My starting point was choosing business, accounting and financial studies as one of my elective subjects for the public exam. This gave me an insight into what the business world was like, especially in the accounting field. During that time, I discovered my passion for this industry and decided to take accounting and finance as a major for my bachelor’s degree in the UK.
Soon after I came back to Hong Kong, I had an offer from one of the note-issuing banks as an assistant financial compliance manager. I also started to study for the ACCA Qualification, which equipped me with strategic thinking, technical skills and professional values for the rapidly changing world.
Continuing professional development is a prerequisite to success and a way I can keep myself up to date
Before becoming a finance manager at a large commercial bank, I worked on the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) banking returns. This provided me with the opportunity to learn about the banking industry.
Today, I specialise in financial compliance. My main job is to assist the bank in complying with the banking ordinance. My duties include submitting periodic returns to the HKMA, ensuring the bank complies with regulatory requirements, such as capital adequacy, exposure limits and liquidity ratios, and checking financial disclosures are in line with the most up-to-date accounting standards.
There are threats as well as opportunities in the profession. Having artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in our work is the trend in accounting. These days, some of my accounting tasks are prepared by automated accounting programmes, including the HKMA return preparation work.
This could be seen as the biggest threat to us, as we could be replaced by AI. In truth, though, automation also offers us more time to focus on complicated tasks that emphasise strategic thinking. For example, we are currently engaged in a recovery planning project which requires extensive research and discussion among various departments.
Continuing professional development is a prerequisite to success and a way I can keep myself up to date. Workshops and seminars provide me with the knowledge and skills to stay relevant and keep up with the pace of change.
To those thinking of pursuing this type of career, I would suggest majoring in accounting. I believe it is the stepping stone to a successful career because it provides the relevant knowledge and practical skills that are necessary to become an accountant.
In addition, getting a recognised accounting qualification is a prerequisite to standing out from the crowd. With that being the case, ACCA has always been my first choice among all of the qualifications. As a Hong Kong bronze medallist, graduating from ACCA in September 2019, I would strongly recommend registering as a certified public accountant with ACCA.
