowledge, critical thinking and high professional standards. Even as I was still completing my final professional paper, my supervisor trusted my capabilities, partly because of the progress I’d made through the ACCA programme and the importance I placed on the ACCA code of ethics in guiding my professional conduct. That trust made becoming an ACCA member particularly meaningful to me.
I enjoy problem-solving and getting to the root cause of complex issues
I hope to pursue a career path in forensic accounting or financial crime. I enjoy investigation, problem-solving and getting to the root cause of complex issues. While my initial exposure came from a chapter in the advanced audit and assurance paper, it sparked a deep curiosity. Hence, I’ve challenged myself to pursue a master’s in forensic accounting, ensuring I build a comprehensive foundation for strategic roles in financial integrity and risk management.
Weekends are for resting. Taking time to recharge my social battery helps me start the workweek feeling energised and focused. When I have extra time, I love visiting libraries and bookstores. My personal book collection is growing so quickly that I may need to build a new bookshelf. I enjoy playing mind puzzles at random times too, just to challenge my brain.
If I weren’t an accountant, I’d definitely be a barista. As an avid coffee lover, I enjoy experimenting with different brewing methods and creating a great experience for customers. I’d love to pursue barista certifications in the future and expand my coffee expertise internationally. In fact, my dream is to own a small, niche café and bakery as a passion project after retiring from my accounting career.
