MSC ACCOUNTANCY
From Novice To CPA With An MSc In Accountancy
Pursuing a master’s degree isn’t a must for accountants, but it certainly pays off in many ways. An MSc in Accountancy can help boost your salary, equip you with in-demand skills like data analytics, and prepare you for professional certifications like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Knowing this, Mollie Xian Sangyu was eager to dive right into further studies after completing a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “A master’s degree would significantly enhance my competitiveness in the labour market,” she said. “I felt it would arm me with the advanced skills and knowledge I needed to succeed professionally.”
Driven by a strong desire to expand her horizons, Mollie weighed her options and found a programme that would challenge her to grow. Six months after completing her MSc in Accountancy (MACC) at Nanyang Business School (NBS), she looks back on the strong foundation she’s built and shares how they’ve translated to success in her new role.
A stepping stone to the CPA
For a go-getter like Mollie, Singapore was the ideal mix of challenge and comfort to broaden her horizons. Coming from Hong Kong, Singapore’s “comfortable climate and cultural similarities” felt like home. At the same time, its status as a leading financial centre in Asia offered unique learning opportunities.
“Being a young and rapidly developing country, Singapore embodies the latest trends in Asia,” she shared. “Studying in Singapore would provide me with a global perspective of the finance sector.”
NBS’s MACC programme features two distinct tracks: the General Track, which equips candidates with a comprehensive mastery of accounting and finance skills; and the Data Analytics Track, which prepares candidates to harness big data and emerging technologies. Mollie found that the General Track aligned best with her career goals.
“The General Track is beneficial for pursuing a CPA after graduation,” she explained. “I was confident that the NBS professors would help me build a strong accounting foundation.”
As she was weighing her options, Mollie noted the dedicated career support available at NBS. “The Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO) provides excellent career services,” she said. “I saw that these services would be incredibly helpful in my job search.”
Securing valuable work experience
Indeed, this support has proven useful throughout Mollie’s journey at NBS. Beyond helping her polish her resume, the GSCDO’s career counsellors were able to help her find an internship through their strong industry connections.
“NBS has unique collaborations with various firms in Singapore,” she explained. “This enabled me to secure a part-time internship in the finance department of a major Chinese firm.”
As a finance intern with CNOOC Gas and Power Singapore Trading & Marketing Pte Ltd, Mollie put her accounting knowledge into practice by adhering to accounting principles, preparing invoices, performing customer due diligence, and more. “It was a fruitful and valuable experience,” she summed up.
Tackling challenges as a team
Beyond hard skills, the MACC programme helped Mollie hone a broad toolkit of soft skills across many group projects and presentations. “I’ve strengthened my communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to contribute to a team,” she said.
Accounting is undoubtedly a team effort – accountants need to work hand-in-hand with other finance specialists as well as the management team. Mollie shared that the hands-on approach of her classes has prepared her to communicate well with others and take on industry challenges together.
“In particular, I enjoyed the engaging class discussions we had in the Business Analysis & Equity Valuation module,” she recalled. “We had many opportunities to practice applying what we learnt to solve real-world cases. It was a memorable experience, especially when we worked as a team to tackle problems.”
A solid accounting foundation for success
These skill sets now enable Mollie to hit the ground running in her new role as an Audit Associate with MaloneBailey – a Houston-based public accounting firm with offices in Beijing and Shenzhen.
As an Audit Associate, Mollie’s day-to-day work focuses on conducting audit testing procedures. “This involves ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial statements, identifying any discrepancies, and actively communicating with clients about our progress,” she shared.
Strong communication is a make-or-break factor for her work, as she needs to regularly update clients and seniors about her findings and address any concerns. She also credits her MACC experience for equipping her with the “audit mindset” to effectively solve problems.
“The well-designed programme has given me a solid accounting foundation for my current role,” she said. “Plus, all the group projects and presentations have significantly enhanced my technical and communication skills, both of which are essential in my daily tasks.”
Ultimately, the MACC has served as a springboard for Mollie to make a seamless transition from classroom to career – supported by NBS’s robust network and resources.
Her advice to future participants? “If you want to secure an internship or full-time position, take full advantage of the career services here,” she said. “Pay attention to the daily email updates on career events too.”
