A love for numbers

A passion for accountancy led Mr Wong Jin Feng on a continuous journey to improve his skills as an accountant

By Nicole Lim

October 21, 2020

Mr Wong Jin Feng knew from a young age that his strength lies in numbers, not words.

He discovered his passion for accountancy when pursuing a diploma in the subject at Singapore Polytechnic.

Citing positive experiences from his polytechnic days, the 29-year-old says learning went beyond traditional classroom- based teaching. “There was a focus on career-building,” he says. “It allowed me to understand the practical challenges in the industry, and exposed me to the various types of jobs that accountancy can offer.”

He went on to pursue two different part-time programmes. Upon graduation, he took up the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Qualification, while completing his national service.

This professional accounting qualification is recognised worldwide, allowing him to quickly grow his professional knowledge.

Shortly after, he went on to complete his Master of Science (MSc) in Professional Accountancy under the University of London (UOL), an innovative partnership between the ACCA and UOL, while working in his first full-time job.

Building technical and strategic skills

The ACCA Qualification has helped him gain a more in-depth understanding of topics such as corporate and business law, performance management, taxation, financial reporting, audit and financial management, while the Master of Science in Professional Accountancy programme strengthened his academic understanding across different aspects of accounting.

“The qualifications are complementary, and attaining both was a value-add,” he says.

Mr Wong recalls how it was not easy juggling a full-time job with his studies. Having a clear end goal from the beginning helped him to power through.

“I studied hard and managed to pass all ACCA exams in my first attempt,” he says.

His efforts paid off when he was given greater responsibilities at work where he managed the portfolio of one of the toplisted companies in Singapore.

Today, Mr Wong is a Professional Products Division (PPD) business controller at L’Oreal Singapore, where he works closely with colleagues from other business functions to optimise investments and drive profitability.

He credits both education pathways for giving him the technical and strategic skill sets to excel in his career today. He plans to take up programmes focusing on finance innovation and technology in the near future.

To aspiring accountants who want to advance their careers, his advice is now is a good time to upskill, and one way to do so is to take up programmes with ACCA .

“It’s not just a paper qualification,” he explains. “ACCA publishes research, and holds regular conferences and networking events to allow accountants to continue to stay relevant.”