I completed ACCA in 2013 after twice failing Advanced Financial Management. I applied for roles with the Big Four in Kuala Lumpur but with no luck. I eventually landed the position of audit associate at EY’s Kota Kinabalu office, which is where my career started. My experience highlights the value of perseverance, and I can proudly say it’s paid off in the long run. My daily duties initially involved walkthroughs and internal control tests, mainly in the oil palm plantation industry at client offices for three to four months at a time, with sporadic outstation stints at client estates throughout Sabah.
After a decade working across practice and industry in Malaysia, I recently took on a new role with Leejin (East Malaysia). The business, which distributes BAT cigarettes in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, is currently in a transition period, with changes to shareholdings, business model and reporting structure. I have a lot of freedom in my role – thanks to the ACCA qualification, the owners recognised my ability and made me the office senior, with all staff reporting to me.
It’s a hybrid role, with both core financial and administrative responsibilities. On the finance side, I’m responsible for budgeting and forecasting, accounting and treasury, financial reporting, and compliance and tax. On the admin side, I oversee operations and facilities, procurement and vendor management, HR and team supervision, and internal controls.
ACCA is a prestigious qualification, well recognised by most employers. I’ve had the privilege of joining ACCA events through my local ACCA Sabah member body. Networking with people from different walks of life can unearth business and job opportunities.
From my salary and savings, I have a sizeable personal investment fund. I manage it myself, investing in a variety of asset classes, such as public equity, Reits, real estate and government securities. The knowledge I’ve gained through the ACCA qualification has been very useful in this.
Managing my own funds and investing is an absorbing hobby
I’m keen to set up my own business someday. I’ve thought of starting a coin-operated laundry business because of the lower upfront capital spend and no need for staff, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet. I’m still exploring how to deploy the business model in my neighbourhood.
If I weren’t an accountant, and money and time were no restriction, I’d travel the world. I’d love to visit different countries to experience their cultures and food. Meanwhile, managing my own funds and investing is an absorbing hobby – I like to study how Warren Buffett grew Berkshire Hathaway into a multinational conglomerate. I’m hoping to become a better stock analyst and fund manager.
