Graduate Studies Blog
MSC ACCOUNTANCY
How The MSc Accountancy Equipped This Big Four Consultant To Excel
Some professionals navigate daring risks on a daily basis, because the rewards make it worthwhile. So it is with Yu Tianlong, a Senior Associate in Risk and Regulatory Advisory at KPMG Singapore – one of the “Big Four” accounting firms. Even as he faces down challenges and curveballs regularly at work, he’s betting on his ability to turn complexity into opportunity.
Tianlong’s work at KPMG puts him right in the thick of things, helping financial institutions tackle the tricky, fast-changing world of compliance and risk.
“My work focuses on regulatory compliance and risk advisory for financial institutions,” Tianlong explains. “It requires a comprehensive skill set: regulatory knowledge, analytical modelling, fact-finding and professional client engagement.”
The problem-solving, research, and communication skills that Tianlong brings to bear in this demanding role were first honed during his MSc in Accountancy (MACC) at Nanyang Business School. So what did Tianlong take away from the MACC that still guides him in his work today?
Broadening horizons beyond China
While doing his dual undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Law at Renmin University of China, Tianlong found himself drawn to the clear, structured nature of accountancy – a welcome contrast to the broader, more conceptual management theories covered in his studies. “I found accounting more practical and hands-on,” Tianlong recalls.
This set the course for his career after graduation. After completing China-based internships in private equity, investment banking and audit, Tianlong decided to pursue a master’s programme as the next logical step. “My motivation was largely skill-based and career-oriented, with the primary goal of securing job opportunities,” he explains.
The MACC programme at Nanyang Business School (NBS) caught his eye for a few reasons. First, he appreciated the change of perspective that a Singapore-based education could offer. “I’ve always aspired to study outside of China, to broaden my horizons and enrich my experience as a student,” Tianlong shares. “I was deeply impressed by Singapore’s resilience and inclusiveness derived from its history, and I’ve wanted to experience it firsthand ever since.”
In fact, Tianlong had intended to join an exchange programme at NBS as an undergraduate, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his plans. “I was determined to make up for that missed opportunity,” he says.
Building collaborative skills outside his comfort zone
Tianlong quickly adapted to the MACC programme’s practice-driven course structure and highly interactive teaching approach. “Most modules featured group projects where we tackled real-world problems, and the professors combined academic rigour with industry experience,” he recalls.
The collaborative nature of the courses – centred on case studies and presentations – taught Tianlong to lead and collaborate effectively in diverse, deadline-driven environments. “This also trained me to prepare and deliver outcomes in formal English,” he shares.
“ Several key experiences helped prime Tianlong for his compliance and risk career. For one, the Forensic Accounting and Digital Forensics module gave Tianlong his first practical encounter with Singapore’s Big Four firms. “Several lectures were delivered by practicing forensic professionals from one of the Big Four firms, who walked us through real-life forensic tools and investigative approaches used in the industry,” he explains.”
Another memorable experience – a group project on cryptocurrency forensics – helped to push him out of his comfort zone. His team was tasked to investigate how forensic teams could obtain evidence in the context of advanced blockchain transactions and crypto exchanges. “It was a technically complex topic that was relatively new to many of us,” he recalls.
To successfully complete the project, he had to collaborate closely with diverse team members to pick up knowledge fast and meet tight timelines. “That experience has deepened my subject knowledge as well as strengthened my ability to work effectively in complex settings – skills I continue to rely on today.”
From school connections to career opportunities
Such experiences gave Tianlong a head start in landing career opportunities even before finishing the MACC programme.
Attending a Big Four networking event at NTU directly led to his first full-time job at KPMG Singapore. “I reached out to an HR executive and expressed my interest in risk-related roles,” he shares. “She kindly suggested I speak with one of the partners, who is also an Accountancy alumnus of NTU.”
The conversation motivated Tianlong to apply for a position on KPMG’s official jobs portal, and he eventually received an offer to join the team. “The recognition associated with the MACC programme enabled me to stay competitive in both local and international job markets,” he explains.
He also got a job-hunting boost from the dedicated counsellors of NBS’s Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO). “The GSCDO staff were kind and resourceful, offering not only me but many of us valuable industry insights and access to alumni networks,” he recalls.
Even as an up-and-coming professional today, Tianlong continues to stay in touch with key contacts in the GSCDO. “Their career support doesn’t stop at graduation,” he tells us.
For one thing, he’s benefited from their regular alumni panels and small-group networking opportunities. “These events connect us with peers and senior professionals who are often very open in sharing their journeys, transitions, and lessons learned,” he explains. “Through these honest conversations, I’ve gained deeper insights that support my ongoing career development.”
Equipped to excel
Since arriving at KPMG two years ago, Tianlong’s career growth has been steady but sure.
Tianlong believes his recent promotion to Senior level was aided by the skill sets and insights he’s gained from the MACC programme. “As a compliance consultant at a Big Four firm, I’ve found that the ability to think structurally, communicate clearly, and collaborate across departments is crucial,” he explains. “The MACC programme – especially its hands-on and team-based learning components – helped me develop exactly those capabilities.”
A recent engagement for a leading banking client drove this point home for Tianlong. “The task drew heavily on my expertise and prior experience in both China and Singapore. This enabled me to extract and consolidate facts from a vast volume of documents to construct a narrative, which we then reported to the bank’s local and global leadership within a designated timeframe,” he says.
In this project and many others in his career, he relied extensively on the presentation, research, and cross-functional communication skills he built during his MACC journey. “My ability to manage group dynamics, synthesise complex information, and adapt quickly to evolving client needs has given me a clear edge in my professional environment,” Tianlong reflects.
A degree with lasting relevance in a changing world
As with many industries today, the rate of technological change has accelerated in the accounting industry. “Technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data are transforming the way businesses operate,” Tianlong notes.
Far from being daunted, however, he believes that the MACC has equipped him to meet these shifts head-on. “The MACC programme embraces change and stays aligned with industry trends – preparing us both to respond to change, and to anticipate and navigate it proactively.”
Tianlong is confident that the MACC experience will help him stay relevant even in the face of significant business and career uncertainties. “The MACC programme offers more than just a strong technical foundation. It also gives us a practical mindset to navigate these evolving times,” he sums up. “The comprehensive career support that we receive also equips us with the necessary skills to stay ahead of the curve.”
