2 women accountants share the secrets of their success in a male-dominated field

Say the word “accountant” and three fictional characters come to mind.

The first is Paul Tan from the beloved Under One Roof TV series in Singapore, the nerdy and nebbish eldest son of the family.

The second is Ben Wyatt from the American TV series Parks and Recreation. The show had a great running gag where Ben was seen as a nerd by most of the town, but was considered super cool by other accountants.

The third is the guy played by Ben Affleck in the 2016 movie “The Accountant.” But instead of crunching numbers, he takes out bad guys as an undercover master assassin.

Comparing the three, something comes to mind. Accountants can be a nerdy guy like Tan, or a Hollywood hunk like Affleck. But they all, for some reason, happen to be men.

The world of fiction may seriously under-represent the role of women in the field of accounting, but women in real-life accountancy are thriving in Singapore.

With International Women’s Day falling in March, we speak to two women in this supposedly male-dominated field.

It was all a dream

As Ivana Jie, 43, put it:

“Early in my career, leadership positions in finance were mostly held by men.

However, over time, I’ve witnessed a significant shift toward diversity and inclusion, with more opportunities for women to advance to leadership roles.

It's encouraging to see a stronger emphasis on organisations creating equal opportunities, fostering an environment where women can thrive.”

Jie was, until recently, a fully-fledged accountant in various industries - medical devices and manufacturing, FMCG and education.

What does Jie have to say about the stereotype that accountancy is boring?

“[It] goes beyond just crunching numbers!”

Accountants use financial data to provide strategic insights, optimise resources and guide high-level business decisions, including budgeting and investments.

“Moreover, accounting is constantly evolving with changes in regulations, technology, and business practices, making the work both challenging and rewarding,” she shared.

Starting out small

But the journey to reach this point wasn’t all smooth sailing.

As a student, Jie studied finance and accounting in school, being genuinely interested in numbers and problem-solving.

Due to challenges such as balancing work and family responsibilities, Jie had to delay pursuing the CPA (Certified Practising Accountant) certification.

But she remained steadfast in her goal, recognising that obtaining this certification would not only be a personal milestone, but also a stepping stone to leadership opportunities.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely worth it,” she said.

The programme equipped her with valuable expertise, led her to better career opportunities, and reinforced her ability to lead in the financial industry.

Her fellow CPA Australia-certified professional, Ng Li Hui, 37, took a similar path on her way to becoming an accountant.

As a student at Singapore Management University, Ng didn’t manage to get into the Accounting Faculty, but did take up Accounting as a second major while studying at the School of Business.

Why? Like Jie, Ng had a genuine interest in the subject.

“Accounting is more than just reporting numbers, the information is used for many business decisions by different stakeholders,” she said.

Today, she works as a finance manager in an environmental consultancy, where she reports to the financial directors on operational matters to assist their decision-making, ensuring they make the most informed decisions possible.

And like Jie, Ng has noticed the industry becoming far more gender-neutral over the years.

“Thankfully I have not experienced any challenges at work for being female in Singapore,” the mother of two daughters said, adding that Singapore generally respects and advocates for diversity.

Being a mom

But there’s still some way to go. According to Jie:

“Although progress has been made, challenges still exist for women in the industry.

Balancing work and family commitments can be particularly challenging. Additionally, women often have to work harder to gain recognition for their achievements.”

It’s a fact that women do have more responsibilities should they choose to have children.

Jie has two children, a 16-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. Balancing work and family is “definitely a challenge”, but it comes down to time management and commitment.

“I make it a priority to set aside quality time for my family, while remaining dedicated to my professional responsibilities. Clear communication with both my family and my team helps to ensure expectations can be met on both sides.”

Jie is grateful to have a strong support system in the form of her husband and children, and a balance that works for her.

Meanwhile, Ng has two primary school-aged children, an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old.

When she first got married, her husband worked as a Marine Captain. For the first three years of their marriage, he spent most of his time at sea, and she could only see him three months out of the year.

“During that time, I had to balance work, pregnancy, and childbirth without him by my side. Thankfully, I lived with my parents, and they were always there to support me,” she said.

Being a first-time mother and managing everything on her own was challenging, but fortunately Ng had the unwavering support from her friends, elder sister, parents, and colleagues.

“[They] have helped me navigate the parenthood and motherhood journey,” she said.

Good memories

Despite the challenges, both Ng and Jie have fond memories of their professional careers.

For Ng, it was when she took over a departing colleague’s project, and saw the opportunity to add more value.

As she dug into the financial records, she observed that vendor costs seemed a little high, and worked out a way to save the company some money.

“The leadership team was initially skeptical, as they were used to seeing accountants as mere compliance officers.

However, when they saw the potential savings and efficiency improvements, they realised the strategic value an accountant can bring to the table.”

Ng also highlighted how the incident helped change the perception of accounting within the company.

“It was incredibly fulfilling to know that my work made a tangible difference and opened up to new opportunities,” she said.

As for Jie, it was the time she had to spearhead a task force in the wake of a major policy shift at HQ. This wasn’t finance, but it was about managing change.

She worked closely with Heads of Departments and Country Finance teams to develop a comprehensive strategy, while also organising interactive sessions to provide guidance and build trust.

“The transformation strengthened cross-functional relationships and demonstrated how proactive finance leadership can positively impact the broader organisation,” Jie said.

Advice for those who would like to follow them

Ng shared, “To all the young women considering a career in accounting, I say: go for it! The industry is full of opportunities, and your unique perspectives and skills are invaluable.”

Jie shared, “For young women or youths considering a career in the industry, my advice is to stay adaptable and keep learning.

The industry is evolving rapidly, especially with advancements in AI and technology.

It’s important to continually upskill to stay ahead, and organisations like CPA Australia provide invaluable resources to support professional growth, making them a great partner in your career journey.”

More about CPA Australia

Both Jie and Ng are members of CPA Australia, one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world that offers a professional certification program, training, technical support and advocacy to its members.

If you are keen to embark or develop your career in the accounting and finance industry, you can consider becoming certified by the accounting body to make yourself stand out among your peers.

CPA Australia offers an extensive range of courses and webinars to grow your skillsets to further your professional and personal development.

Find out more about the benefits of joining CPA Australia and its programme here.

This branded article is brought to you by CPA Australia.

Top images from Ng Li Hui and Ivana Jie