Jacqueline Oh

Senior Manager, Business Advisory

"The diversity of services provided by the Group offers a lot of mobility and flexibility for staff - inter-division transfers, opportunities to work with other departments and even secondments to the commercial sector."

I was told that audit is the best place to start out for accountancy graduates. After having worked a few years and attained my CPA qualifications, I couldn't agree more.

When I was an audit assistant, I performed audits for various industries. My peers and I were trained gradually to be business advisors - to take a pro-active and holistic approach to clients' needs and problems. We were put on the learning expressway - to do whole audits and consolidated accounts as soon as we were ready for them. I handled these in my first year. The skills I picked up in the audit division helped a great deal when I was transferred to the consultancy department. Occasionally, I am also involved in projects of our corporate recovery division.

My most memorable project was my secondment to a client, an IPO aspirant, to help it streamline its operations and prepare for IPO. It was a good test of my technical skills and ability to work independently. Such mobility and opportunities within the group allow me to stay at a place where I am so used to and maintain the friendships which I have built, yet get the exposure I need without having to resign. Some of my friends leave audit to try consultancy or commerce and have to build up their careers all over again. I am glad I do not have to do it.