In this article, we are focusing on a high-flying professional from India. Marium Alexander was one of those who opted to further her education and made her move to Singapore before the pandemic. Then an external auditor at KPMG India, she decided to leave her comfort zone in pursuit of better career opportunities in a global financial centre.
Fast forward to now and Marium is flourishing as an Audit Assistant Manager at Big Four accounting firm EY, specialising in auditing media technology companies. She has held the Singapore-based role since October 2021. Pursuing the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) programme at Singapore Management University (SMU) not only made her attractive to global career opportunities, but also was an accelerated pathway to qualify for the Singapore Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification.
SMU MPA graduates can receive exemptions of up to nine foundation-level modules from regulatory bodies such as the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), CPA Australia and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Modules taught at the advanced level for these qualifications are similar to courses taught during the MPA programme — an added advantage for MPA students as it helps in their preparations for the CA examinations.
Offered since 2006, the MPA programme is continuously updated, with lecturers and professors sharing up-to-date industry-relevant experience. Graduates gain a solid return on investment because the course has accreditation and endorsements from national, international, and country-specific licensing authorities and professional bodies.
SMU was ideal for Marium because of its city-campus location in the heart of Singapore’s central business district and offered her a chance to be immersed in local culture. Moreover, for many Indian students, Singapore is fast becoming a draw to study overseas. The primary reasons are the city-state’s high employment rate, numerous professional options, low crime rates and relative proximity to home.
“Due to its globalised economy, Singapore is an ideal hub for many MNCs. I was confident that the country will present itself with the right opportunities that align with my personal as well as career goals. An added bonus is that I have family members here, and the tropical climate is similar to that of home, making it easier for me to adjust to a new environment.”
And she certainly embraced the opportunities to shine during the rigorous MPA programme — her academic performance saw her topping her class and winning a gold medal from the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) in August 2018. She was also placed on SMU’s Dean’s List.
That is quite a feat, given the standing of the MPA on a regional and global scale. The programme is on its way to becoming a leading global accountancy hub for the Asia Pacific region. The School of Accountancy is also first in the world in Citation Ranking, along with Archival Research (All Topics), Archival Research (Financial Accounting) and first in Asia in All Areas and All Discipline Research in the BYU Accounting Research Rankings (2021).
Gaining a foothold in Singapore
With Singapore emerging as a global centre for accountancy, being home to the most significant number of regional headquarters in Asia-Pacific, Marium was able to get a head start in forging a career path in this business hotspot. Before completing her studies, Marium was out in the workforce, getting real-world experience that counted towards her degree. After securing several interviews with some of the Big Four professional services firms and multinational corporations, she scored an internship with KPMG while a student at SMU.
“The interview questions posed by the Big Four firms mostly revolved around the benefits of working in a team,” recalls Marium. “They included situational questions to demonstrate how I have obtained better results working in a team versus finishing the assignment on my own; what were the challenges faced during project work and how I overcame them; and what were some of the occasions when I was faced with an unethical situation and how I handled it.”
“The underlying interview questions for both industry and auditing firms were to ascertain if the role is the right fit for me and how the internship experience aligns with my long-term, post-graduation career plan. I eventually picked KPMG for my internship as it was better aligned to my career goals,” said Marium.
The power of connections and referrals
Marium advises prospective international students to invest in building interpersonal skills and connections. These can be fostered via professional workshops, industry talks, networking events and team-building activities organised by the MPA programme office and SMU Postgraduate Career Services team, which “could land a future job offer”.
“Students could better adjust to the new culture by networking with industry practitioners and peers through the university, internships or by participating in as many school activities as they can. The key is to always show up at events and activities that the school organises, be it a networking event or even volunteering activities.”
For Indian nationals keen to embark upon tertiary studies in accounting in Singapore, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Singapore for the most up-to-date travel information.
Give your future accountancy career a futuristic edge like Marium’s by exploring the emerging trends in Accountancy. Singapore could be your gateway to a bright accounting career with a global edge.
