What is your current role and responsibilities? How is it going so far?
I joined A. R. Medicom Inc. (Asia) Ltd. last month as an Accountant, and things have been going well so far. I’m responsible for preparing the full profit and loss statement, cash flow statements, balance sheet, and analysing the financial performance of the operations in our business centre in Hong Kong. I also perform a monthly analysis on different areas and operations within the group. Since I joined, both my colleagues and members of management have been very helpful and friendly.
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your role, and why?
The biggest challenge has been managing my time. Since joining, there has been a lot of information to handle and tasks to complete on a daily basis, often in a short period of time. Though I’ve been working from home, I’ve been communicating closely with my colleagues who rely on me to come up with solutions for issues relating to the operations of the company. The most rewarding aspect is being able to work alongside teammates. They are always willing to give me a hand by sharing their experiences with me and providing tips on how to complete daily tasks. It’s my first job in the commercial sector, so with their help, I have quickly improved. The ongoing pandemic and current outbreak has had a big impact on the company, and there’s been great demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment from customers. In addition to PPE, the company also manufactures and retails products such as equipment for automated external defibrillators and COVID-19 test kits. With our products, we reinforce the message of having good hygiene, protection and health. So the opportunity for me to add value as an accountant is also very rewarding.
What inspired you to become an accountant?
I wasn’t too interested in accounting to begin with, but after attending a few recruitment talks, I understood more about the profession and the role of an accountant. I learned it would be an interesting and challenging career which would help to develop my skills as a professional. So far, I do enjoy the job, even though it can be a challenge to constantly stay updated. As accountants, we have to understand the latest updates on accounting standards, as doing so strengthens our technical knowledge and enables us to help businesses.
Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years in your career? Which field do you plan on specializing in, and why?
I would like to stay at the company and have more of a central role. A. R. Medicom Inc. (Asia) Ltd. is an international company, with business units located in countries including Australia, Japan and South Korea. I’d like to work closer with other business units and play a part in the expansion of the group. So far, I enjoy working in the healthcare sector. With the ongoing pandemic, I foresee that demand for healthcare products will continue in the future. The sector will have to expand in order to meet market demand, which will increase the need for accountants to help their business.
What are the biggest lessons you have learned so far from work experience or managers?
There are many new rules and regulations to adhere to in the profession. As accountants, we must stay updated and never stop learning. It’s important to be a critical thinker and to be a professional who is able to provide an immediate response, especially amid today’s fast-changing environment. It’s critical that we maintain a high level of integrity, ethics, and a good attitude. We are relied on to always provide the best solutions, and ones that comply with the relevant accounting standards and regulations.
How do you think the Qualification Programme (QP) has helped you in your career so far, or prepared you for your current role?
The QP has really helped us to build a solid foundation. For example, module 11 Financial Reporting really taught me how to apply the different accounting standards, such as International Financial Reporting Standard 16 Leases in my role. The QP workshops were also very helpful. The workshops also gave us an opportunity to apply our technical knowledge and increased our confidence when presenting ideas. This has greatly helped me in my career so far.
