MSC ACCOUNTANCY

Accountancy degree equips him to enter one of the Big Four firms

Halfway through his Nanyang Master of Science in Accountancy (Nanyang MSc Accountancy) programme, Wayne Lau has already been selected for an audit associate position in one of the Big Four.

“In my new role, I will be part of an engagement team,” he says. “The team conducts audit on companies to ensure that their financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with appropriate accounting frameworks.”

The skills that Wayne has gained from the programme have certainly prepared him for the new role. For example, he can now fully comprehend financial statements, scrutinise where the numbers are derived from and critically examine if the items have been fairly stated.

“Of course, I have a long way to go before I become proficient in these areas,” he says. “But the programme has given me a head start in terms of competency.”

Wayne has a bachelor’s degree in business management. Then, he became deeply interested in finance and wanted to better understand financial information and processes. “That is why I chose a Master’s degree in accountancy,” says Wayne. “I gradually realised the importance of financial knowledge, especially when it comes to establishing strong organisational controls and making effective business decisions.”

The accountancy degree, Wayne notes, has “surely trained my financial knowledge in those areas”. He has also acquired technical skills like analysing business control systems and business process modelling. These skills are crucial in generating practical outcomes—such as streamlined processes or cost savings—for organisations.

Wayne explains: “I’m keen to explore incorporating more effective controls into business processes, which can reduce occupational fraud and hence, lower costs. Also, now that I’m able to carry out business process modelling, I’m excited to visualise complex business processes and diagnose the weak links that need improvement.”

These very specific skills have trained Wayne to be more meticulous than ever; they also complement the broader competencies that he was trained in during his business management degree programme. “My management degree has given me a bird’s-eye view to business while, my accountancy degree will enable me to master the particularities. I get to enjoy the best of both worlds!” he says.

Wayne’s long-term career goal is to be adept at the organisational function of governance, control and compliance. “I want to ensure that organisations under my guidance are performing optimally,” he says. “To do so, I know I have to strengthen my accounting knowledge, as accounting is the bread and butter of that function. So, embarking on the MSc in Accountancy has become, quite naturally, the next step for me to fulfil my career aspirations.”

Quick tip: Want a fast and intensive programme? The MSc in Accountancy fits the bill.
“If you are keen to equip yourself with accounting knowledge/skills quickly, then this is a suitable course—it can be completed within a year. It is also very rigorous. You will be adequately armed with the financial skill set that you need.”

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