Gajendran, welcome to our big interview. We're in EY's
beautiful office in the heart of Singapore's financial district.
Now, you've had close to 20 years of experience, auditing
companies from various industries. Here we are at EY,
where you are a partner. Was this what you aspired to be?
Really, no. When I did accountancy, I didn't know that
I would be an audit partner one day. But with ACCA in my hand,
I knew that one day it would be within my reach.
And what do you like most about being an auditor?
Working together with people from diverse backgrounds is
quite stimulating. It's also the mobility, I'm a person who
doesn't really like desk-bound jobs. Auditing allows me to move
around, to meet people, to meet different businesses, different
industries, and really broaden my horizon.
Among all the clients that you work with, what are some of your
favourite sectors to work in?
I like consumer products because, during auditing, I can
relate to what I see in my day-to-day life.
Can you tell us about one or two exciting projects that you've
worked on?
Oh, definitely, there are many. During my initial stages of
audit, I had to go to Sulawesi, Indonesia, to visit a mine.
Flying that two-and-a-half hour small aeroplane over dense
jungle. Once we landed there, they had huge machinery.
I'd never seen a tyre that was taller than a human being,
it was a huge scale of things. It really opened up my eyes in
terms of nature and how people exploit nature to extract
minerals and all that. For another project I had to go to
Bangladesh with a team of staff and people, a lot of work is
done manually. Any single task, there are always three or four
people doing it, then I realised it's because the labour cost is
much, much cheaper than technology. So it's very
labour-intensive. So you could see a different aspect of
operations, and life and how people operate in a different
environment. I still remember these two things, because they
were really eye-opening trips for me in different ways.
Looking back in time now, from when you first started out as a
young accountant, what's the one piece of advice that you wish
someone had given to you or that you had listened to?
I wish there had been many, I would have required many.
But the one thing that I would have appreciated then was... I like
to worry about small things. And sometimes that really takes up a
lot of time. And it really doesn't make a difference at the
end of the day.
Some people think that it's tough being at the top of these
big firms. What's your secret to success?
I think the ability to connect with people, to work in large
teams, and being a good team player are very good skills to have.
Together we can work wonders.
Gajendran, can you tell us how being an ACCA member has helped
you in your career?
ACCA has a very strong brand recognition, but ACCA has also
remained relevant at various points in time. The ACCA
programme and the syllabuses get refreshed regularly.
And lastly, Gajendran. Where do you see the future of the
accountancy profession in Singapore, as well as Asia
Pacific on a wider scale?
There is always a demand for qualified accountants. And Asia
Pacific has been identified as a high-growth area in terms of
economic growth. But if you look at the digital economy,
the demand for qualified accountants with an analytical mind will be greater.
Accountants must now be able to handle big data and make
analytical decisions in a quick time-frame.
Now let's move on to the rapid-fire section of our
interview. So, Gajendran, are you ready?
Yeah, sure.
What's your favourite destination for a holiday?
Typically, Asia. Diversity of culture within a short period of time.
What's your favourite sport?
Soccer.
What's your favourite food?
Hot and spicy.
Do you have any unusual skills or talents?
I'm a good handyman, I can do simple electrical and plumbing works
at home without any help.
Lastly, what did you want to be when you were 10 years old?
A doctor.
Gajendran, thank you so much. What a wonderful interview and
what a lovely place to spend an afternoon. We'll catch up again
soon, I'm sure.
Thank you, Steve, thank you for the opportunity to share my
experience with ACCA and EY. Thank you.