gradsingapore Finance Career Guide 2026

FINANCE

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Introduction Finance Career Guide 2026

A comprehensive guide featuring popular graduate jobs in the Banking and Investment, Financial Services and Accountancy and Financial Management fields.

Additionally, expect up-to-date career advice and emerging industry trends to help you prepare for your graduate career.

GTI Asia Pte Ltd

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GTI Media is the world’s largest careers and graduate recruitment publisher. Founded in the UK in 1988, GTI publishes and distributes more than 100 careers and recruitment products around the globe.

GTI Media Singapore would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the 2026 issue of gradsingapore’s Finance Career Guide!

Editorial Dawn Yip

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© GTI Asia Pte Ltd, November 2025

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Industries In The Finance Sector

What are the major sectors supporting Singapore’s thriving financial arena? Who are their clientele? Explore the main pillars supporting the nation’s financial hub and find out which industries best suit your interests.

Financial Services

Spanning the provision of consumer and corporate financial products to retail banking and insurance, this field also encompasses compliance and regulatory work that ensure safe environments for fair transactions.

Employers

Financial service providers range from large establishments, such as retail banks, insurance companies and financial media organisations, to smaller firms offering related services like actuarial consulting or underwriting.

Clients

• The clientele of this sector includes both individual consumers and enterprises of various sizes.

• You may also provide specialist consulting and key business information to corporate clients.

Perks

• With Singapore being a regional and global financial hub, this industry welcomes individuals from varied backgrounds, making it a great entry point for even non-finance graduates.

• Plus, focusing on client service and gaining specialist knowledge can help professionals secure early managerial opportunities and a healthy work-life balance.

Accountancy and Financial Management

Accounting and auditing go beyond bookkeeping or bean counting. Rather, it involves high-level analysis to help enterprises manage their cash flow and financial position. Accountants and auditors are also expected to identify patterns to assess business risks and analyse companies’ financial data to provide strategic insights.

Employers

• Working in large multinational accounting bodies, like the Big Four, means specialising in areas such as audit, assurance and taxation.

• If you’re looking for more varied exposure, you can consider working as an in-house accountant in smaller firms, or in public service, such as with the IRS.

Banking and Investment

Clients Perks

• The Big Four caters to large clients like listed companies and multinational corporations (MNCs). They meet their financial accounting needs and provide important financial information publicly to investors, creditors and regulatory bodies.

• Meanwhile, managerial accounting helps small businesses make sound financial decisions and comply with governmental regulations.

• The accounting profession considered near recession-proof and promises good exposure for entrepreneurial pursuits.

• While long hours are expected during tax reporting periods (during the end of financial years), the industry’s seasonal nature means lull periods can be predicted ahead of time.

This sector covers corporate banking, investment banking and wealth management, serving both corporates and high-net-worth individuals. Singapore’s banking industry also includes foreign and local banks, with career opportunities in the front office, sales and conversion, relationship management, corporate affairs and even positions in the back office.

Employers

• Banks and investment bodies are always looking out for diverse, dedicated and skilled talents to drive expansion.

• Positions are available in both generalist and specialist roles much like research analysis, data trading and financial communications in banks, brokerage firms, fund houses and private equity institutions.

Clients Perks

• Investment bankers typically raise capital for enterprises and handle listings and mergers, while asset managers help affluent individuals grow their financial portfolios.

• The constant pressure to produce revenue promises fast-paced and challenging work, early responsibility and rewarding remuneration.

• The banking and investment field also denotes numerous opportunities to work alongside resourceful and motivated individuals.

Is a Career in Finance for Me?

Do you have what it takes to build a career in the world of finance?

Here are the traits and skills that each sector looks out for.

Financial Services

With such a wide variety of clients, financial services professionals need to adapt to many different needs. This makes the field especially suited for client-focused individuals, who can deepen their knowledge of specific markets and industries along the way.

Retail banking involves serving people from all walks of life, whether at banks or call centres, and often involves shift work that can extend to weekends. Professionals here may undergo training to manage retail branches, while continuing to develop in other areas of banking.

The insurance industry, on the other hand, calls for many skills, such as observation, communication and fluency in product knowledge. Professionals are typically driven by performance, client satisfaction, and the ability to deliver innovative products with excellent customer service.

Actuarial careers require sharp numerical and problemsolving skills. As such degrees in math and statistics are especially valued. Actuaries gain specialist expertise through professional training and accreditation, allowing them to provide trusted advice to both organisations and clients.

Accountancy and Financial Management

Accountants help organisations manage their finances, ensure compliance with regulations while also provide support to longterm planning. To thrive in this field, professionals will need to balance fulfilling business interests with maintaining strong ethical principles.

Successful accountants are comfortable working with people, numbers and complex concepts, and should possess strong communication skills and a genuine interest in how businesses operate and generate revenue.

By asking the right questions and following the right leads, accountants will be able to handle both clients and projects. Just as importantly, they must be able to explain complex information in clear, jargon-free terms and collaborate well with colleagues at all levels.

The early years in accountancy can be demanding, as many pursue professional qualifications while working full-time. Fortunately, most employers provide support, such as study leave, to help balance both commitments.

Banking and Investment

Investment banking is a data-focused role for those with excellent analytical, technical and numerical skills. Client management and teamwork come in handy here, as does resilience, the endurance to work round the clock and being on call to monitor changes in different markets. This also makes time management skills and accountability to shareholders essential.

Investment management firms generate returns for clients through investments across a wide range of businesses, countries and products. As a result, investment managers and advisors must make intelligent investment decisions apart from succeeding in client service and dispensing valuable insights to clients and colleagues. Thus, the environment is generally target-driven, with pressure to make the right decisions at the right time for strategic earnings, particularly for the trading division.

With specialist knowledge and extensive research in financial markets, professionals are always keenly aware of the implications that may arise from certain decisions made. Confidence in client servicing is also needed, especially since investment decisions are made on their behalf.

How to Pursue

A Career In Finance Without A Finance Degree

Do you wish to work in the finance industry, but don’t have a finance degree? It’s not impossible – here are some alternative routes you can take to get you there.

1 2

Get a relevant internship and excel at it Find your advantage

The best way to get a glimpse of the financial sector is to experience it for yourself. An internship allows exactly that; not only does it offer abundant exposure to different departments, but it also provides a better understanding and clearer perspective of the various roles and skills required.

Additionally, internships can give you the chance to score an excellent reference from your mentor, which you can put to good use when you’re ready to apply for jobs in the finance industry.

While business and finance graduates make up the bulk of any company in the financial sector, graduates with nonrelated degrees are just as important too.

For example, if you have a degree in the humanities, you likely possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, are able to offer a more macro perspective and can derive different insights and approaches to problemsolving.

Moreover, given the global nature of the industry, competency in languages is a highly valued and desirable quality in client relations and financial market research. Identify the transferable skills you possess and highlight them during your interviews.

An acute interest in financial news and macro trends in both local and global markets is vital to enter the financial arena. An easy way to do this is to incorporate reading the news as part of your regular routine, such as on your phone while on your daily commute.

Publications like the Financial Times, Business Insider and the Wall Street Journal are good places to start. These, along with keeping up with market developments, will help you stay on top of what’s going on in global markets and build up industry knowledge. Having this information will help you during the interview process and accelerate your learning curve should you be given the opportunity to work in the industry.

4 Network and reach out

Whether it’s on LinkedIn or any other social media platform, consider reaching out to people already working in the financial sector, ideally those in careers you plan to pursue. Not only can they provide their own insight about their field, but they may be able to help you open doors to opportunities that aren’t publicly advertised yet.

The more people you reach out and speak to, the more wellinformed you’ll be regarding your options. So take the initiative and reach out to as many people as you can, be it alumni from your alma mater or your mentors from your internships. But before you start approaching anyone, remember to be polite and respectful about it. Do your own research beforehand and prepare intelligent questions to ask.

5

Learn the lingo

If you don’t know the difference between mutual funds and unit trusts, or don’t get what AML and KYC stand for, it’s a good idea to browse through Investopedia, which is an online encyclopaedia for all things finance-related.

All sectors have their own technical terms commonly used by professionals, and the finance sector is no exception. As such, approach learning with an eagerto-learn attitude by challenging yourself to study concepts and jargon alike, and build up a bank of finance vocabulary. That way, you won’t feel too lost during networking sessions or interviews!

6

Get a foot in

Aim for a position, even in generalist roles that don’t require specialised financial and numerical skills – these include human resources (HR), corporate communications and client servicing.

By doing so, you can build a network in the industry and gain training opportunities to equip yourself with the relevant qualifications along the way.

7

Adopt lifelong learning

If you’re still in school, consider doing a minor in economics, business, or accounting. Alternatively, you can take them up as electives as well. These can serve as your introduction to the world of finance, and allow you to practise your numerical competencies.

Even if you’ve already graduated, you can still pursue part-time courses that lead to the relevant certifications. To reinforce your commitment towards a career in the industry, self-development by taking up relevant courses and immersing yourself in financial publications is essential.

Postgraduate Pathways In The Financial Sector

If you want to specialise in an area of finance but don’t have a related degree, consider taking up postgraduate studies.

On top of helping to secure employment in the competitive finance sector, postgraduate studies can take you down your desired career path of specialisation. But before you make your move, conduct thorough research to consider your options:

• Do you have the commitment to complete the course?

• Do you meet the prerequisites?

• Where do you foresee your next step after school?

1

Do it at the right time, and for the right

reasons

Going back to school is typically for those who want to switch to finance after initially pursuing an unrelated degree or those who wish to specialise in a particular area of finance. For these reasons, a postgraduate degree is an investment in yourself. However, it does come with its risks and costs; notably, you’ll have to spend time away from the workforce, especially if you choose to study full-time. Alternatively, juggling part-time studies with a job can be extremely taxing if you’re not adept at time management.

2

Speak to recruiters

If you’ve already decided on a career path, your best option would be to speak to recruiters first. They can advise on the recommended courses you should do and where you should take them. At the end of the day, though, you’ll still need to show that you have both the hard and soft skills required for the job.

3

Know your options

Postgraduate options in the financial sector range from a Master of Business Administration (MBA) to Finance, Accounting, Management and Economics (FAME) degrees, as well as professional qualifications for the technical aspects of accounting and financial management. Be sure to do extensive research and pick the one that best benefits you.

Consider alternatives

If you’ve just started out in a finance career, an MBA would be the traditional option for investment banking pathways. However, keep in mind that it’s not focused on technical foundations, unlike the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification, which costs less and suits early career investment bankers dealing with fund management.

It is feasible to enrol in an MBA programme, which is prestigious and offers a wide network of contacts in industries beyond finance. However, before applying, make sure to examine the syllabus to ensure it aligns with your goals and provides the right balance of management and technical knowledge you’re seeking.

Other short-term courses include the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), Certified Professional Risk Manager (CPRM), Corporate Finance Qualification (CF), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF).

A Master of Science in Finance (MSc) is another viable option. Popular choices include the MSc in Applied Finance offered by the Singapore Management University (SMU), the MSc in Financial Engineering awarded by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the University College Dublin’s MSc in Finance found in Kaplan Singapore. Some prefer an MSc in Finance over an MBA because it doesn’t require much work experience in a related field – a vital criterion for entering an MBA programme.

5

Figure out what you want to learn

In finance, you’ll need a strong understanding of theory, business and industry practices, along with knowledge of markets, trade and investment. Additionally, research, numeracy, statistics, analysis and communication skills are also highly valued.

On the other hand, degrees in FAME subjects usually include accountancy skill certifications. This is because accounting calls for quantitative skills, specialised accounting knowledge, an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and regulation and industry knowledge.

So, if you’re interested in entering the accounting sector but hold an unrelated degree, consider a Master of Accounting (MAcc), Master of Professional Accounting (MPAc), or other certifications, such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA).

In short, choose the right course for yourself after looking carefully at the costs and possible returns. Don’t forget to consider your end goal(s), too, whether it’s specialisation, advancement, or something else entirely!

A Survival Guide To Applying For A Job In Finance

Taking your first step into the financial sector can be daunting, especially when you’re surrounded by stiff competition.

Due to its popularity, thousands apply for finance jobs every year. As a result, recruitment in this industry tends to be rigorous and multi-staged.

For example, employers may deploy psychometric tests to determine a candidate’s suitability for the job. Shortlisted applicants will then undergo several interviews, as well as take part in assessment centres.

With so much to prepare, where should you even start?

Tips for psychometric tests

• Get sufficient rest the night before

• Familiarise yourself with the types of questions in ability tests through online practices

• Don’t overthink for personality tests, as there are no right or wrong answers

1

Instead of sending out the same generic application everywhere, focus on tailoring your applications to companies you’re personally interested in. This way, you’ll have a much better shot at standing out.

You can start by preparing a list of potential employers, then cut it to about five to ten ‘priority’ companies. From there, you can dig deeper into each one so that you can better match your skills and experience with what they’re actually looking for.

2 Focus on your job search

Don’t procrastinate

While most companies take applicants year-round, it’s still worth checking the timelines for the positions you’re interested in. In the banking and investment industry, deadlines often close earlier, so don’t leave your applications to the last minute.

Some companies may also make offers even as applications come in, aiming to fill up all available spots before the job’s closing date. So do apply early!

3

Whether they’re physical or held online, there’s plenty of finance-focused career events happening all year round. Big ones like the Accounting & Business Show Asia give you the chance to not just network, but also learn more about the industry and related companies.

Be proactive! Don’t just show up—do your homework. Check which companies will be there, prep a few questions, and when you approach people, make the most of the chance to learn from them, whether it’s a fresh grad or a senior staff member.

4

5 Attend career events Embrace technology

There’s a lot of information to be found online, from company reviews to lists of common interview questions they might ask. While the reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, they can still be a decent source of insider information. And the more you know about a company, the better prepared you’ll be for their hiring process.

Additionally, besides keeping yourself updated on the industry’s trends and developments, consider also looking into the business structure, history and culture of employers you’re interested in. It could give you insight on how different players in the sector position themselves against their competitors.

If you’re still an undergraduate, one way to gain the competencies and soft skills you need is via extracurricular activities, whether at university or elsewhere.

Don’t feel pressured to join financerelated clubs and societies, though. Being an active member is already a good indicator of you being a well-rounded individual and team-player. Plus, being able to interact with a variety of people will also increase your attractiveness as a potential candidate to employers.

Of Pursuing A Career In The Finance Industry Pros and Cons

It can be tough to pave your way in this industry, but success in this business can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Financial services

Globalisation has been behind much of this area’s growth, and as a result, there are now more options than ever before.

• Potential to bring in a high income

• Good working conditions

• Regular business hours

• Fast-paced and highly stressful

• Competitive

Accounting and financial management

What you think of a career in accountancy and financial management will depend not just on your working style, but your personality as well.

• A stable industry

• Clear career path

• Many opportunities to develop as a professional

• Flexibility in choosing where to work – accountants can be found everywhere

Banking and investment

• Work can feel as routine and dull

• During peak season, expect long working hours and highlystressed situations

At the top of your game, you’ll find yourself showered with rewards many can only dream of. But in exchange, know that making your way in this sector won’t be easy.

• Opportunities for professional growth

• A chance to build a large network

• Good remuneration

• A highly stressful environment that comes with long working hours

• Fierce competition

Crafting your

Resume

Putting your skills on display effectively can help catch the eye of hiring managers.

Build a custom resume for each job

Every resume sent out should be tailored to the employer and the job you’re applying for. Not only will this make it easier to get by the ATS (and thus get it in the hands of a human recruiter), but it also shows your seriousness about the job. When starting out, here are a few formats to consider:

Chronological / Reverse chronological

Summary

Work history

Education Skills

• Lists your information according to your professional timeline

• Great for those with plenty of work history and an uninterrupted employment record

Functional

Summary

Education Skills

Work history

• Focuses on highlighting your skills

• Ideal for those who lack work experience

Use the right keywords

Most companies will be using applicant tracking systems (ATS), which helps them filter resumes based on keywords specified by the employer. You can spot those keywords in the job listing or through company research, and naturally include them in your resume.

Just avoid overstuffing your resume with them; keywords should fit naturally within your experience and skills. For example: “I was part of a team responsible for blockchain data analysis.” immediately informs employers of your skills and experience.

Hybrid / Combination

Summary

Work history

Education

Skills

• Equal focus on both skills and experience

• Good for those who have a good blend of technical skills and work experience

Types of keywords include::

• Job titles

• Former companies

• Software skills

• Qualifications

• Certifications

• University name and degree

Keep it to the point

First impressions count, especially for resumes. Recruiters only have a few seconds to glance through each one, which is why yours should be clear and easy to read. Otherwise, you might fail to grab their attention and lose your shot at the job.

When writing your resume, try to keep everything to a single page, and take advantage of bullet points to keep things. Save the detailed explanations for your cover letter, where you have more room to expand on your key points.

Quantify your achievements

Numbers are a great way to help put your success into perspective for readers, especially if you have plenty of notable achievements you’d like to express.

For example, instead of listing them all out, use numbers to quantify them. These can include increases in sales, the number of satisfied reviews received for your services or an increase in in-house productivity.

Preparing your

Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great way to expand on your qualifications mentioned in your resume.

1. Flesh out your narrative

If your resume is a condensed version of who you are and your experiences, then your cover letter’s your chance to expand on them. Pick out one to two key skills and experiences in your resume, and mention how they can contribute to the company and help you excel at the job.

But while you can go more in-depth with your writing, don’t overdo it. One page is usually enough!

2. Do your research

A good way to show your interest in a company is to mention their latest activities in your cover letter, and use them as a talking point.

For example, if the company just closed a big deal, use it as a talking point. Highlight similar projects you’ve led or contributed to, showing how your experience aligns with what they need.

3. Make your words count

It’s easy to go off-topic when writing a cover letter, especially if it’s not your strong suit. Remember, the goal is to keep things simple: avoid using jargon or big words if you aren’t familiar with them. The last thing you want is to misuse a word and leave the employer with a poor impression of you! Rather, it’s a much safer bet to use layman terms whenever you can.

4. Do a thorough check

Once you’re done with your cover letter, proof-read it. Any spelling, grammar and sentence structure error can make you look careless and hurt the recruiter’s impression of you.

You can use websites like Grammarly, Quillbot or even ChatGPT to help review your cover letter. Better yet, have someone (whether a friend or a career coach) look through it; they might spot issues you missed, as well as provide feedback on how you can improve.

SAMPLE

Dear Mr Lim,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Associate (Audit & Assurance) position with BDO LLP, as advertised on gradsingapore.com. My conversations with current employees at your networking session in June this year have reinforced my interest in the organisation and cemented my belief that I have the expertise and skills that you are looking for.

Throughout my three years of study at Nanyang Business School in Nanyang Technological University, which included a 10-week professional attachment with PwC, I have developed a proficiency in accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

In addition, I participated in a 6-month internship with Accenture where I gained valuable experience in conducting financial analysis to identify anomalies, risks, and opportunities in financial statements.

My resume is enclosed for your consideration. I am keen to discuss any opportunity in person and am available for an interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely, Jane

Poh

Acing

Your Interview

Interviews don’t have to be difficult or daunting, so long as you know what to do.

1 Revisit the job description and your application forms

Go over the job listing again; it’ll be your best guide to what the employer wants, and a solid starting point for your interview prep. After all, they’ll want to know if you have the skills and competencies they’re looking for.

Your resume and cover letter will likely be talking points during the interview, so use this chance to review them and rehearse how you’ll talk through your experiences.

Don’t forget industry research either: being in the know about recent trends and developments will show that you’re well-informed and serious about the role.

2 Expect company or industry-related questions

Apart from textbook interview questions, you might be asked ones that are tailored to the role and/or organisation. For example, a local bank like OCBC may want to know why you’re choosing them instead of an overseas one. Similarly, a small accounting firm might want to see if you’re interested in specialising or being a generalist.

Understanding the organisation’s positioning can give you clues about what matters to the recruiter, helping you better frame your answers accordingly. (This is why doing industry research matters!)

3

4 Be proactive Practise beforehand

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, whether it’s your first or your sixth. But while nerves might still stick around, practising beforehand can help you feel more confident and in control.

A great way to practise is by doing mock interviews. Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to step into the role of interviewer, or try recording yourself to spot areas where you can improve.

After the interview, don’t be afraid to reach out to the interviewers via email. Thank them for the opportunity and let them know that you’re eager to hear from them soon. This not only shows courtesy, but also reinforces your interest in the company. You can even bring up specific topics from the interview to demonstrate your attentiveness and engagement.

Types of interview questions

Competency

Tests your skills, behaviour and past experiences

“Tell us about a time where you had to perform under pressure.”

Situational

Assesses how you’d handle hypothetical work scenarios

Describe a mistake you’ve made at work. How did you resolve it?

Technical

Evaluates your skills and expertise related to the job

In the finance sector, this can vary depending on the role and company.

Tackling Assessment Centres

Often the final hurdle before the finish line, you’ll need to give your all if you want to excel with flying colours.

Know what to expect

While assessment centres can vary from employer to employer, they usually include a mix of a group activity, an individual task and an extra interview. These are usually designed to simulate a real workplace, so do your research on the company, its values and the role you’re applying for. At the same time, stay flexible and be ready to adapt to any changes on the day itself.

Remember: the recruiters want to assess both your technical abilities and soft skills, so be prepared to show them the full extent of what you can do!

Handling the assessment centre

Once you understand the general purpose of an assessment centre, preparing for one is pretty straightforward. The biggest challenge, however, is that for many candidates, this may be their first time being exposed to a corporate environment (even if it’s just a simulation).

With plenty of unspoken rules like corporate culture and workplace ethics, having to work in a professional setting can be intimidating. But while it can feel tricky at first, there’s a few things you can do to help yourself succeed:

1. Be professional

Above all else, treat the assessment centre like a real job. This means dressing appropriately, being friendly and polite to everybody and putting your best foot forward during the activities. Do your best to stay calm and collected throughout the day. After all, with changes and challenges constantly rife in the professional world, having a stable temperament is crucial.

2. Be a team player

When the recruiters are reviewing your overall performance, that includes your teamworking skills, too! Strike a balance between standing out and cooperating with your team members; it’s important to show leadership skills, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of overshadowing others!

3. Speak up

Communication is an essential skill for any job, especially when working with others. As such, this is not the time to be a wallflower; don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions when you need it. Your proactiveness and cooperation won’t go unnoticed by the employers.

4. Believe in yourself

You have spent many years in school and internships honing not just your technical abilities, but your soft skills as well. This is the time to put them on display and show recruiters what you can really do. Confidence and competence goes a long way in showing them that you have what it takes to succeed in the tough world of finance.

Types of tests

Types of tests

Group exercises

Written exercises

Live presentations

Situational/In-tray/E-tray exercises

Case studies

Psychometric tests

Assessment objective

Test your teamwork, communication, and adaptability with others.

Assess clarity in writing, grammar, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Evaluates how well you organise and present information confidently.

Measures your aptitude for time management and task prioritisation under pressure.

Tests your ability to analyse a scenario and propose practical solutions.

Gauge your aptitude, personality, and key soft skills like resilience. Sometimes, you may be asked to complete these tests before attending the assessment centre.

Using AI for Your Job Search

When done right, AI can help streamline your job-hunting efforts and make things a little easier for you.

Applying for jobs can be a daunting feat, especially if it’s your first time. There’s a lot to do: from preparing the right documents to making sure you present yourself as a strong fit for the role. All that, before you even hit ‘apply’ or send an email out.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of resources and tools online at your disposal. Notably, when used correctly, AI can assist you in creating, analysing, and refining your applications, giving you a strong head start in your job search while helping you avoid common pitfalls.

But before you get started, here’s some things to keep in mind first.

Pros of using AI

Simplifies your tasks

• Whether it’s researching companies or updating old resumes, AI can help out with repetitive tasks

• This frees up your time to focus on other high-value tasks

Sharpens pre-existing work

• You can use tools like Quillbot and Grammarly to check through your writing before you send it out

Helps you prepare

• AI tools can help generate responses to common interview questions, provide tips on structuring your answer and provide feedback

Cons of using AI

Lacks personalisation

• As it can’t understand concepts like nuance and context, AI-generated content tends to be generic and impersonal; the last thing you want when you’re trying to stand out!

High potential for inaccuracies

• AI might make assumptions about your experiences, skills, or accomplishments that aren’t true or exaggerate them, which can backfire when it comes up in interviews

Risk of diminishing prospects

• It may not be illegal to use AI when job hunting, but submitting AI-generated resumes and cover letters can be seen as being ‘low-effort’ by recruiters

• For some, using it at all can be a red flag, resulting in your application being dismissed entirely

A Quick

Checklist

Do you have everything sorted out?

Your resume

• Make sure your resume is error-free and formatted properly!

• If you’re using AI to refine it, make sure that your resume still sounds like you!

Your interview

• Dress to impress and be prepared for any tough questions

• Remember to follow-up with the interviewer postinterview!

Your assessment

• Be a team player, whether as the leader or as a supporting role

• Professionalism matters!

• Give it your all and do your best to wow the employers

Banking Investmentand

Banking and Investment At a Glance:

About the industry

Singapore is one of Asia’s premier financial centres due to its proximity to emerging markets in Southeast Asia and economic stability. This remained true during the pandemic, with much of the global stock market fuelled by aggressive stimulus packages rolled out by central banks and governments to boost growth.

Notably, employees in the sector may have to work long hours – 12-hour days aren’t uncommon, especially for front-office roles. Due to the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of the field, employees can find their jobs highly intensive and stressful at times as well.

However, hard work doesn’t go unrewarded; graduates will enjoy excellent structured career progression, high salaries, as well as plenty of chances to gain responsibilities early in their careers.

Must-have skills

Working in this field doesn’t just call for resilience and an ability to work under pressure, but also a wide range of skills.

Numeracy, alongside excellent verbal and written communication skills, will come in handy when tasked with presenting complex concepts to colleagues and clients who may not have backgrounds in finance. A strong understanding of the financial markets, as well as the ability to think laterally and discern market trends, are also essential.

Getting in

The sector is relatively hard to break into in Singapore. For starters, the market itself is small, and many investment banks fill the bulk of roles available through graduate schemes.

However, scoring a relevant internship with an investment bank and performing well can give you an advantage in getting a place in a graduate scheme. Networking is also key to opening up potential employment opportunities.

Fortune favours the bold, so be sure to conduct your own research on potential employers. More than that, don’t shy away from approaching recruiters directly during career fairs and other outreach events where they look out for outstanding candidates.

Areas of Work

In the banking and investment industry, employees usually render financial services to clients that range from corporations, institutions and governments to high-net-worth individuals, and assist them in meeting financial objectives and maximising returns. Here are some common areas of work:

Roles in investment banking deal with a variety of financial activities, such as performing financial analyses, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, as well as issuing bonds and securities.

This job entails analysing the stock market and predicting trends. With their knowledge of the markets, fund managers help clients manage their portfolios and achieve specific goals, usually by investing in a variety of securities.

Private banking services involve either advising clients on specific steps in order to maximise their returns, or discretionary services, which allows the bank to make decisions on a client’s behalf.

Trading on the financial markets comes with varying degrees of risk. Because of that, risk managers are tasked to periodically assess, manage and mitigate these risks to ensure that banks and financial companies remain profitable and safe.

Stockbroking

Dealers working in stockbroking not only monitor and trade stocks, but also give financial advice to investors, thereby contributing to one of the most important functions that keep financial markets operational.

IT professionals facilitate and optimise performance by maintaining the necessary systems in which business takes place. Without the IT department, millions of transactions carried out daily may fall through, causing companies to incur huge losses.

Choosing Your Role and Company In Banking and Investment

Before jumping right into this sector, here are a few things you should know about the banking and investment sector and its job prospects.

Firms in the industry

Large global investment banks offer a broad range of banking and investment services, from trading on financial markets to overseeing mergers and acquisitions.

Besides banks, financial services firms – such as private equity firms, asset management firms and fund houses – also hire for specialised roles in independent advisory services and sales of products like hedge funds or derivatives, among others.

Inter-dealer broking firms like ICAP act as intermediaries, helping clients negotiate and trade anonymously.

The ideal candidate

Having a finance-related degree or professional qualifications, such as the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) or the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), isn’t necessarily required, though advantageous. Rather, the main criteria for working in this sector are to have a good understanding of the financial markets, as well as strong numeracy and analytical skills to think laterally and discern market trends.

A genuine interest in banking and investment is also essential, and you should constantly be kept up-to-date about the latest developments in the field.

Besides credibility, having excellent communication and negotiation skills is important – especially in clientfacing roles like investment managers or interdealer brokers.

Working in the industry

Early responsibilities and a fast-paced environment often mean that work is often challenging, unpredictable and stressful. As such, having resilience and a hardworking nature will serve you well here.

In most organisations, teams are often put together based on areas of specialisation – teammates frequently work closely together and keep each other motivated. Exposure to intelligent colleagues and top business leaders also provides many learning opportunities and valuable insights into the field.

While high salaries, hefty bonuses and other financial rewards are undeniably the biggest perks of the job, keep in mind that working hours tend to be extremely long and professionals are often expected to work on weekends and, on occasion, even round-the-clock.

Roles available

Positions in the field mainly fall into three categories: the front office, middle office and back office. As their names suggest, employees in the front office usually interact with clients by trading and selling products.

Middle office roles, such as risk analysts, on the other hand, are tasked to directly support the people in the front office. Finally, support services, like HR, technology and operations, are considered back office and keep transactions and deals running effectively.

Common job roles in this industry include:

• Asset manager

• Inter-dealer broker

• IT manager

• Operations manager

• Risk management analyst

• Trader

Unique Skills

The Banking and Investment Industry Needs

You’ll need to show more than boring old “teamwork” and “communication” skills if you want to nab a graduate scheme in this sector.

Everyone thinks they have “good communication skills”, are “team players”, or are “effective problem solvers”. A peek at another’s resume will tell you just that. So don’t expect to stand out in the eyes of recruiters if you just focus on those old clichés!

Companies in the banking and investment industry have demanding checklists of skills they look for in candidates applying for their graduate or internship schemes. On top of that, each firm also seeks unique traits in applicants that match their corporate culture.

If you have a specific employer in mind and want to catch their attention, you’ll need to know what they’re keeping an eye out for, and how to prove you have what they want.

Intellect

It goes without saying that employers place a lot of emphasis on hiring bright, motivated candidates. But what specific intellectual skills are recruiters actually looking for?

Jane Clark, former Group Head of Graduate Resourcing and Development at Barclays, notes that banks seek applicants who can grasp new concepts quickly.

“People strong in learning agility are sharp and thrive in new and difficult situations. Grasping and learning new concepts quickly – whether it’s a task, assimilating new information or data, managing a project, or meeting a new client – is important when working in an industry such as investment banking,” she said.

“New markets, products, deals and opportunities continually emerge and agile learners are needed to deliver results quickly – even in new situations. A commitment to learning and a hunger for dealing with challenging situations is key.”

On the other hand, Deutsche Bank places greater emphasis on agilemindedness – particularly the ability to deduce the right questions to ask when in doubt, and to quickly identify the most appropriate leads to pursue while conducting research. It’s something like a Sherlock Holmes-esque approach to problems, where you need to arrive at the right conclusion based on a combination of elimination, deduction and extrapolation on the finer details.

How to prove it

“Tell us about a time when you demonstrated your intellectual ability.”

Recruiters typically judge intellectual ability by your capacity to apply your knowledge to practical situations. They also want to see whether you’re quick enough to catch the bigger picture in such situations.

For example, you’ve worked on a project during a previous internship together with a team of other interns. An agile-minded person wouldn’t just complete their assigned tasks – rather, they’ll also be able to grasp how the project affects their employer as a whole, and discern how the other interns’ tasks might influence that outcome.

Make sure you demonstrate your ability to act on your deductions too! In the above example, you would ideally take a broader interest in your teammates’ work, and do your best to help them see a better outcome for themselves and reach it. You would also clarify doubts with your supervisor, and make the necessary tweaks as the project moved along.

Innovation

The ability to create or identify new opportunities for the business is another highly-valued skill in the eyes of employers.

For example, Morgan Stanley specifically cites entrepreneurial drive as a key requirement in candidates. This means that their recruiters look for an applicant’s ability to spot areas in need of development, and spy opportunities to profit.

Interdealer broker, ICAP, on the other hand, stipulates that hopefuls must be innovative, being able to not only produce new ideas or insights, but also constantly seek chances to improve existing processes.

Likewise, UBS also lists an appreciation of the need to “challenge accepted practices” under one of their seven core hiring competencies.

How to prove it

“Tell us about a time when you were innovative.”

Many firms use processes that have existed for years, though they are also frequently tweaked for improvements in accuracy and efficiency. Have you done something similar?

For example, your student society planned to run a food stand as a fundraiser. During this, you decided that you could attract more people to the stand by running a social media marketing campaign and introducing tiered discounts based on word-of-mouth referrals. By doing so, you’ve provided a basic innovation to help your society make more profits!

Resilience

Because this industry is well-known for its high-pressure working environments, recruiters need graduates with high resilience in order to minimise attrition.

For one, Barclays makes it clear that they require applicants who are able to work under pressure, from dealing with constant deadlines or catering to prominent – and often imposing –clients. This is especially true for graduate schemes that are meant to fast-track candidates to management or leadership roles.

Standard Chartered Bank, likewise, emphasises a need for those who can adhere to the highest of standards even under intense pressure. This often comes in the form of changing deadlines and dealing with the next bit of new information that comes to light. In fact, bank employees will tell you to be prepared to be on call at almost all times of the day!

How to prove it

“Tell us how you have shown resilience in your life so far.”

A common response to this question would be about balancing your studies with your other commitments. However, many of your competitors will likely say the exact same thing, so you’ll need to use a more unique example to focus on.

Instead, talk about a time when you failed at something or received constructive criticism. From there, focus your story on how you worked towards improvement despite your initial disappointment. At the end of the day, a resilient person is one who sees a setback as a challenge for growth.

International outlook

Given how banking and investment work can function across time zones and borders, applicants able to operate in an international context are often in high demand.

Barclays Wealth and Investment Management’s competencies include a “willingness to work abroad”, alongside additional language skills. On the other hand, close to 50 per cent of Goldman Sachs’ graduate roles require candidates to have strong linguistic skills.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch looks for candidates who can demonstrate a “global outlook”. Proficiency in various Asian languages is also required for certain roles in the Asia Pacific.

At Nomura, knowledge of a second language and its associated culture –though not essential – is also considered a strong plus. After all, as a Japanese firm, knowledge of Japanese business culture would be extremely beneficial to them.

UBS’s recruiters once included “international experience” as a key competency. While the company still finds candidates with international experience to be appealing, it’s no longer a necessary requirement, and the bank still places plenty of emphasis on the global nature of their graduate job roles

How to prove it

“Tell us about a recent development in an overseas market. How do you think it will affect our business?”

Having an international outlook is more than just being able to speak to a foreign client or colleague in their language. It’s also about being able to relate to them and understand the market they operate in.

Show recruiters that you can identify a key event or socioeconomic trend that will affect the markets in other parts of the world. And, more importantly, make sure you can explain why, and how, it will affect the organisation’s operations in Singapore.

Other skills

Individual employers can also have more interesting requirements – some of which you might not even think of.

Credit Suisse, for example, looks for the ability to “invoke loyalty in others”. And then there’s Rothschild, which lists “presence” – much like a sense of gravitas and authority – as one of their fundamental skills.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, sometimes otherwise great candidates end up letting the air out of their application bids all too easily by trying too hard to showcase their worth at the expense of forgetting the basics.

Recruiters at Citi, for example, note that despite having strong academic qualifications or a good understanding of the market, some applicants fail to show enthusiasm for the role due to being overly fixated on the technical details instead.

Still, at the end of the day, don’t forget that careers in this sector are – at their core – a client-facing line of work. So don’t neglect to showcase the finer points of your people skills, such as HSBC’s requirements for an “outgoing personality” and “good levels of diplomacy”.

A Graduate’s Guide to Banking and Investment Job-speak

Here are some key banking and investment terms that you should know in the industry.

AAnalyst

A person who studies markets, industries or companies and makes recommendations to either buy, hold or sell. Also refers to entry-level roles in banking and investment.

BBear

An investor who expects prices to fall in a market and sells accordingly.

Bid price

The price which a buyer is willing to pay for a financial product.

Bonds

Governments or companies can raise capital by issuing and selling bonds. Investors earn fixed interest until the bond’s maturity, and unlike loans, can be traded between investors.

Broker

An intermediary between a buyer and a seller. Brokers will receive a commission if the trade closes successfully.

Brokerage

The payment a client makes to a broker.

Bull

The opposite of a bear. A bull is an investor who buys believing prices in the market will rise.

CCapital market

A financial marketplace for buying and selling medium- or long-term funding instruments such as bonds, debt and equity.

Chinese walls

AKA ethical walls, describes information barriers within organisations. Such barriers exist to minimise potential compliance or conflict of interest issues.

Clearing

The process for making transactions happen – matching the buyer with the seller, ensuring that the buyer has the cash for it, and that the seller actually holds the securities.

Commodities

Physical goods that are traded on a global scale, such as oil, petrol or grain.

Credit crunch

The term is commonly used to refer to a severe shortage of money or credit within a market.

Credit default swap

An insurance-like contract for transferring credit risk. The buyer of the swap makes payment to the seller in exchange for protection in the event of a default. Banks and other financial institutions typically use credit default swaps to cover the risk of mortgage holders defaulting.

DDebit capital markets (DCM)

An investment bank division responsible for refinancing or restructuring a client’s existing debt, or raising a client’s debt for acquisitions. The benefit of debt is that it grants a company a greater diversity of funding options, as opposed to relying solely on equity.

Deriatives

A term for financial contracts between buyers and sellers of assets or securities like futures. Often used as instruments for hedging risk.

EEquity

Also known as shares. Shareholders own a percentage of the company, and have a share in its profits. They also have control of company management decisions via voting rights.

Equity capital markets (ECM)

An investment bank division responsible for structuring and pricing the issuance of companies’ equities, such as at an IPO.

FFutures

A contract between two parties to trade a specific asset at a predetermined price on a fixed future date.

HHard market

A situation where a product or service is scarce for purchase within a market. The opposite is a soft market, in which the product or service is readily available.

Hedge

A strategy where an investor acquires a collection of different financial instruments with contrary positions, in order to offset the possibility of loss.

Hedge market

A private investment fund that uses a range of strategies to maximise returns while minimising the risk of loss.

IInitial Public Offering

(IPO)

The date when a company’s shares are released – or “floated” – for trading on the stock exchange.

Insider dealing and trading

The act of trading using knowledge of non-public – “insider” – information in order to gain an advantage over other traders or investors. This is a criminal offence.

Interest rates

The cost of borrowing money, usually shown as a percentage of the loan amount. Rates are determined based on inflation expectations and the ‘real interest rate’ (the rate minus inflation).

Investment bank

A bank that provides financial services for governments, companies and wealthy individual. Considered more exclusive compared to commercial banks (who serve the general public).

Investment trust

A collective investment structure where investors pool their money and commission a fund manager to invest on their behalf.

LLeveraged buyout (LBO)

A corporate takeover funded mostly by high-risk bonds or loans. Though risky, this move allows the acquiring company to purchase a significant amount of assets in a short time while contributing only a small amount of real capital.

Leveraging

The act of using debt to supplement investments. An institution that has borrowed heavily in addition to putting forward its own funds or equity to finance growth is called “highly leveraged”.

Liquidity

The ability of an asset to be traded quickly and without changing its market price.

MMarket maker

The bank or firm that’s obliged to quote “buy” and “sell” prices for a financial instrument, and stands ready to trade in said instrument on a regular and continuous basis throughout the trading day.

Money market

A marketplace for short-term funding, such as certificates of deposit and treasury bills. Money market securities typically have a brief maturity period, usually less than a year.

OOptions

These are similar to futures, but provide the buyer with the right to choose whether or not to complete the contract before the fixed date, as opposed to a binding obligation.

The buyer must pay a premium on the seller’s futures for this ability.

PPortfolio

A collection of securities, financial instruments and investment options held by an investor. Also known as a “fund”.

Principal (person)

A term referring either to an investor who trades on his or her own account and risk, or the owner of a private company.

Private equity

Equity that’s not publicly listed on a stock exchange. Trading in private equity is considered a high-risk yet potentially high-return investment –the investor can hold large stakes in an organisation, but the investment will be largely in liquid.

Proprietary trading

Trading carried out on a firm’s own behalf, using its own capital.

Pure risk

A class of risk where the only outcome is the possibility of loss. Speculative risk, by contrast, offers the possibility of either loss or gain.

RRisk management

The act of managing the pure risks a company might be exposed to. This involves analysing all possible risks and determining how best to handle them, either through trading them out, or hedging risk with derivatives.

SSecondary market

The trading of a company’s bonds and equities among investors. The “primary market” refers to the initial launching – issuing – and direct sale of the company’s securities.

Securitisation

The act of turning something into a security, such as combining the collective debt from a number of mortgages to create a financial product that can be traded.

Settlement

The stage once a deal has been made and clearing has taken place, and where stock and cash are transferred between the seller and the buyer.

Short selling

The investment strategy of borrowing an asset from another investor, then attempt to sell it on the relevant market, hoping the price will fall. The asset is then bought back at a lower price and returned it to its owner, allowing the borrower to pocket the difference.

Spread

The difference between the bid and offer price of a security. Pocketing this difference after a sale is one way in which banks make profits.

Stag

A speculator who buys shares upon issue to sell them as soon as they begin trading on the market. They’re also called “flippers”.

Stagflation

A combination of stagnation and inflation, where economic growth slows even as prices continue to rise.

Subprime loans

High-risk loans to clients with poor or no credit histories.

Swap rates

Borrowing rates between financial institutions. The “lender” bank charges this to the “borrower” bank in order to offset risk.

TToxic debt

Debt that will very likely incur losses on an investor. These have a low chance of being repaid with interest, has a high default rate, or has grown too large to be repaid at all.

UUnit trust

Also known as a “mutual fund”, the trust issues units which represent holdings of the underlying shares. The fund can then pass profits directly to the individual shareholders, proportionate to the number of units they hold.

Universal bank

An all-in-one bank that offers both investment and commercial banking services to consumers and small businesses, as well as corporate clients.

YYield

The total return on investment for a security. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the security’s price.

Corporate Banking

Provide financial advice and offer banking products and services to commercial clients to help them grow.

Because clients from this segment typically range from small-and medium-enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations, corporate bankers not only discuss financial needs and provide financial advice, but also offer advice on mergers, acquisitions and capital markets to help decision-makers come to sound financial decisions. Other responsibilities include offering financial services such as treasury advice, loans and credit, trade finance and more.

General overview

Most corporate bankers enter this field through graduate schemes and start out as analysts. Training usually involves rotations across various teams to give insights into different areas of work, allowing candidates to develop an understanding of the industry as a whole.

They may also be given opportunities to shadow senior relationship managers at client meetings and observe how they sell the bank’s products. During these sessions, graduates will familiarise themselves with key corporate banking products and pick up crucial client-facing skills.

After a year or two, new hires will likely progress to a junior or associate level, and will gradually manage clients on their own. At this point, they’ll be expected to establish relations with corporate clients, which are required to help secure important accounts. However, keep in mind that this process will take a few years, as it requires experience and a seasoned skill set to successfully gain their trust.

Required skills

While finance-related degrees aren’t necessary for this role, recruiters still keep an eye out for applicants with skills in numeracy, negotiation, interpersonal communication and analysis. The need to build relationships in corporate banking also calls for qualitative skills and high emotional intelligence.

Those with internship and training experience have also become increasingly sought-after. As such, it’s advisable to acquire a repertoire of skills by attending apprenticeship programmes and pursuing internships during university in order to maintain a competitive edge over other candidates.

Pros and cons

Corporate bankers usually work with a variety of products as opposed to focusing on just one. As such, professionals often get the chance to flex their intellectual and creative muscles as they look to successfully match the right products to different clients.

However, this client-facing role also entails demanding and difficult cases, and the working environment is fast-paced and highly stressful. Nevertheless, the prospect of upward mobility and impressive benefits for employees make this field a popular career choice.

Economist

Study and analyse economic trends to advise on decision-making and managerial planning.

By studying market activity through collecting and analysing data, economists are able to evaluate and predict economic trends. Responsibilities can include conducting surveys, using software to parse through data, as well as writing reports and presenting their findings.

The work of economists is used to increase their client and organisation’s market performance, guide business decisions and determine projected costs for budgeting purposes. In large corporations and governments, economic reports are vital in making budgetary decisions for the upcoming fiscal year.

General overview

A degree in economics is usually required to work in this field, though most positions require either a master’s degree or a PhD. Graduates can find employment in the government, financial and investment institutions, as well as the research sector.

Successful applicants start off as junior analysts and will slowly build up their portfolios. Due to the large number of factors that can affect the economy, economists tend to have a broad understanding across various disciplines and sectors. Their know-how is not only limited to business and finance. In fact, their breadth of knowledge also includes specific industries such as imports and exports, petroleum, manufacturing and even politics and policies from around the world.

Required skills

An eye for detail, commercial awareness, and skills in analysis and IT will all greatly aid potential candidates and stand them in good stead.

Economists will likely find themselves needing to present complex data in simpler terms, whether it is at a meeting with stakeholders or an entire conference. As such, communication skills are vital for them when explaining their reports and findings to people from a variety of business and educational backgrounds.

In addition, because their written reports will be heavily utilised, economists will also need to have good writing skills to effectively convey their analysis and findings.

Pros and cons

The work of economists has a significant impact on people as their reports often guide policy-making, budget planning and key decisions in business.

Moreover, keeping abreast of the current economic situations in this line of work also means that economists have some foresight into the market, and are at an advantage when it comes to making financial decisions and investments.

On the other hand, because the demand for economists tends to grow at a slower rate than other jobs on average, this can lead to stiff competition for positions.

Finance IT

With the adoption of technology in banking, the industry oversees countless transactions every day.

IInitially, finance IT referred to the technology utilised in back-end systems of financial institutions, such as banks. Now, introduced in the 21st century, financial technology (fintech) is now used to describe technological solutions that seek to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. This can range from front-end sales to the back-end maintenance of risk analysis systems and data storage solutions. In this sector, IT professionals are vital enablers who facilitate business performance by increasing data quality and security.

With this in mind, banks are invested in not just creating efficient IT infrastructure, but also hiring talented specialists within strategic fields in technology, especially in this age and time when digital innovations regularly revolutionise financial services.

General overview

Being in an internship or graduate programme in a financial organisation’s IT department is a good start for those looking to pursue a career in this field, with job rotations facilitating exposure to various parts of the banking industry. Following that, graduates can choose to either specialise or be a generalist.

Due to the project-based nature of finance IT, professionals will likely find themselves navigating teams of various specialists across different departments.

Required skills

Successful candidates typically keep themselves updated on the latest technological developments, and are also knowledgeable about how they can help support and enable the market.

While an IT-related degree may provide a head start, it doesn’t apply to all positions in finance IT. For one, you aren’t required to know programming languages as a business analyst, though applicants have been known to take postgraduate courses to get into this field.

Banks look out for graduates with a keen interest in, and a strong aptitude for, finance IT, as well as those who are enthusiastic, energetic and hungry to learn. While having financial knowledge is good to have, it’s not a dealbreaker – IT specialists are often recruited for their IT knowledge, not their financial expertise, since that can be picked up on the job. Rather, what’s most valued here is their innovation.

Last but not least, an ability to work in a team is crucial for liaising internally and externally, as well as strong interpersonal skills for working across departments. Accordingly, demand for IT specialists with excellent communication skills and outgoing personalities is high.

Pros and cons

Due to its constant evolution to meet the needs of consumers and businesses alike, graduates in this sector should be prepared to work in an environment that will challenge them at every term. Not only will they gain interesting perspectives on how business and IT come together, but they’ll also be given opportunities to design, implement and manage projects in this fastmoving, dynamic area of work.

Financial Markets

Develop and maintain relationships with clients in a fast-paced and exciting environment.

Financial markets are where financial assets and instruments – such as stocks, bonds, shares, equities, foreign exchange and commodities – are created, traded and distributed. As such, working there is mostly about finding solutions that generate revenue. Financing or hedging an array of clients, including corporations, financial institutions and even governments, is also part of the job. Experts achieve this by offering analyses and fixes to financial problems, including resources for clients to trade various securities and assets for greater liquidity, much like instant cash.

Businesses in markets primarily make money through trading margins and fees, as well as proprietary speculation. As such, trading, sales and conducting thorough research are the three essential components in this field.

N etworking and relationship management are also especially important in this line of work, not just for opportunities to obtain valuable information, but to also gain insights on what clients are up to, a more accurate

comprehension of the markets, and sometimes, even unreleased intelligence. These can lead to additional income or clue experts in on profitable transactions.

General overview

Traders start the day early – usually around 7am – to keep up with the opening of the markets, and subsequently spend their time connecting with clients and other traders, exchanging information and making deals. They also spend a lot of time booking trades and advising salespeople and interested investors.

Sales staff start the day slightly later, and focus on establishing and managing relationships between the firm and its investors, interacting mainly with external financiers. On top of suggesting and making financially profitable deals and persuading clients to invest, salespeople also liaise with traders on clients’ behalf to ensure that the agreed transactions are successfully carried out.

Research staff, on the other hand, react to what happens once traders start exchanging products – which means they begin work much later than those in the

trading and sales teams. Researchers usually spend their days making observations and recommendations based on ongoing trends in the markets, and pass this data on to co-workers in trading and sales to help them make more informed decisions.

Required skills

With the exception of positions that deal with complicated financial products and calculations, employers don’t necessarily require finance or mathematical degrees. Basic numeracy skills will usually suffice, though applicants must be accurate.

Employers look out for talents with strong communication skills, and those who are able to build strong relationships and connect with people easily – most positions usually involve plenty of internal and external communication.

Competition in this sector can be fierce, so candidates who have undertaken related internships will find themselves at an advantage. In addition, being up-todate with industry insights and trends will also help them hit the ground running in this job role.

Pros and cons

This field is both dynamic and exciting, but it also comes with long hours. Moreover, it’s undeniably stressful and risky, with even a single mistake having a chance to incur high losses.

But other than the heady excitement and energy on the trading floor, graduates are drawn to the opportunities to network widely and travel as seasoned professionals.

Inter-dealer Broking

Intermediaries who help clients buy and sell financial instruments.

Inter-dealer broking provides a gobetween where clients – usually corporate entities and financial institutions like banks – can trade with one another using financial instruments like bonds, stocks, loans, equities and foreign exchanges.

Those who work in this field serve as neutral intermediaries for clients who wish to trade under anonymity, maximising investments in an exchange where disclosure of identity could negatively affect the quotation of prices. As such, inter-dealer brokers advise on the best prices in the market and can help customise negotiations for a client’s benefit.

M ost inter-dealer brokers typically specialise in a specific product, and communicating with clients is at the heart of their work. While those specialising in telephone work usually deal with more complicated products where detailed explanations are crucial, electronic dealers typically handle simpler products, using specialised terminals to identify clients’ needs and make quick deals.

General overview

New hires typically start out as junior brokers in a team, and are usually mentored by a senior member before becoming a full-fledged broker. Managerial roles begin at the level of desk manager, progressing to either a director position or head of a division.

A benefit of inter-dealer broking is that the volatility of the financial marketplace is unlikely to affect earnings as they come from a percentage of the deal between two parties, regardless of whether prices rise or fall. In fact, inter-dealer brokers may earn even more during unstable periods in the market, as people tend to trade in greater volumes then.

Required skills

Apart from a keen interest in financial markets, having a sociable disposition and good communication skills are vital to build rapport with clients. In addition, brokers will need to build up their credibility over time, as well as maintain patience and a drive to succeed in a fastpaced environment.

As a result, the best inter-dealer brokers are professional, composed, decisive, adaptable and able to perform well under pressure.

Pros and cons

It can be exciting to always be on the ball with instant market changes, and depending on the operating hours of the market indexes they oversee, working hours are relatively stable.

On the flip side, working in this field means having to deal with a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. Plus, brokers will be responsible for guiding difficult clients out of making unfeasible transactions as diplomatically as possible.

Still, the accomplishment that comes with completing a successful large trade, along with the excitement and social aspects of this profession, are often the enjoyable aspects of this line of work.

Investment Analyst

Provide fund managers, stockbrokers and traders with the data needed to make good investment decisions.

Typically, investment analysts produce strategic game plans by following the markets closely, analysing stocks and predicting trends. To that end, many find themselves conducting research on oil rig providers, trends in organic food prices and acquisitions by large IT companies – all within the same day.

These plans, advice, information and data are then passed on to stockbrokers and other investment professionals, such as investment managers, in order for them to make good trading decisions.

In this respect, analysts regularly meet with various professionals in the investment sector to dispense advice and present findings.

General overview

Usually found in the finance, accounting, economics and business sectors, investment analysts conduct research into the general economy, financial markets and individual companies.

The research generally pertains to performance in relation to the market, and the investment analysts examine company accounts to determine their profits, losses and cash flow. They also analyse financial statements and other information to thoroughly understand internal financial functions. However, some employers may require analysts to focus on just one particular sector, country, or product.

The growth of big data has since enabled investment analysts to access a wide array of data, which in turn increases their scope of analysis. On the other hand, advancements in computers and analytical software have allowed for more complex analysis to be done more quickly. All these factors have resulted in greater quality and depth of the information acquired, making it easier to develop and offer new products to clients.

Required skills

Those interested in this field will benefit from a strong interest in both the global market and financial markets, as well as having IT skills due to the importance of big data. Employers will also seek out those with solid analytical and research skills as well.

Moreover, as investment analysts present findings in research summary reports and make recommendations to stockbrokers, fund managers and traders alike, excellent collaborative, communication and interpersonal skills will be needed.

Pros and cons

As with other jobs in the investment industry, investment analysts may find themselves working long hours in a high-pressure environment with little room for error. However, in exchange, the job also provides generous remuneration and other benefits. Notably, due to the nature of their job, the skills they obtain in this job allow them to easily move around in the finance industry, and some even enjoy a more flexible working schedule.

Investment Banking

The high levels of commitment and responsibilities also come with generous payoffs.

Investment bankers act as corporate advisors for various entities when it comes to their financial activities. Their responsibilities include the issuance of securities, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, providing financial analysis, managing initial public offerings and handling investments for corporate pension funds, charities, and high-networth private clients.

Before a company’s acquisition, investment bankers will also carry out financial and strategic analyses, assess the price and worth of the acquisition, as well as offer directions on how to bid, pay and communicate the news to the public markets.

Clients may even give their investment banking teams the autonomy to deliver and execute deals on their behalf.

General overview

Employers typically offer newcomers structured training programmes that last a month or so to provide them with the necessary key skills.

Most successful applicants start out as analysts, and will be assigned a senior mentor as they begin navigating a steep learning curve. With experience, graduates can move up the ranks to become junior investment bankers, liaising with clients as well as performing financial analyses, and condensing and collating data for them. Over time, seniority will allow opportunities such as managing and overseeing the execution of projects and deals.

In most companies, investment bankers are grouped into teams based on specialisations, but can collaborate with members from other teams while executing a deal. To that end, hopefuls can look forward to expecting plenty of interaction across teams and departments.

However, trends are changing with the landscape, and investors are now moving away from high-risk ventures. Instead, they’re now placing greater emphasis on risk management and raising capital as opposed to mergers and acquisitions.

Required skills

Here, a finance-related degree isn’t required, so applicants of all disciplines are welcome. However, to be successful, graduates need to demonstrate an interest and a good understanding of business and financial markets.

Another chief requirement for working in this field is the ability to think laterally and discern trends and patterns. Because investment bankers are client-focused, not only is it necessary to be well-versed in financial expertise, but you’ll also need strong interpersonal skills and a readiness to deal with a variety of people from all walks of life.

Be

Pros and cons

prepared

to

perform under immense stress and heavy pressure for extended periods of time. Twelve-hour workdays are common, as well as working on weekends.

Still, while demanding, investment banking is a rewarding career choice that comes with early responsibility, financial rewards and exciting work. After all, not many other industries offer chances to work on deals that fill the pages of the Wall Street Journal, or put professionals in touch with chief executive officers (CEOs) of large corporations at a relatively early stage of their career!

Investment Management

Investment, fund and asset managers build clients’ portfolios through a combination of strategy, research and insight.

Also known as fund or asset management, investment management is about handling a client’s finances with the aim of reaching specific goals. Those who work in this field monitor the financial markets to make the most out of their clients’ portfolios by investing in a variety of potential profitmaking securities and asset classes.

Investment managers work closely with investment analysts, and often depend on their plans, advice, and data to deal with clients’ portfolios, carrying out transactions according to their findings. Successful investment managers typically combine initiative, research and foresight to make the right choices with their clients’ monies.

General overview

Most graduates enter through graduate programmes and start off as investment analysts. Entry-level duties include analysing data from the market, preparing reports, contributing to portfolio decisions and presenting findings to company management.

Investment managers typically have more client-facing responsibilities, and travel to gain a better comprehension of sectors and products. As earning potential is typically proportional to the success of investment options, managers tend to remain hands-on to avoid becoming too distant, and keep abreast of the latest market trends.

Required skills

While having a finance-related degree is advantageous, it isn’t compulsory in order to join this sector. Rather, having enthusiasm and a strong understanding of the financial market are more valued in comparison. As such, undertaking internships with investment management companies can help hopefuls assess their suitability for the field.

Most firms, especially international ones, encourage newcomers to sit for professional exams such as the IMC, the CFA, or even the CPA paper. Local companies may also want successful applicants to take the Capital Markets and Financial Advisory Services (CMFAS) exams.

Having an open mind and a tolerance for uncertainty will help graduates deal with ambiguity, a common occurrence in the investment management scene. Staying a step ahead of the competition through thorough research is also imperative.

There may also be times when you will need to be firm on your stance despite objections from both clients and senior colleagues. As such, strong communication skills, tact and confidence will help you successfully make your case.

Pros and cons

Apart from its high-earning potential, the job of an investment manager opens opportunities to learn from experienced investors, while also being exposed to a variety of sectors. Plus, as their advice is highly valued among concerned investors, career prospects for investment managers are still mostly positive as a result.

However, having a good work-life balance may be tricky, as not only will they need to market economic conditions and trends closely, but may have to deal with queries from clients even off the clock.

Operations

Support the running of banking, and investment organisations and process transactions smoothly and efficiently.

Also known as the “back office”, the operations department provides support for the firm by ensuring its activities are performed accurately and efficiently. It oversees a transaction’s entire life cycle, from initial preparations to post-trade processes in settlements.

While it doesn’t actively generate revenue, this area of work is key for business profitability through managing risk and minimising loss. Notably, the better it runs, the more effective the firm can be.

For example, securities operations are responsible for ensuring that desks in linked markets have enough capability to communicate with each other. On the other hand, the risk function is in charge of ensuring that the company’s internal processes comply with regulatory guidelines.

General overview

Most graduates start out in training programmes before being assigned to an experienced analyst for mentoring and on-the-job training. Work in the early stages can include introducing a new product or improving control.

With further advancements in technology, companies are now able to trade across multiple product areas and regions, increasing the volume and speed of processes and transact instantly. Because of this, however, the sheer volume and extreme time sensitivity of transactions means that work can be challenging.

Required skills

Excellent numeracy and analytical skills are needed for assessing and analysing transaction cycles, as well as generating contingency plans. A keen eye for detail and the foresight to spot potential problems before they occur, along with exemplary communication and listening skills for interacting with numerous internal and external parties, are also valued.

In addition, because this line of work is tied closely with emerging technologies, you’ll need to keep up with the latest developments in the sector if you want to excel here. Flexibility and the willingness to learn on the job will also be crucial here.

Pros and cons

Troubleshooting problems even before they happen will keep professionals on their toes. Many firms also encourage selfimprovement among operations staff, with plenty of opportunities to forward their ideas for the enhancement of certain controls of the company and department.

However, there’s also the chance these ideas may not be actively implemented or even left on the back burner. In addition, because operations are a support role, it may not be suited for those who prefer to deal with clients.

Private Wealth Management

Take charge and manage the finances of high-net-worth clients.

Private wealth management, also known as private banking, refers to investment and financial planning for individual investors, especially highnet-worth individuals seeking specialised services.

These services include planning and investment management, along with advising on matters such as tax, retirement funds and family trusts. Clients tend to possess diverse portfolios across a number of industries, requiring customised and tailored exclusive solutions for respective individuals. This is something that can only be achieved with in-depth, specialist knowledge of each client’s investment options and the industries within.

Private wealth management can be split into two main areas – advisory and discretionary. For advisory services, managers advise their clients on decisions to maximise returns, so that the individuals can act accordingly while maintaining direct control over their portfolio. Discretionary services, on the other hand, involve a meeting between a client and manager to discuss an overall strategy that the bank will execute, through effective day-to-day decisions, to achieve that aim.

General overview

There are three types of roles in private banking – relationship management, investment and support.

Relationship managers identify their clients’ needs and problems before offering them solutions from the bank. Developing and maintaining a good rapport with clients is vital, and promoting the bank’s services is at the heart of what relationship managers do.

Investment specialists, on the other hand, analyse the market and provide investment recommendations to clients that relationship managers bring in. In discretionary capacities, they can make investment decisions for the clients. Investment staff also liaise with other product specialists in the bank to get expert advice on certain assets or investment options.

Support functions help investment professionals manage client portfolios and research new commercial ideas. It also includes compliance, operations, HR and accounting.

Required skills

For those looking to work in relationship management, a degree with strengths in marketing, sales, or public relations

is a plus. Knowledge about the financial market is essential, along with patience and interpersonal skills for handling difficult clients. Language skills are also highly valued in such roles, with multilingualism seen as a huge asset.

While a finance-related degree isn’t needed for other aspects of private wealth management, some firms may prefer newcomers to obtain specialised certifications – such as a Master’s in wealth management – before allowing them to progress further in their career.

Strong numerical and analytical skills are important too, along with self-motivation and a willingness and capacity to work in a team. Most importantly, hopefuls need to encompass trustworthiness and discretion when handling clients’ investments.

Pros and cons

Private bankers enjoy certain insights other roles in the industry may not have access to. As high-networth clients use such services to cross-invest their assets, many get to observe, and occasionally even participate in, various investment strategies to derive the most returns.

Most client-advisor relationships tend to last for a long time in this industry, which often translates to good networking resources. However, accruing a significant amount of experience in this industry is still needed before the responsibility of handling another party’s financial goals is entrusted.

As this is a highly competitive field with numerous firms and coworkers jostling for a small, select group of elite, high-networth clients, be prepared to work incredibly hard if you want to advance.

Risk Management & Control

Assess trade and investment risks while ensuring traders fully understand them before making an investment.

While risk management and control have similar scopes, they do have their differences. While a risk manager identifies risks and evaluates impacts before proposing ways to minimise them, a risk and control manager instead assesses risks and consults with clients.

Still, both share the same responsibility of ensuring that any potential risks associated with trade or investments are understood by clients and match their risk appetite. A typical day for both can involve a diverse mix of surveying sites, conducting risk analyses, helping to flesh out preventive recommendations, creating reports and interacting with clients.

General overview

In this sector, recruiters prefer applicants with industry-relevant degrees, such as in business, law, economics, or management, though mathematics and science-based backgrounds are also welcome. Many employers are also giving increasing importance to relevant work experience, so obtaining an internship can afford an advantage.

New hires usually enter through risk management training programmes before striking out as part of a small team, picking up essential skills on the job as they assist their colleagues. Mentors are also assigned to graduate hires to guide them along in their work and oversee their progress within the organisation.

There’s also a range of external training courses available for career advancement purposes, and professional qualifications are needed if there’s an intention to specialise in particular areas, including technology and fraud.

Although postgraduate studies aren’t a requirement, some firms may take them into consideration when promoting candidates.

Required skills

In terms of soft skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills are vital as working with people from diverse backgrounds is part of the job. At the same time, good problem-solving and analytical skills are essential, as well as having a good eye for detail.

On top of that, having good negotiation skills, great foresight, knowledge about markets, commercial awareness and the ability to be forward-thinking are immensely important.

Pros and cons

Professionals in this sector should be prepared to work in a competitive and high-stress environment, especially in times of crisis or during large acquisitions, trades and investments. Work can also be fast-paced, so graduates need to be adaptable if they want to succeed in this rapidly changing environment.

On the other hand, a job in risk management can help you boost crucial skills for any finance job, such as in decision-making and analysis. Having to manage risks also always means having to assume responsibilities, which can also be good training for an executive position.

Specialist Markets

Choose a particular sector or client base to develop your expertise and knowledge in.

Specialist market teams are experts in their fields and cover a broad range of tasks. This can range from assisting clients in specialised sectors with investment and financing strategies, to mergers and acquisitions between companies within a certain sector.

Graduates will be required to deal with different volumes of financial products, determined by the organisation’s size. A bigger firm may cater to a wider range of sectors, dominating several niches at one time, while smaller boutique consultancies may focus on servicing several sectors in an area of specialisation.

A big part of this job lies in understanding clients’ businesses and the sectors they operate in, while also looking for a way to bridge the two. As a result, it’s important to recognise a client’s needs and wants in terms of the assets they possess, their goals and the steps they are willing to take before advising them.

General overview

Newcomers usually start with being trained in the firm’s products and general investment banking services, though specialist knowledge will be accumulated both on-the-job and while learning from more experienced seniors.

Depending on the size of the organisation and the number of sectors covered, rotations to serve several sectors to understand how things work may be included as well. Following that, new hires move on to conducting research and preparing presentations and models for client meetings, as well as analysing clients’ companies.

Joining discussions to generate ideas and solutions for clients will become the norm after more experience is gained, and once established, they may even be assigned as the person-in-charge of mergers and acquisitions.

Upon becoming a senior member of a specialist market team, graduates will be called upon for expert consultation by CEOs or board members at client companies.

Required skills

Unsurprisingly, having sector-specific knowledge is vital in this area of work. A holistic, comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of a sector’s inner workings will also play a big part in shaping your success here.

In addition, employers tend to seek out applicants who can demonstrate flexibility, enthusiasm and level-headedness as well. As they’ll be speaking with stakeholders and clients, good communication skills will be needed to effectively convey information to them.

The learning curve here can be steep, so newcomers must also be prepared to absorb a lot of information in a short period of time.

Pros and cons

You may have to deal with demanding and difficult clients at times, so patience and tact will be needed to deal with them diplomatically. In addition, the length and intensity of a project can vary, so having to deal with differing deadlines and peak periods will result in unpredictable work hours.

On the upside, apart from good remuneration, professionals in specialist market teams have the leeway to build a wealth of contacts and knowledge from a variety of sectors, which can open up a potential path in consultancy as an alternative career path.

Stockbroking

Deal and be involved in the trade of securities, such as stocks and shares, on behalf of clients.

Stockbrokers cater to a variety of clients, from individuals to large corporations, all with the same objective: to manage and monitor investments made for them.

There are generally three types of stockbroking services: advisory, where a stockbroker only offers advice on investments; execution-only, meaning they only buy and sell securities at a client’s instruction; and discretionary, where full control is given to a stockbroker to trade and make decisions on a client’s behalf.

General overview

Employment is generally available in financial institutions and brokerage firms. However, under local regulations, hopefuls still must obtain licences from the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) before entering the industry.

While anyone with a graduate degree and the right experience can be a stockbroker, employers may prefer numerate, business, financial, or management degrees. Once hired, graduates typically start out by shadowing a mentor to gain experience.

Around the world, stockbrokers are diversifying their range of services to include financial consultation and planning. Where stockbroking in the past only dealt with the trade of high-risk and high-return securities, brokers are now akin to financial advisors who offer fullservice financial planning services.

Required skills

Besides an ability to handle stress well, recruiters keep an eagle eye out for strong mathematical, analytical and decisionmaking skills as stockbrokers not only have to keep a close eye on the stock market, but make good trading decisions as well.

The changing industry has also brought about a shift towards an advisory consultant role, so having great etiquette with client interaction, persuasiveness during negotiations and good people skills will give candidates an advantage. This will also stand them in good stead when fostering good relationships with clients and assuaging any concerns about investments.

Pros and cons

Fourteen-hour days aren’t uncommon here, and the stakes can be incredibly high – but financial rewards earned in commissions on each transaction made can be impressive. Additionally, ambitious individuals will be able to take on a lot of responsibilities to advance upward.

On the flip side, income is largely dependent on the movement of the markets, so profitable trades can be hard to come by in a downturn or recession.

Structured Finance

This line of work gives graduates the chance to become recognised experts early in their careers.

Abranch of the banking and investment field that specialises in customising financing solutions for companies with unique financial needs, structured finance looks at requirements that fall outside the category of conventional business loans or financial market instruments. To that end, it can cover a comparatively extensive range of instruments such as debt and equity capital, and even mezzanine financing.

Structured finance works by creating liquidity and “safe” assets from risky instruments for a business organisation. This risk is transferred to different parties involved in the transaction through amounts that are acceptable to them, and with returns proportional to the extent of risk a stakeholder is willing to stomach.

Financiers start by sussing out specific requirements of a client’s transactions, assets, or projects – all while gaining a good understanding of their risk appetite through rigorous risk analysis. This involves a thorough examination of all the issues that might affect a transaction, as well as complex modelling of forecasted performance to see how external

factors such as commodity prices can influence profitability. Only then can they personalise a suitable combination of debt and other products to help finance the client’s business successfully.

General overview

Hiring managers looking to fill structured finance roles typically draft selected members who demonstrate an aptitude for this area from the organisation’s graduate trainee programmes. However, they may occasionally run recruitment drives to hire graduates directly.

It’s commonly expected for individuals to specialise in a particular area after some time, so some opt to pursue a specialised postgraduate degree before entering the field in order to gain a more solid understanding of their chosen business sector in advance.

Work is usually done in teams of five to 20 people, assembled ad hoc under the leadership of an experienced deal leader for a specific transaction. Most of the time, the deal leader will bring in an eclectic combination of specialists from different sub-sectors so as to get a variety of viewpoints on the issue at hand.

For instance, in a telecommunications team, the team leader will want – among

many others – specialists who understand the consumer market, experts on financing the building of communication infrastructure and professionals wellversed in engineering development within the sector and how they affect the industry.

Required skills

Training for aptitude is provided, and knowledge about sectors and financial structuring can be picked up on the job. Rather, recruiters tend to hire graduates based on their attitude, such as a drive to innovate and a strong sense of ambition. Apart from these, it also helps to have good analytical skills, as situations need to be dissected and resolved quickly and creatively, less you jeopardise risk analyses. Since much of your time will be spent facing clients, good communication skills are also essential.

Pros and cons

In structured finance, graduate hopefuls can become recognised experts in specific fields or subsectors. It’s an area of work for those who enjoy thinking out of the box, having to tailor debt packages and other financing instruments to fit clients’ specific needs.

Overseeing deals from start to finish promises satisfaction. In addition, as graduates normally work in teams, there’s a need to contribute in all aspects, including managing individual processes and finding experts from various areas to help close the project successfully. However, because this area of work is project-based, employees may not have fixed working hours.

Financial Services

Financial Services At a Glance:

About the industry

In this guide, “financial services” encompasses a wide variety of roles in the financial sector, all of which have a direct effect on daily life.

While monetary remuneration may not be as high as in the investment banking industry, this sector is still considered attractive and comfortable. Notably, working hours tend to be less intense, making it easier to have a healthier work-life balance.

Moreover, the recent Financial Services Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 has laid out the growth strategies to further develop Singapore as a leading international financial centre in Asia – to connect global markets, support Asia’s development, and serve Singapore’s economy. MAS projected the financial sector to grow by an average of four to five per cent per annum during 2021 – 2025 and create 3,000 – 4,000 net jobs on average each year.

Must-have skills

While numerical ability, critical thinking and analytical skills are welcome, they don’t automatically translate into success in financial services. In fact, a finance-related degree isn’t a necessary prerequisite for most positions in the sector; rather, a genuine interest in client service and a willingness to work with numbers are more important to make a good start.

Once you’ve entered the field, you’ll quickly find that it allows you to build a broad range of transferable skills, preparing you for managerial roles across different areas of work in the future. However, keep in mind that many aspects and roles in this expanding industry are service-oriented and clientfacing, so proficiency in communication, customer service and negotiation is vital. Other important skills include problemsolving, leadership, teamwork and time management skills.

Getting in

Due to the variety of jobs, this sector welcomes graduates from different backgrounds, even if they lack relevant work experience or a degree related to finance. In addition, a majority of employers do offer structured training, allowing you to get up to speed in any technical areas while also working on your soft skills.

New hires can look forward to orientation and onboarding programmes, which will provide broad-based knowledge and a good understanding of the key functions, core values and ethics of the company, and what drives their operations. Many firms will also match you to a mentor to help you make the most of your opportunities, as well as a buddy to provide support.

Areas of Work

The numerous different jobs available guarantees that there’s always something to suit everyone. Here are some key paths:

Retail banking Insurance

Retail banking, or consumer banking, is mass-market banking that aims to serve individuals in local branches with savings and checking accounts, credit cards, mortgages and personal loans.

Professionals seek to protect both individuals and companies against potential financial risks by helping to safeguard clients’ financial assets in the case of an unexpected event.

Regulatory work

Financial regulators not only oversee financial markets to create safe and fair services for all, but also ensure trust in the economy. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) supervises all financial institutions in the country and acts as a watchdog.

Actuaries predict and assess the likelihood of an event and evaluate its financial risk through the use of data and statistical techniques. After processing these results, they communicate key findings to clients and stakeholders.

Choosing Your Role and Company In Financial Services

Discover which role and company in the financial services industry are the best fit for you!

Firms in the industry

Potential employers range from retail banks and insurance companies, to more specialised financial service providers like actuarial consultancies and underwriting firms.

In larger corporations, new hires are often placed on rotational schemes to provide a broader experience across departments. On the other hand, smaller enterprises may offer more in terms of flexibility and independence, and chances to work closely with senior management.

Alternative options also include regulatory bodies, like the MAS, who ensure compliance in financial transactions and activities.

With digital transformation reshaping the industry, both banks and financial institutions are adopting new strategies and technologies in order to better serve their clients, such as peerto-peer payments and mobile banking.

As such, candidates who are both data-savvy and have strong IT skills will be highly valued here. Equally important are analytical thinking, communication and the willingness to innovate.

With many roles here being client-facing, customer service skills like empathy and market intelligence are also required. For example, financial consultants will need more than just persuasion; they’ll need to understand a client’s needs, design tailored strategies and help them make informed decisions.

Working in the industry

With its dynamic and competitive environment, this industry offers opportunities for early managerial responsibilities, strong ownership of your work and high pay. However, it does come with its own set of challenges.

Despite offering good career prospects, financial services remain a cyclical industry, meaning that job stability is often at the whims of the economy’s health. Additionally, jobs here tend to be fast-paced and stressful, thanks to the constant need to meet targets and quotas, which can result in long hours.

The ideal candidate

Roles available

There are many career possibilities, including but not limited to:

• Actuary

• Branch manager

• Insurance broker

• Loss adjuster

• Product manager

• Risk manager

• Underwriter

Different Ways to Get into Financial Services

This sector offers numerous opportunities for thinking outside the box, making it a favourable workplace for graduates who wish to unleash their creativity and carve out their own moments and prospects.

Whether you’re looking for a graduate job or an internship, the financial services industry is a competitive field. To that end, an outstanding resume, along with experience and knowledge, can go a long way in helping you gain some prominence amid a sea of applicants.

Apply speculatively

Smaller institutions, who usually specialise in actuarial work or insurance loss adjustments, tend to lack structured hiring programmes. So, if you’re interested in working with them, your best shot is to apply speculatively, which not only expresses genuine interest, but can be a networking opportunity too.

When sending your resume and cover letter, be clear about who you are, what you’re looking for (whether it’s shadowing or work experience), why you want to work with them and what skills you can offer.

Don’t forget to find out who to send your application to; this will up your chances of being noticed.

Attending career fairs

Career fairs, whether digital or inperson, are great opportunities to connect with potential employers, expand your professional network and get a better idea of what opportunities and positions might interest you.

Entrepreneurship

It can be an unconventional approach, but starting your own business can help boost your employability. How successful or big these ventures go isn’t important; rather, entrepreneurship is a good way to demonstrate commercial awareness, problem-solving and business intellect, among many other business-related skills.

In a way, it’s killing two birds with one stone – not only will you have something interesting to impress employers with, but you’ll also be able to earn some extra cash on the side!

Joining a network

Consider joining groups or clubs focused on (or are related to) financial services. These can include student clubs at university or joining online communities on LinkedIn, Facebook or even Telegram. These platforms not only let you connect with like-minded peers but also give you opportunities to network, learn from professionals, and demonstrate your commitment to building a career in the industry.

Be a treasurer

Just about any university club or society will need treasurers. If you’ve stepped into the role, potential employers will be able to infer that you’re not just a team player, but also capable and skilled enough to take the needs of an organisation into consideration, while also managing and handling their budgets and money.

Plus, you’ll also be able to gain plenty of soft skills, such as communication, time management and commercial awareness – skills in the industry that are highly valued by employer. In short, being a treasurer can provide relevant industry experience while also being a great talking point during interviews.

Getting an overseas internship

Nabbing an internship out of the country can give you a head start over other graduate hopefuls. And for the duration of the application process, the skills and experiences you picked up from your time abroad can definitely set you apart. In addition, employers will be able to perceive your adaptability, confidence and commercial awareness, as well as global and communication skills.

Other benefits of getting an internship overseas are, among other things, expanding your network to include international contacts and employers, and the chance to develop a variety of transferable skills. Be warned though, with the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic still being felt worldwide, the opportunities for overseas internships are currently limited.

Mentoring

Look for a mentor with experience in the area you wish to enter, and who can help you form your network even as they counsel and encourage you. They can be a seasoned professional or a graduate trainee, either clueing you in on what skills recruiters and employers want, or guiding you through the application process with different employers.

Whatever it is you’re looking for, you don’t have to restrict yourself to just one mentor – if you have a few mentors, you’ll be able to glean more from their different experiences.

However, as professionals in the industry usually keep hectic

schedules, you may want to start with alumni or family (or even their friends). You can also consider social media platforms such as LinkedIn, and even networking events –though if you want to follow this route, you should express your desire for a mentor and intention to keep in touch.

One of the advantages of having either a mentor (or several mentors) is getting the guidance you need from working professionals in the area you want to join firsthand. Furthermore, you’ll also get the opportunity to leverage their network and pick up some pointers on how to make yourself more attractive to employers.

The Financial Services Alphabet

Impress employers and colleagues alike with your familiarity of financial services terminology from A to Z.

AArbitrage

The practice of making a profit from trading on two markets simultaneously. Such trades profit by exploiting price differences of similar financial instruments on different markets or in different forms.

Example

If the price of a stock in Indonesia is lower than in Singapore, buying in Indonesia and simultaneously selling on the Singapore market will allow you to earn the difference if the price is higher there.

Bear market

A bear market is any market where securities prices exhibit a declining trend for a prolonged period of time.

Example

The recession following the great Wall Street stock market crash in 1929 can be referred to as a bearish market, as investors mass. With investors struggling to get out of the market by selling their stocks, the market incurred huge losses leading to the Great Depression.

Coupon

Rather than an item to be redeemed, a coupon in this context coupon refers to the annual interest rate due on a debt product, such as a bond or a loan.

Example

A $1,000 bond with a 5% coupon pays $50 in annual interest, usually split into two semi-annual payments of $25 each.

D

B C

Deductible

The amount of money an insured individual pays before insurance kicks in.

Example

For example, your deductible is $500 and you incur medical expenses for $2,000. You’ll pay the $500, while your insurance pays off the remaining $1,500. However, if the bill’s less or equal to $500, you pay the entire amount yourself.

F

Fixed term investment

A type of investment where you lend your money for a set period, usually through a debt instrument. At the end of the term, you’ll get back your original amount (the principal) along with any earned interest.

Example

A term deposit is an example of a fixed-term investment, where investors deposit their funds with a financial institution for a specified duration. Until that period of time has elapsed, they’re forbidden from withdrawing their funds from it.

G

Ghosting

An illegal practice where market makers collectively attempt to influence the price of a stock in order to profit from the price movement.

Example

Two supposedly competing firms secretly coordinate large stock trades in order to manipulate the market. By creating a buying/ selling frenzy, they both profit while the market is unaware of their collusion.

H

Honeypot

A security measure used in banking to detect, prevent and dismantle cyberattacks by luring the perpetrators to a specific area of a computer system.

Example

Banks lay traps for cyber criminals trying to hack into their information systems using honeypot software.

Indemnity

A principle whereby the insurer seeks to place the insured in the position they were in prior to a loss.

Example

The insurance company agrees to indemnify the policyholder against any claim arising from a breach of professional duty.

Jointly and severally

A legal term that describes the liability of people bound together by an agreement, often in the context of a loan. In short, all parties are obligated to perform as required under contract, under any proportionality.

Example

If a bank loans $500,000 to three people jointly and severally, then all three individuals are responsible for repaying the total amount of the loan to the bank.

Keep and pay

An allowance that lets a bankrupt individual keep an asset under the condition that they continue to make payments.

Example

Keep and pay allows you to not have your home repossessed, although the bank could still liquidate that asset if necessary.

Nearshoring

The practice of outsourcing work to companies in another country, but with the benefits of a closer offshore location.

Example

In Singapore, nearshoring to Indonesia is better than offshoring to China because of the country’s proximity. This not only makes contact easier, but it’s also more efficient and reduces running costs.

Opportunity cost

A benefit that a person could have received, but gave it up to take another course of action. In other words, it’s an alternative given up when a decision is made.

Example

When making big decisions like investing in treasury bonds, clients will likely diligently research the pros and cons prior to making a choice in order to outline the potential opportunity costs.

Parallel loan

This usually involves two parent companies taking loans from their respective national financial institutions before lending the resulting funds to the other company’s subsidiary.

Example

Lapse

The non-renewal or cessation of a privilege, right or policy as a result of inaction.

Example

An insurance policy will lapse if the holder doesn’t pay the premiums. I N O P

Q

Quid pro quo

A Latin phrase typically used in financial circles to describe a mutual agreement to exchange goods or services of roughly equivalent value.

Example

A soft dollar agreement is a quid pro quo agreement whereby Firm A uses Firm B for research. In return, Firm B executes all of Firm A’s trades as an exchange of services.

R J K L

Two companies in different countries lend each other equivalent amounts in their local currencies. This allows both parties to access foreign funds while avoiding currency exchange risks.

Recourse

The legal right for the lender to collect the pledged collateral in the event that the borrower is unable to satisfy the debt obligation.

Example

Recourse lending provides protection to financial institutions, as they’re assured to have some sort of repayment, either in cash or liquid assets.

Seed capital

AKA seed money, the initial funding used to kickstart a business and cover early costs. Often comes from personal assets.

Example

Seed capital is needed to support the preliminary activities for a new company, such as market research, product R&D and business plan development.

Turnkey business

A complete, operational business ready for takeover upon purchase.

Example

A company that’s completely staffed, equipped and has an established customer base can be considered a turnkey business.

Underwriting

The process of determining whether to accept a risk or not, and, if so, how much insurance the company is willing to take on as acceptable risk.

Example

Companies manage risks and accurately price risk in order to adequately cover the true cost of insuring policyholders. If an applicant’s risk is deemed to be too high, underwriters may refuse to cover it.

Vulture capitalist

This type of capitalist invests to exploit and profit from unsuccessful individuals or organisations that lack the resources to achieve success.

Example

A vulture capitalist purchases a controlling interest in a failing company, using its own assets as collateral for the loan used to purchase it. The company is then sold at a profit.

Yield burning

The illegal practice of underwriters marking up the prices on bonds for the purpose of reducing the bond’s yield.

Example

Seed capital is needed to support the preliminary activities for the launch of XYZ company, such as market research, product research and development and business plan development.

Zakat

A term used in Islamic finance to refer to the mandatory process for Muslims to donate a certain proportion of wealth each year to charitable causes.

Example

Instances of wealth liable for Zakat include gold and silver, paper currency held in cash or in the bank, tradable assets owned by a business, herded animals and crops. S T U V Y Z

Actuarial Science

Use mathematical and statistical models to conduct various types of analyses and assessments to predict and manage risks.

An actuary’s work revolves heavily around the prediction, evaluation and management of risks using a combination of commercial awareness and statistical and mathematical models. They may also advise clients about findings, as well as help them develop potential solutions. As such, the job scope can be very diverse, encompassing a good mix of client-facing and calculation tasks.

Some key day-to-day responsibilities for actuaries include analysing statistical data, preparing reports and presentations, and working with IT professionals to develop and update systems that incorporate solutions to the risks. In some cases, they may even be assigned to develop entirely new financial products.

Actuaries are greatly needed in a variety of sectors, including banks and financial services organisations, insurance companies, specialist consultancies and even accounting firms and investment banks.

General overview

While candidates are generally required to possess sufficiently high grades with an actuarial science degree, some employers accept graduates with a background in other numerate degrees, such as statistics, economics, finance, or mathematics – so long as they showcase a strong understanding of the financial industry.

Graduates typically start their careers as trainees, assisting senior colleagues in their duties as they pick up the necessary skills required to advance. A big portion of time will likely be spent handling calculations and using pre-constructed models to generate financial forecasts. As more experience is gained, greater responsibilities such as leading projects, constructing, updating and analysing financial and forecasting models will be given, as well as handling client relationships.

Many employers encourage new hires to begin studying for a professional qualification or fellowship as soon as they get on board, which means they’ll need to balance work and study. Fortunately, some may offer financial assistance and ample study leave to lighten this struggle. A degree in actuarial science may also exempt graduates from some qualification exams as well.

Upon gaining their qualifications, many actuaries tend to specialise in a specific area of interest, gaining in-depth knowledge, experience and reputations as experts in their fields of choice.

Many professionals have also found opportunities in other seemingly unrelated areas of management as well. For instance, actuaries have been known to venture into infrastructure and climate change projects, along with the healthcare and data science industries.

Required skills

Actuarial careers are well-suited for those with excellent numeracy skills, possess an analytical mind and have a keen eye on the future. Skills in problem-solving, research and analysis are also vital as well.

Part of the job includes having to present data and solutions to clients, who may have limited knowledge of actuarial science. As such, having good interpersonal and presentation skills will be vital. Accountability is also crucial as actuaries need to diligently follow up on clients throughout the process of implementing solutions.

Actuaries should also be flexible, adaptable and able to handle ambiguity as the job scope can be very diverse, with ad hoc tasks and projects regularly coming up.

Pros and cons

Actuaries are involved in a variety of tasks and industries, making the job an extremely interesting and challenging one. This is made even more exciting by the rapid development of IT and technology, leading to new risks and need for creative solutions.

Many also enjoy steady career advancement and attractive remuneration, especially upon obtaining a fellowship from a recognised actuarial association.

However, the workload can get stressful and may lead to longer working hours – especially when the pursuit of a fellowship is concerned.

Blockchain

Utilise next-generation technology to secure and verify digital financial transactions to increase transparency, security and efficiency.

While blockchain is often associated with fintech, it’s not quite the same thing. Rather, while fintech serves as an umbrella term for a variety of innovations, blockchain is a specific technology that acts as a de-centralised digital ledger. Rather than use a central server, it records transactional data securely through a distributed network.

General overview

The most well-known use case is cryptocurrency, with thousands running on blockchains. However, because they can also securely store different types of data, they’ve also been adopted by a variety of industries. Its development has disrupted the traditional financial landscape and opened up a new market, creating plenty of job opportunities for skilled professionals.

R oles include core blockchain developers, who design the architecture, security, and foundation of the system (analysing existing setups, constructing new ones, testing, and debugging), and blockchain software developers, who build user-facing applications on top of the base layer (apps, web platforms, and system integrations).

Required skills

Because blockchains operate differently from other areas of fintech, building a career in this field requires a specialised skill set. Beyond programming skills and an IT background, a solid understanding of blockchain technology is essential. On the soft skills side, problem-solving, business awareness, and adaptability are highly valuable, especially as the technology continues to evolve and shape new opportunities.

Pros and cons

While it offers the opportunity to work with the latest technology, and can be a lucrative career (due to its demand for specialists) blockchain does have its own set of challenges as well. For one, the field moves quickly, requiring constant upskilling, and can be highly stressful due to high expectations and having to resolve problems in unchartered territory.

Financial Technology (Fintech)

Integrate cutting edge technology into the structure of financial services to improve ease of use, delivery of services, and consumer experience through the use of innovation.

Fintech, short for financial technology, involves using technology to improve financial products, services and processes. Because of how prominent it is, it can’t really be considered a single line of work; rather, it can be considered an industry in itself.

Fintech covers a variety of areas, including digital payments, online banking and more. Said variety thus translates into multiple entry points and career paths, allowing applicants to start in one role and transition into another as they gain more experience.

General overview

With the rapid growth of fintech, several universities and institutes now offer qualifications based on this field. Popular roles include financial analysts, who utilise data to evaluate market trends and optimise investments, and blockchain engineers, who build and manage centralised applications outside of traditional servers.

Required skills

A strong foundation in digital skills will be required to excel in this industry. This includes programming languages (like Java, C++ and Ruby), while a background in user experience (UX) design will help when building consumer-facing products. Big data, AI, and machine learning are also crucial, as analysing large datasets helps professionals provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve company performance.

Pros and cons

While fintech is rapidly digitalising and adopting cutting-edge technology, it also comes with risks, such as cyberattacks and system vulnerabilities. Careers in this field can demand long hours, especially during peak periods when systems are being developed, updated, or maintained.

Insurance

A highly diverse field with a constantly changing work environment.

Careers in the insurance industry may be immensely wide-ranging, but they ultimately revolve around the safeguarding of an individual or entity’s financial assets in the event of an unexpected occurrence.

General

overview

There are a number of positions that graduates can look forward to in this sector. Here are some of the more popular ones:

• Graduate underwriter

Underwriters are responsible for determining a client’s eligibility for a policy, additional terms and conditions that are part of the plan and the premium the client has to pay.

• Claims management trainee

As part of the insurance claims department, trainees are involved in assessing the validity of submitted claims, as well as liaising with policyholders to ensure that the repayment process is completed as safely and efficiently as possible.

• Trainee loss adjuster

The job scope of a loss adjuster is relatively similar to that of an insurance claims handler. With both checking the validity of a claim and establishing the causes of a loss, among others. However, loss adjusters typically work as an independent third party and are attached to specialist practices rather than insurance companies.

Insurers generally seek the services of loss adjusters, instead of claims managers, for more complex claims.

• Business development, business finance and sales graduate roles

While responsibilities for this position vary depending on the employer’s area of specialisation and expertise, working in the business division usually involves a mix of duties such as promoting services to potential clients, and identifying and following up on new opportunities.

• Graduate insurance broker

Insurance brokers help clients match their needs with the most suitable insurance products for the best premiums.

• Trainee actuary

Actuaries advise their clients and help them forecast and manage financial risks through the application of financial and statistical theories.

• Graduate product manager

Product managers at insurance companies are responsible for creating, testing and launching new insurance products for potential customers. Their responsibilities may include market research, sales forecasting and regulatory compliance.

• Operations management

This role is primarily responsible for managing and encouraging the customer service department.

Variety of products

The type of work involved greatly depends on the employer’s area of speciality in terms of products offered. The following are the main types of insurance products:

• General insurance

This encompasses the different types of insurance policies except for life insurance.

• Commercial and corporate insurance

Crafted specifically for business organisations, it protects entities against unforeseen events such as theft, property damage, liability, or other disruptions to their day-to-day operations.

• Life insurance

Life insurance is purchased as a form of financial protection and aid for named beneficiaries in the case of a premature death.

• Personal insurance

Consisting of a range of insurance contracts that protect an individual financially in the event of misfortune. Common examples include policies for personal automobiles, properties and illnesses.

• Reinsurance

Usually purchased for insurers, this acts as a risk management strategy. For example, if an insurer foresees itself encountering a financial strain due to unexpectedly large payouts, they may opt for reinsurance as a method to mitigate that risk.

Keep in mind that the insurance industry is always expanding, and that these are just the basic products. As such, be sure to read up on other products offered by the company as well.

Support functions

Insurance institutions typically require a wealth of expertise to support their core business, such as technology specialists, marketing and HR personnel.

Although insurance companies make up the majority of employers, insurance brokers, retail banks and even supermarkets welcome graduates interested in this field as well. Specialist consultancies, where specific roles in life insurance or loss adjustment are carried out, are also other options.

Many large employers offer training or graduate schemes to facilitate adaptation to the new working environment. These schemes tend to be rotational in order to provide diverse experiences to help graduate hires understand the company better. On the other hand, others rely on on-the-job training, as well as formal or informal mentorship programmes with senior team members.

Required skills

Recruiters value candidates who have skills in customer service and numeracy, the ability to react promptly and an eye for detail.

Generally, most employers state a preference for numerate, business or management-related degrees. While this is especially true for actuary positions, graduates from all degree disciplines are still welcome to try for other roles.

Employers may also urge new hires to sit for examinations conducted by professional bodies as the certifications obtained are vital for career progression.

Pros and cons

If you enjoy meeting new people and working in a stimulating environment, this could be an industry worth exploring.

However, be aware that certain positions can be deskbound with little variety, such as for underwriters. On the other hand, insurance sales representatives can look forward to travelling opportunities.

Insurance Underwriting

Determine a client’s eligibility for an insurance policy and the amount of premium to be paid.

Essential to the insurance industry, underwriters analyse and evaluate the risks involved in insurance, whether for people or assets. They are the ones who also calculate the pricing (known as a premium) for an insurance policy, done through specialised software, actuarial data and other relevant information.

Evaluating the amount of risk associated with any insurance policy is complex as it requires good judgment from an underwriter with a keen eye for detail. Moreover, it’s an underwriter’s responsibility to ensure that customers receive competitive quotes worth considering, all while maintaining the company’s profit margins.

General overview

While underwriting is generally open to all disciplines, those with numerate degrees such as finance and accounting will find themselves at an advantage. In some cases, some employers may call for more specific backgrounds for certain roles; for example, those with certifications related to the health industry may be considered for a role in medical insurance underwriting.

Graduates typically start out as junior underwriters or assistants in insurance agencies such as AIG, Manulife, AXA, Allianz and Etiqa. However, certification through coursework is a must in order to progress into a senior underwriting position, more specialised areas of underwriting, or management.

Career progression also hinges on an underwriter’s capability to evaluate risk and build relationships with other departments, such as the actuarial division. Keeping abreast of new insurance policies and products, regulations and technology will be vital here.

Required skills

Detail-oriented graduates will find their talents being put to good use here, though numeracy, analytical, writing and IT skills are needed as well.

In addition, because underwriters are responsible for preparing insurance policy terms and conditions, they may need to liaise with insurance brokers and clients. As such, strong negotiation and interpersonal skills are essential, as well as being well-versed in verbal and written communication.

Pros and cons

On top of offering a friendly environment, there are many opportunities to build relationships between both colleagues and clients. On top of that, remuneration is also fairly high. However, individuals who dislike routine and structure may not find this role to be a good fit.

Moreover, due to rapid advancements in technology, the demand for underwriters is slowly declining. So, if you want to truly stand out for that spot, having extensive knowledge, experience and skills will be necessary.

Retail Banking

Serve customers and help them meet their daily financial needs.

Retail banks provide consumers with a variety of financial products and services that range from bank and savings accounts, mortgages, loans, personal credit products and remittance services.

Some retail banks even offer services such as stock brokerage, insurance, wealth management and private banking – although these are usually delivered through another division or an affiliate of the bank. As such, while most cases follow a regular 9-to-5 shift, certain roles may require graduates to pick up graveyard or weekend shifts.

However, with the finance industry rapidly adopting fintech innovations and solutions, it has become necessary for retail banks to adapt their services and facilities to better serve their customers. That includes rethinking features such as mobile banking services, online security measures, new products and collaborations, as well as customer service.

Like many sectors of the finance industry, the retail banking field is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

General overview

There are diverse opportunities for graduates, ranging from risk management and compliance to marketing and IT. Many major banks run specialised graduate programmes to recruit potential candidates for their function of choice, and management associate programmes are especially popular.

Most graduate programmes are rotational and span a total of two years, giving new hires the opportunity to experience different areas of work within the department.

Besides learning on the job and through formal training programmes, a mentor may be assigned to guide them along their various responsibilities. Assignment to a role best suited to an individual is usually done upon graduating from the programme.

Depending on the company’s programme, graduates may be put in charge of managing small-scale projects, be involved in creating new products and services, provide technical support to colleagues or other divisions, or even handle customers on the ground.

Due to the sheer variety of products offered by each bank, career paths can be very diverse. For instance, career advancement can take place vertically or horizontally, where transitions from managing products such as mortgages and

personal loans to a different division, such as private banking, are typical.

Interested applicants can also consider obtaining professional diplomas or other qualifications to boost their career progression. Otherwise, mentors can be consulted for ideas.

Required skills

Employers generally welcome candidates from all disciplines, save for roles requiring specific technical skills. As such, the way to stand out in this highly competitive sector is to focus on developing soft skills, particularly in project management, teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills.

As most job scopes in this industry revolve around assisting customers, good customer-facing skills are crucial. Aside from that, having excellent organisational and management skills will also stand graduates in good stead, alongside retail awareness.

Pros and cons

Retail banking is fast-paced, exciting and offers a relatively good worklife balance. In addition, excellent benefits such as lucrative year-end and additional bonuses on top of varied growth opportunities make working in this sector extremely attractive.

However, be aware that this field can also be relatively stressful during crunch time, such as when launching a new product. The working environment is quite structured and rigid as well, with plenty of red tape in place.

Statistics

Serve customers and help them meet their daily financial needs.

Adiscipline that encompasses the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data by using scientific methods to design data collection methods, statisticians determine the best way to process collected information and how to best interpret it.

Using this data, they’re able to make forecasts and provide projected figures about projects, investment prospects, or business. This is a research-based role that has broad applications and can be found in many industries, such as market research, government departments, hospitals, newspapers, development and finance, among others.

General overview

This is an immensely difficult area to get into. Candidates need to be highly qualified to become statisticians, with doctoral studies being required for career progression in some cases.

On the other hand, depending on the sector you join, a Master’s degree in either computer science, statistics or maths may not necessarily be required.

Successful applicants will likely undergo graduate rotation programmes to understand the company’s business, before settling into the position with a mentor to provide guidance. On-the-job training generally lasts between six months to a year.

With work mostly revolving around analysing and interpreting data, as well as supervising and managing others in the collection of data, career progression is likely to hinge on performance.

Required skills

Employers tend to look out for candidates with strong mathematical abilities and computer literacy, as well as a good eye for detail. In addition, as you’ll need to relay your data and findings at board meetings or even conferences, having good written and verbal communication skills will also be required.

For example, a statistician may have to decide how best to present their findings to each stakeholder; from presenting a simple presentation to the client to submitting a detailed report within their organisation.

Pros and cons

On top of high remuneration, your work as a statistician is valuable to a variety of important, life-changing industries, such as collecting and analysing crucial data for government agencies to improve public services.

Just about every industry also requires statistics and data of some kind, so this translates to high flexibility in switching to a different sector, and having plenty of room for growth.

However, on the other hand, due to its high requirements, entering this industry is very challenging.

Wealth Management

Trusted advisers who manage a range of financial responsibilities for high-networth clients.

Aside from providing professional services in investment advice, wealth management also includes other services such as in financial advice, banking, and legal or estate planning for high-net-worth clients.

Because this area of work involves a holistic approach to all parts of an individual’s financial life, high-net-worth individuals usually only require one single wealth manager to coordinate and manage their assets, as well as meet their current and future financial needs.

General overview

While a common place to find them, not all wealth managers work in banks. In fact, some positions can be found in SMEs, while others may be selfemployed, which gives them the freedom to recommend financial products on the entire market rather than being limited to one bank.

Graduates generally start off with a role in the back office as an administrator or paraplanner, either supporting the company’s business or conducting research on the best products to recommend to clients. Gradually, hires will rise up the ranks and progress into a wealth management role. Alternatively, hopefuls may enrol on a graduate scheme.

While it’s possible for individuals to switch from other professions such as in accountancy, law and other financial services, recognised professional qualifications such as the CFA designation may be needed to boost progression and move into a chosen area of speciality, such as in client relationship management or investment. In cases like these, you may have to balance studying with work.

Required skills

While recruiters accept applications from all disciplines, having a degree in economics, accounting or finance is advantageous. Business and law degrees, as well as taking courses in risk management, investment and taxation will be appealing.

Other than mathematical abilities, interpersonal and communication skills are important for wealth managers, as they need to explain complicated matters in a simple and clear manner to clients. Analytical skills are also essential in order to give clients suitable advice in response to problems and situations.

Pros and cons

Compared to some other financial positions, wealth managers tend to enjoy more flexible working hours, as can enjoy nurturing long-lasting relationships with their clients. Plus, the skills used to manage the wealth of clients can be used on yourself in some cases.

However, the job does have its drawbacks. Notably, to a certain degree, being a wealth manager is a sales position, and the early days of your career can be bumpy and stressful as you work to establish your client pool and reputation. In addition, you may have to deal with difficult clients along with volatile domestic and global markets. Still, the job can be highly rewarding should you choose to commit to it.

Accountancy and Financial Management

Financial Services at a Glance

About the industry

With qualifications in accountancy and financial management, work opportunities can be found in a range of establishments, from the “Big Four” – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC – to employers in both the private and public sector.

In recent years, there has been an increasing usage of digital technology, such as cloud accounting, in order to boost efficiency in the sector, making upskilling vital in order to stay relevant. In addition, while there has been a decrease in demand for consulting services, accounting firms continue to profit from auditing solutions.

Working in this field also gives you a good perspective of how companies are run, which is a useful insight to have if you’re considering starting your own enterprise in the future.

Must-have skills

Besides excellent numeracy skills, employers look for candidates with strong communication and analytical skills, the ability to work in a team and commercial awareness. Hires are also expected to cope with the intensity of working and studying at the same time, so having both effective time management skills and resilience are paramount.

With new technological developments infiltrating the sector, there’s also a need to keep up-to-date with advancements and develop strategic views on potential risks and opportunities on your own.

Getting in

In Singapore, there are two routes to entering the accountancy and financial sectors. The first option is to complete a diploma or degree in accountancy and work in a junior position while continuing to pursue professional accountancy qualifications. Alternatively, if your degree or diploma is unrelated, you can join an accountancy firm when you have completed, or intend to complete, certification programmes.

There are numerous certification programmes offered by professional bodies, such as the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to choose from. However, completion of the “Singapore CA Qualification”, developed by the Singapore Accountancy Commission (SAC), is a must if you’re an aspiring chartered accountant who wishes to practise locally.

Areas of Work

The numerous different jobs available guarantees that there’s always something to suit everyone. Here are some key paths:

The main role of the assurance department is to review financial data and working procedures of an enterprise in order to accurately update investors on how their money is being used.

Tax consultants are engaged to advise management on tax-related problems and offer solutions. They also help clients understand complex tax laws and assist them with the filing of returns, especially during the annual tax-filing season that runs from 1 March to 18 April.

Risk assessors are tasked to methodically identify and evaluate potential risks before recommending appropriate measures. This area of work allows enterprises to capitalise on opportunities while considering all factors in making major decisions.

When companies fail, corporate recovery specialists decide if it’s possible to keep it running through certain measures. Otherwise, they help creditors, suppliers and employees salvage the remaining capital.

Responsible for monitoring key business areas to assess financial risks and operational inefficiencies, internal auditors devise and present solutions to management.

Choosing Your Role and Company In Accountancy and Financial Management

With a global demand for accountancy and financial management skills, there’s a job role for every kind of graduate in this field.

Firms in the industry

Besides the Big Four, corporations such as Grant Thornton Singapore, RSM Singapore and BDO LLP are popular choices among accounting graduates and jobseekers looking to pursue a career in this sector.

While a bigger institute could translate to specialisation early on and allow exposure to highprofile clients, experiences gained in smaller enterprises will largely depend on the scope of offerings and clientele.

In addition, smaller companies tend to expect employees to be more generalist, though there are opportunities to get involved in business development as well as securing and maintaining client relationships. On the other hand, large MNCs have the resources to invest in employee education, and can provide more attractive training packages, including overseas travel. However, many large institutes will require employees to be bonded for a period of time.

The ideal candidate

Since you’ll be dealing with clients and colleagues alike, enthusiasm and good interpersonal skills will come in handy. Being commercially aware of the current trends and issues within the industry is also important, as well as knowing how to condense complex information into simpler terms when speaking to people unfamiliar with accounting and finance.

Other skills required include numeracy and analytical skills, as well as problem-solving, multitasking and time-management skills in order to tackle challenging and tight deadlines.

However, skills alone aren’t enough for a career in this sector. You’ll need to secure certifications from professional bodies such as ISCA and ACCA Singapore early on. As such, be prepared to juggle both work and studies if you intend on getting them.

Working in the industry

Professionals have the opportunity to gain a unique insider’s perspective on how businesses are run, which can help when advancing your career or if you want to start your own enterprise. Another perk is having the chance to attain an internationally recognised professional qualification, which can be funded by the company.

In recent years, digital technology has also started to revolutionise the financial sector, with firms and organisations now using cloud accounting, software and applications to streamline processes and increase productivity.

Although career paths in this area are widely known to be recession-proof, continuous training is still necessary to keep up with change and enhance job prospects. Hours may be long at times, especially for auditors and tax advisors during peak periods. Otherwise, most in this field generally enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

Roles available

The accountancy and financial management field is constantly growing, and offers a wide range of career paths. Here are some main roles you can consider:

• Assurance consultant

• Auditor

• Commercial finance manager

• Corporate finance advisor

• Corporate recovery specialist

• Corporate treasurer

• Finance director

• Finance controller

• Forensic accountant

• Internal auditor

• Management accountant

• Risk assessment officer

• Tax adviser

Getting a Graduate Job in Accounting

If you think you’re fluent in the “language of businesses”, or accounting, and are looking for a graduate job in the industry, here are some tips to get you started.

No matter the company’s size, accountants play a vital role, whether by working in firms that service external clients or by being part of the organisation’s finance department.

If you’re keen on helping businesses make sound economic decisions by monitoring and reporting their finances, a career in accountancy may be suitable for you. However, you’ll need to be adept at accumulating the necessary information for enterprises to decide on how to effectively manage finances and plan for the future.

On the other hand, a career in financial management involves the strategic planning and management of a venture’s funds to facilitate efficient operations. Here, you’ll be assisting the company in directing the flow of its finances to achieve its objectives.

Skills you’ll need

Besides numeracy and analytical skills, accountants need excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively convey reports and act in the capacity of a business advisor. Good time management and organisational skills will also help you through busy peak periods as well.

In addition, commercial awareness will also give you a good point of reference when dealing with your clients. As in all other industries, individuals who are capable of working in teams, showing initiative and demonstrating selfmotivation are coveted among recruiters.

How do I get the job?

The most common route to becoming a qualified accountant is to apply for a graduate programme with an accountancy firm. Public and private institutions also recruit graduates for accountancy roles in their finance departments.

Several factors will affect your decision on where you should apply, but an important criterion when choosing a programme or organisation is whether or not it offers you the opportunity to undertake courses that will help you qualify as a chartered accountant (CA) in Singapore.

The application process

Depending on the company, recruiters will either provide online application forms or request personalised resumes with cover letters during the preliminary selection process. An invitation for an interview will follow if you are successfully shortlisted.

During this process, you may be asked to complete a variety of tests, which can range from testing your numeric and verbal reasoning to evaluating your personality. Further interviews might follow as employers continue sifting through potential candidates.

Generally, most organisations hire all year round, though some may close positions early or prefer early applicants. As such, be sure to check in with individual employers just in case.

To better your odds of being selected, you may want to take up some relevant internships too. Not only will it help you gain experience, but it’s one of the best ways to figure out whether a career in this sector is for you.

What’s working life like?

In an accountancy firm, expect to spend a substantial amount of time out of the office visiting and auditing clients on-site. In addition, working in finance departments in commercial or public establishments also involves playing an integral role in the company.

In both cases, peak periods are likely, such as during financial quarterlies and the closing of accounts at the end of each year. Such periods aside, however, accountants generally enjoy a reasonable work-life balance.

Why is it so Important to Qualify as a Accountant?Professional

Getting those letters after your name represents more than just your achievements; it represents the skills you have at your disposal.

The high level of difficulty and lofty standards of accountancy qualifications mean that you’ll have to study hard to earn a qualification from a recognised professional body in the sector.

It can be tough, but if successful, your dedication will pay off and you’ll be one step closer to your dreams. Not only will these qualifications give you a degree of prestige on your resume, they can be the vital difference between a successful career and stagnation.

For instance, this proves to prospective employers and clients that you not only have the necessary skills and training needed to do your job well, but that you also have the discipline to persevere through such a rigorous course.

Moreover, you don’t necessarily need a degree to become an accountant in Singapore. Instead, you can opt to pursue professional qualifications.

In the sector

Singapore’s accountancy scene boasts several professional bodies, with some that specialise in certain areas while others focus on more generalised ones.

It takes approximately three years to earn a qualification, with the course involving a number of examinations and practical work experience. While it’s possible to study full-time at an academic institution without working, membership with professional bodies usually cannot be gained without some work experience.

Because of this, most choose to study and work concurrently, with most employers willing to give time for employees to study.

Making a choice

Sometimes, your choice of qualification may be influenced by your employer, or vice versa. No one qualification is easier than the other; rather, their differences lie in what they offer. As such, it’s up to you to decide which suits you best by taking your future career plans into account.

Regardless of your choice, these qualifications will go a long way in proving your competency and ability as an accountant.

A Graduate’s Guide to Accountancy Jargon

Knowing at least some buzzwords might help you out during an interview.

With every industry comes its own variant of jargon, which can be confusing for those out of the loop. Here’s a list of common accounting and financial management lingo that’s good to know, especially if you’re looking to land a job here!

AACCA

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

ATTA

Association of Taxation Technicians Singapore.

ATA

Accredited Tax Advisor. A professional certification awarded by the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SIATP).

ATP

Accredited Tax Practitioner. Another professional certification awarded by the SIATP.

Acquisitions

A component of a business specialisation called mergers and acquisitions (M&A), acquisitions usually include the counselling of clients on the purchase and sales of other firms. It usually involves a wide variety of deals, like the buyouts of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinational takeovers.

Angel investor

An individual who contributes capital to the start-up of a company in exchange for non-cash returns, such as ownership equity and convertible bonds.

BBusiness recovery and insolvency

Business recovery experts are usually brought in when a troubled venture can still be steered through difficulties towards a revival and/ or improvements. Insolvency experts, on the other hand, are only consulted when an enterprise is caught in a bad enough state that it has to wind up. It then falls upon the insolvency experts to help the proprietors through the liquidation process by selling off marketable assets in order to pay creditors.

Business services

A mixed package of accounting and auditing services is generally offered to major establishments as they tend to need additional services for development. It may also entail advisory or consultancy services where financial recommendations are customised to suit the growth, goals and improvement of a company’s management systems.

CCapital gains tax

Tax that’s charged when a fixed asset is sold at a higher price than its acquisition price. While this specific form of tax isn’t applicable in Singapore, any gains a local company makes by selling off assets will still be taxed as incoming revenue.

CA Singapore

Chartered Accountant of Singapore. This qualification is managed by ISCA.

CIMA

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

CIOT

The Chartered Institute of Taxation. While accreditation from this body isn’t mandatory for tax practitioners in Singapore, its CTA certification is still recognised locally, and may be useful for those who intend to work in tax outside of Singapore.

CIPFA

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Although this organisation is based in the United Kingdom (U.K.), it cooperates with global accounting bodies to advance the field of public sector accountancy worldwide.

Corporate recovery

Corporate recovery teams are usually roped in to assist ventures in financial difficulties and get them back on track. They’re usually engaged during the early stages of a crisis as chances of recovery are typically higher at that point.

On the other hand, should a company be left with no option but to close up, the recovery team will assist with the selling of assets, the laying off of staff and the winding up of the enterprise in general.

CTA

Chartered Tax Advisor. A CTA’s an expert in taxation matters who has obtained certification from the Chartered Institution of Taxation (CIOT), in Singapore, tax specialists are governed by SIAPT.

DDebtors ledger

Used to document the details of an organisation’s debtors.

Disposals

When a business trades off its asset(s), or when a corporation liquidates part of its outfit.

Due diligence

The process of enquiries performed when a potential investor or buyer wants to invest in, or acquire, an enterprise. They check the previous records and financial statements of the target company so as to ascertain its exact value, or to unearth underhanded business deals.

This usually entails professional reports by accountants and solicitors, and the whole process must be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

FFinancial accounting

Financial accounting is a catch-all term for the recording of economic transactions performed by an organisation, such as bookkeeping, and the subsequent preparation of financial statements from those accounts. The financial information obtained is usually targeted towards other user groups like business owners, company shareholders, or IRAS, instead of executive management.

Forensic accounting

A field of accountancy that caters to solving civil, criminal and insurance issues. Professionals in this field employ their knowledge of accountancy and IT alongside investigative skills to aid in the examination of evidence in regard to any allegations made in court. Their clients are mostly lawyers and insurance establishments, although they may sometimes be approached by individuals seeking such services for personal disputes.

IICAEW

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Insolvency

Highly related to a company’s liquidity, insolvency occurs when an institution or individual is unable to meet its debts and financial commitments when

they’re due. Debts are paid through cash, so even if an enterprise’s total assets surpasses its liability, the organisation will still be considered insolvent if the assets cannot be converted into immediate cash to pay off its liabilities.

IRAS

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. ISCA

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants.

MManagement consultancy

From an accounting standpoint, management consultancy refers to the activity of engaging qualified accountants for their advice on other matters regarding the management of a company. This can range from financial strategy planning to HR issues, as well as matters relating to marketing and IT.

As these accountants are usually expected to possess quite a bit of business experience in order to give more in-depth advice to their customers, this is a role that only senior accountants with years of exposure to various businesses will be able to take on.

Middle markets

Medium-tier establishments that are too big to be considered an SME, but not big enough to be publicly-listed.

Not-for-profit

Organisations include clubs, societies and associations that are created for the purpose of assisting social growth and improvement. They usually champion social welfare and charity issues, and rarely gain profit. Even if they do make revenue from the activities they run, any money made cannot be used for the personal benefit of the proprietor. Rather, the money should be channelled back to the body to be used for the benefit of society. N

OOMB

Owner-managed business.

PPAYE

Pay-As-You-Earn, an income tax payment system where an employee’s tax and other national insurance contributions are deducted from his or her wages before it’s paid out to the employee.

Public practice

Loosely termed “freelancing” accountants, such practices provide accountancy services to clients as independent professional consultants instead of as employees of a firm.

SSeed investment

The initial funds used for the establishment of a company. It usually comes from the founder’s – or cofounder’s – personal assets, but can also be made by banks, venture capitalists, or angel investors.

SQP

Singapore Qualification Programme, a compulsory programme to take if one wants to practise as a chartered accountant in Singapore.

TTaxation (Tax)

Tax work is usually divided into two major disciplines:

• Tax compliance:

This area of work entails filling in and submitting tax returns on clients’ behalf. Duties include compiling the necessary documents required for filings, ensuring compliance with tax agency requirements and informing clients if there are any tax changes which affect them.

• Tax advisory and planning:

A consultancy-oriented area of work where tax professionals analyse an organisation’s financial accounts, and recommend changes as to how finances can be structured for minimum taxation within the boundaries of local legislation.

Tax liability

A person’s tax commitments, which are derived mainly from owned properties and earned income.

Assurance

Perform investigative duties during internal and external audits for companies.

Focusing primarily on the review of financial data and documents of a firm to test the soundness of its accounts, auditing serves to assure the owners and the clients of the legitimacy of the establishment’s records. It also guides the organisation’s subsequent financial planning and investments.

Assurance services generally encompass two types of audits, annual and internal. During annual audits, which are mandatory for most enterprises in Singapore, businesses engage external auditors to inspect accounts. The resulting audit reports will then be presented during Annual General Meetings (AGMs) for decision-making purposes, or used for the company’s yearly filings.

On the other hand, internal audits are domestic versions of annual audits performed by the respective institutes’ accountants. This form of audit isn’t compulsory, but firms are encouraged to do it as it helps them align Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) with their missions and goals. It also keeps accounts systematic and clear throughout the year, translating to a more ordered and stress-free annual audit for both the venture and its auditors.

Aside from auditing duties, assurance services also carry out various “investigative” duties. These include due diligence on potential mergers and

acquisitions, or assessing a venture’s sustainability and its standards of social and corporate responsibility.

General overview

Successful candidates are usually expected to juggle on-the-job training and pursue professional qualifications at the same time. Although it can get hectic, this arrangement allows graduates to apply and test their theoretical knowledge in reallife scenarios and provides great working experience from the get-go.

Travelling and meeting new people is part and parcel of the job, whether that means locally or abroad. This translates to exposure, and graduates will often come face-to-face with various interesting opportunities early on in their careers, not only broadening their professional perspectives, but also equipping themselves for future responsibilities as they continue to grow into the position.

Auditors work in teams most of the time, so good teamwork and communication skills are a must. Moreover, building a good rapport with the team will enhance work experience and ensure moral and professional support during the more demanding periods.

Required skills

The good news is that a finance-related degree isn’t a hard requirement to become a chartered accountant. Rather, a keen mind is needed to obtain professional qualifications, as the courses can be fairly challenging.

Work experience is vital here, so taking up internships and prior working arrangements will give applicants an advantage. As mentioned earlier, good communication and team-building skills will also help in the long run, especially given the team-based nature of the work.

As this job involves dealing with a variety of situations, auditors must be able to portray themselves as both competent and able to think on their feet. On top of that, there may be times when they have to read between the lines and dig up information that is not readily offered. As a result, traits like self-confidence and critical thinking are deemed important to those working in assurance.

Pros and cons

One of the biggest grouses about working in assurance is its long working hours, particularly during the tax season between February and April – auditors are even occasionally required to work on weekends during this period. Moreover, work may sometimes become both repetitive and the deadlines can be gruelling, with auditors expected to rush deliverables to meet deadlines. These, however, may only be minor shortcomings in the face of benefits such as the opportunity to travel, build connections and gain an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of various corporations and business sectors.

Commercial Finance

Manage and guide a firm’s cash flow and revenue generation for maximum profit.

The key driving force behind a company’s sales operations and performance, those who work in commercial finance are responsible for managing cash flow, generating revenue, and giving advice on business strategies for maximum profit.

General overview

Commercial finance managers are required to evaluate the performance and worth of an organisation’s products and services. Following that, they’ll make the necessary policy arrangements or build essential commercial strategies to advance the profitability of the product or business.

Their advice then becomes the guiding factor for other departments — such as sales and marketing — to make their own business resolutions and targets. In short, they need to strike a balance between making a profit for all stakeholders, while continuing to attract customers.

Other duties include product research, tracking sales performances, as well as calculating and projecting possible upcoming yields and trends. Based

on these predictions, graduates may sometimes be involved in developing new products and campaigns.

Many institutions place new recruits in training programmes, giving them a fair amount of responsibility to hone their skills in management, communication and persuasion. Moreover, even as new hires work towards professional qualifications, they may be tasked with advising on financial controls and analysing financial information to help colleagues make key business decisions.

Required skills

In this field, constant awareness of a firm’s business direction, along with broader trends in the marketplace, is vital. Commercial finance managers may also find themselves working with nonfinance colleagues to strategise and make plans during projects. As such, they will need to be well-equipped with good communication and presentation skills as well.

Analytical skills will need to be harnessed, as well as being able to think on your feet will be required when coming up with solutions for last-minute emergencies. Time management and organisational skills are also useful for the urgent completion of analysis and provision of recommendations before a large product rollout.

Pros and cons

Work in this sector often comes with plenty of pressure as multitasking is a reality most of the time. Decisions can and will directly influence the productivity and output of an enterprise, which means that there’s high pressure on successful applicants to perform. One such instance is the generation of daily sales and finance reports for management decisions.

On the other hand, this position is a great opportunity for those seeking to venture into a management career, as professionals in this line can expect to gain a deep understanding of the business world.

Corporate Finance

Comprising of lead advisory, transaction support and compliance roles, corporate finance helps businesses increase capital and shareholder value.

The main purpose of corporate finance is to monitor an organisation’s capital structure, as well as to increase its shareholder value through the sales of its investments and securities. The selling of bonds, debentures and common stocks also fall under the scope of this field.

General overview

Populated by various professionals including lead advisors, accountants, auditors and even lawyers, a quick glance shows that all work towards the common goal of raising capital. Each role serves a different function, contributing to different parts of the process.

Lead advisors analyse the financial landscape to recommend the best and safest ways for a firm to raise capital, given its risk appetite. On the other hand, accountants and auditors perform transaction support work by verifying the financial security of potential merger companies.

Here, they perform “undercover” work, looking into the accounts of organisations interested in merging or getting acquired. Checks are done to ensure that their accounts are “clean” – free of fraud allegations and thus safe for acquisition.

Meanwhile, lawyers attend to the legal aspects of these transactions, ensuring that firms comply with the legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions and transactions. They’ll need to be aware of red tape and loopholes to guide establishments successfully through a particular transaction.

Interested applicants will need to acquire sector-specific expertise if they intend to pursue a career in corporate finance, most of which will be obtained when the professional qualifications needed for the posts in question are taken up.

Required skills

Aside from sector-specific qualifications, working in corporate finance calls for excellent communication skills to deal with various parties of interest. Graduates need to be both assertive and persuasive, whether they’re meeting brokers or striking deals, and be able to clearly communicate information to both colleagues and stakeholders alike.

Professionalism when meeting clients is important, though graduates will gain more confidence with experience and familiarity. Apart from this, a strong understanding of the areas of business of a firm is crucial as well.

Career progression in this role is dependent on your capability to network and generate deal flow, so keep this in mind if you intend to climb the career ladder.

Pros and cons

Long hours and prolonged pressure are some expected working conditions in corporate finance, and the push to do well is amplified with constant monitoring of performance.

However, opportunities to work in talented teams are everywhere, and often translate to less rankoriented team dynamics and friendlier superior-subordinate relationships.

Corporate Recovery

Bring afflicted businesses back to health.

Corporate recovery is usually appointed on the recommendations of banks, lawyers and accountants, and entails providing assistance to ailing ventures. Hence, specialists in this field are responsible for analysing the state of the company and advising on their next steps.

If corporate recovery professionals believe it’s possible to rescue a firm, they’ll suggest a range of corporate, debt and equity restructuring strategies to aid in business objectives. However, if recovery isn’t feasible, their task is to instead help wind up the business and salvage as much as possible by selling remaining assets to repay outstanding debts.

In Singapore, the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore (IPAS) provides guidelines and training for both existing and aspiring corporate recovery specialists.

General overview

Working in corporate recovery, you’ll be dealing with a variety of cases, ranging from small chain stores to MNCs. Responsibilities can include securing and realisation of assets, preparing investigative reports, as well as generating and implementing plans. Depending on the scale of the case, the size of the team involved can vary.

Graduates will be involved in the entire process of recovery and rescue, from corporate reorganisation, debt restructuring and informal discussions to formal insolvency procedures. As they progress, however, they’ll be expected to specialise over time.

Required skills

While academic backgrounds related to business and economics are advantageous, applicants from nonrelated fields may be welcomed so long as they possess strong skills in negotiation. This is because people and persuasion skills are of the utmost importance for managing stakeholders, creditors and laid-off employees alike.

Other skills such as analysing complex financial information and working in flexible settings are valued, and graduates will be expected to have empathy for others while remaining resolute in their directives, as interaction with staff is frequent before they are laid off.

Pros and cons

Recovery specialists will likely have to work on several cases at any one time, and it can be difficult to deal with stakeholders involved in the process, especially when working with laid-off staff and having to pitch difficult decisions to reluctant business managers.

Still, this job also offers the opportunity to build up your network, and allows you to meet people from a variety of backgrounds. In addition, if you are interested in taking up consultancy, corporate recovery gives you the chance to learn more about trending markets in real-time, which will come in handy.

Corporate Treasury

Ensure that there’s always immediate cash on hand for priorities, necessities and emergencies alike.

Corporate treasurers are part of a company’s internal division, where they ensure that there’s sufficient immediate cash to fund priorities and demands. Their duties involve constant monitoring of the liquidity of finances, as well as cautiously managing various monetary risks.

In addition, corporate treasurers often advise on, and prepare, financial policies and controls that aid in funding the organisation, on top of considering how financial service providers can help reinforce financial security.

Because of this, professionals have to be attentive to the releases of new loan schemes, foreign exchange rates and banking and credit facilities in order to keep an establishment’s financial plans updated.

General overview

Most graduates begin as treasury analysts or treasury accountants, where on-thejob training is received. Newcomers are also expected to take professional qualifications on the side with the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in Singapore, or other equivalent professional bodies, in order to advance or specialise further.

On most occasions, graduates will work closely with senior management and manage large sums of money. Duties can be diversified, however, depending on the projects and cases handled at a particular time.

As a corporate treasurer’s work is largely tied to the enterprise they work for, working hours are fairly stable except during periods with urgent deadlines.

Required skills

Corporate treasurers must not only be well-informed of the company’s goals, but also the state of both the economic climate and the banking sector. Having the right knowledge and foresight will play a role in decision-making and avoiding pitfalls in the market, especially during forecasting sessions and pooling arrangements.

Although basic accounting knowledge is appreciated, it’s usually not a prerequisite. Rather, the ability to work according to procedures as well as simplify complex matters for the benefit and comprehension of senior management are much more important.

Pros and cons

Corporate treasury entails close working relationships with senior management, which means that — depending on company culture — graduates may be pressured to perform. Anxiety can also come due to the responsibility of handling large sums of money during transactions.

Working in the field, however, offers a broad overview of the inner workings of organisations, especially through the allocations of funds. This is a line of work that has remained largely unchanged – yet necessary – across various industries, so it can offer plenty of flexibility for potential employers over the course of a career.

Financial Accounting

Assess and evaluate the performance of an organisation.

Financial accountants are primarily concerned with the regular analysis and reporting of a company’s financial state, as well as providing information on its performance. This practice ensures the transparency of an enterprise’s accounts, and keeps it accountable to both its partners and customers.

For instance, internal management uses these reports to keep up-to-date on cash flow, a vital cog in decisionmaking; and external investors, such as shareholders and banks, refer to them to assess if it’s worth investing further. Other organisations, like suppliers, rely on these documents to decide whether to continue providing their products and services, or if it’ll be safe to extend any form of credit.

For Singapore, the practice of financial accounting is governed by the Accounting Standards Committee (ASC). They are responsible for formulating Singapore’s Finance Reporting Standards (FRS), a standard that should be adhered to by all practising financial accountants here.

General overview

Financial accountants usually find employment in departments such as auditing, treasury management and cash flow, as well as reporting new or potential acquisitions.

Graduate hires generally start with a training programme to acquire an overall understanding of the institution’s business and how finances are associated with other departments. As with most finance positions, pursuing the necessary professional qualifications while undergoing on-the-job training is required.

The first few years as a financial accountant are generally quite hectic as graduates deal with a steep learning curve. Other responsibilities include forecasting account balances, statutory reporting and controlling direct and indirect taxes.

After graduates have started specialising in a specific area, work will be determined by the projects taken.

Required skills

An eye for detail and an ability to communicate complex findings in layman’s terms are valued, together with having an analytical mind, good numeracy skills and a willingness to develop interdepartmental relationships. This is because financial accountants draw relevant conclusions based on minute details found in their analysis of the company’s accounts, and will need to report these findings comprehensively to senior management.

Working in Singapore also requires familiarity with the nation’s FRS, accounting systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), and other relevant government policies.

Pros and cons

The job can be hectic, and starting financial accountants will likely feel the pressure to perform well right off the bat. However, it does help graduates acquire a wide range of relevant knowledge and skills, particularly in technical accounting and leadership.

More than that, the comprehensive nature of this line of work also prepares many for the future if they decide to branch out and specialise in other areas of accountancy.

Forensic Accounting

Performing investigative processes to expose frauds and illegitimate financial practices is part of a day’s work.

Forensic accounting is a niche within the field of accountancy that combines accounting, auditing and investigation skills to uncover financial crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion.

Part of the job includes analysing financial records and transactions, tracing assets and due diligence review. Alternatively, some professionals in the field choose to specialise in fraud risk management to focus on reducing the possibility of financial fraud.

Forensic accountants will find themselves employed by a variety of organisations, including public accounting firms, compliance departments and financial institutions. They may even work with law enforcement authorities and lawyers, and serve as expert witnesses in court.

General overview

While a finance-related degree and training in criminal justice or law enforcement are significant advantages, applicants are still required to obtain a recognised professional qualification first. Most firms in Singapore accept qualifications such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), CPA and the CA in Singapore.

Upon employment, many graduates will spend time training and gaining experience in an audit or forensic department before going into forensic accounting. On the other hand, some may be hired directly into the role instead.

Starting out, new recruits will have to persist through low-level data analysis like creating spreadsheets and checking financial and written records for relevant information. As time passes and more experience is gained, however, heavier responsibilities such as conducting individual investigations will be assigned.

Required skills

In forensic accounting, success can hinge on the detection of tiny details, along with an ability to analyse and parse through large amounts of data for any discrepancies. In addition, any given case should be approached with both caution and creative thinking, knowing where and how to look for evidence of financial crime, which can be hidden in the depths of seemingly trivial data.

Moreover, portraying a professional image at all times reflects an identity of independence, integrity and credibility – traits that cannot be stressed enough in this field. As a representative of a firm, graduates will need to convince clients that they stand for objectivity and unbiased judgement, especially if they are required to stand in court as expert witnesses.

Pros and cons

Some obstacles include uncooperative clients or emotional employees, who either feel wronged or that their loyalty to the company is being judged and questioned. Work can also get tedious and laborious at times, with routine record analysis. However, the sense of satisfaction is immense when cases are solved with the discovery of crucial pieces of information. There are opportunities to travel and meet professionals from diverse and interesting backgrounds, though, and a graduate’s network can swell with contacts such as law enforcement officers, forensic technicians, lawyers and even private investigators.

Internal Audit

Conduct housekeeping of a company and ensure accounts remain accurate and organised.

As opposed to external audits, internal audits are catered to domestic checks within a firm. Typically, a team of auditors are brought in to inspect the accounts for the organisation’s own in-house use. The business administration then uses these findings to improve operations and strategies.

Along with generating reports, internal auditors may also advise the administrative department on the company’s performance, as well as the financial risks incurred. It’s their responsibility to test the adequacy of the risk controls currently in place, and advise on any necessary adjustments.

While internal audits aren’t compulsory, they are still highly recommended. In Singapore, internal auditors are governed by the Institute of Internal Auditors Singapore (IIA Singapore).

General overview

New recruits in this area start off as audit assistants, spending the majority of their time reviewing accounts on-site, interacting with staff and management for more information and taking samples from the records for testing purposes.

As graduates progress, heavier roles during audit jobs will be assigned, particularly strategic ones. For example, information security and risk exposures may have to be evaluated, and company management advised on the necessary finetunes needed accordingly.

Required skills

Having extensive knowledge of accounting software products, ERP systems and processes and the local accounting systems of a firm will be a benefit.

Effective communication skills and good language proficiency – particularly multiple dialects – is another added bonus, as these may help graduates liaise better with company staff and management during assignments.

Most of the information in an internal auditor’s report will come from a variety of accounts and interviews, so a keen eye for detail and a knack for analysis will be useful when parsing through the provided information. At the same time, it’s also important to employ critical thinking and a level of professional scepticism.

Due to the project-based nature of the work, internal auditors should be independent and willing to take initiative, such as to conduct their own research on the organisations they will be auditing.

Pros and cons

This job provides the opportunity to dabble in a wide variety of sectors, though this also means that new hires will have a lot to learn right at the start of their career. On the other hand, this knowledge will allow a broader and more objective perspective about the commercial world.

Patience and motivation will also be essential, as difficult employees may be encountered during interviews at establishments. On occasion, these employees may not see the point of an internal auditor’s work and make things difficult.

Overlapping deadlines is also a bane in this line, but the satisfaction derived from contributing to a venture’s achievement of its business goals can be tremendous.

Management Accounting

Use financial expertise to make informed business decisions and drive change within organisations on a strategic level.

Management accounting is a sector that brings together accountancy, finance and management to aid company leaders in decision-making and the implementation of financial strategies.

The responsibilities of management accountants are twofold – they create statements, reports and documents about the state of an enterprise to management, or they may also be business partners who take active roles in planning and strategising a firm’s policies.

Professionals draw conclusions from the financial information obtained, and generate business-specific insights to present strategies for organisations to navigate the ever-changing commercial environment. As such, the advice they offer can range from product design economics and the cost of running production lines to IT solutions planning and HR management.

Management accountants also need to be able to see the venture from a complex, international perspective. In this respect, good management accountants are as aware of global trends as they are of specific, local issues to each process of the establishment, and are able to see

how both factors interact and affect the company as a whole.

General overview

Newcomers usually start with a position in general accounting to pick up various skills that’ll be useful for management accounting. But if a graduate intends to specialise in management accounting, they’ll be encouraged to study for the specialist professional qualifications offered by various professional bodies, like the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Early responsibilities include crunching numbers for internal reviews and preparing management budgets. Once established, they may be asked to assist with risk management, identifying trends and opportunities for future investments and overseeing junior accountants.

Most duties, however, will have management accountants working closely with senior management, which includes advising them in decision-making and strategy planning.

Required skills

Like most accounting positions, having a business- or finance-related degree, or a relevant professional qualification such as those offered by CIMA, will be beneficial. In addition, aspiring management accountants should gain a good foundation in System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) management software, GAAP, financial analysis and reporting skills.

For soft skills, good communication and persuasion skills are highly essential for translating complicated concepts and data to those unfamiliar with accounting intellect, as well as promoting ideas and opinions. Additionally, management accountants ought to be equipped with leadership and decision-making skills.

As new hires progress, the ability to observe local trends with international perspectives in order to decide on the value of potential investments should also be developed.

Pros and cons

This is a challenging field that comes with enjoyable mental stimulation. However, duties can be both diverse and taxing at times as well, and can be demanding in terms of time. On the other hand, it can be satisfying to help guide companies and firms alike and help them succeed by helping them prosper in the long run.

Risk Assessment

Troubleshoot and catch commercial risks early to ensure maximum turnover.

Risk assessment involves identifying and evaluating potential risks from performing any business decision that may impact a company’s goals. This area of work includes utilising analysis skills to calculate risks before providing suggestions on how to reduce them.

This can be combined with governance advisory services, which provides insight on running an organisation to meet expectations of the management, stakeholders and staff. On occasion, risk assessment services are also provided alongside compliance advisory services so businesses can stay informed about new laws and rulings issued by the government.

Investors and business managers also require risk assessments to make informed decisions and pursue gains while avoiding losses from undertaking investments.

General overview

Graduate hires generally start out in broader areas, such as assurance, for training before specialising in risk assessment. However, some companies, particularly larger organisations, may choose to absorb them directly into their risk assessment department and train them in-house.

Trainees are expected to monitor daily business functions, evaluate the efficiency of existing risk controls and assist with preparing recommendation reports for clients. From there, recruits will move on to planning, designing and supervising the implementation of a risk management process and continuity plans for a firm. In addition, it’ll be their duty to establish and determine the risk appetite of a venture.

Risk assessors usually work closely with executive boards and senior management, and provide them with insights on a range of issues, from security, fraud protection and management of technology departments, to ecological and social performance.

Required skills

In-depth knowledge of enterprise risk management (ERM) programmes and Risk Control Self Assessments (RSCA) is needed, along with a comprehensive understanding of the various types of risks that a firm may face, both locally and internationally.

Excellent communication skills are vital for reporting to and advising stakeholders, including directors, business heads and department managers. Not only will risk assessors need to ensure that they understand Besides conveying messages in a way that’s relevant to each of them, good interpersonal skills and confidence will be a bonus for client interactions.

Keeping abreast of the latest changes in laws and regulations so as to offer clients up-to-date assistance is crucial as well.

Pros and cons

The work is intellectually stimulating, particularly with international institutions and government ministries, as risk assessors help decision-makers avoid risks and capitalise on opportunities.

On the downside, the role is also primarily consultative and supervisory, which means that graduates will hold little decisionmaking power. Frustration with clients who are difficult to convince, or are unwilling to take advice, is a reality in this line of work as well.

Tax

Helping clients and companies adhere to taxation demands and laws.

Tax advisors play the role of consultants, supervising tax problems for clients and advising them on tax laws. Advice is dispensed in three broad areas: tax implications of business dealings, cost-effective decisions to taxation demands and the implications of changes in tax laws and the tax system.

Aside from major corporate tax issues, like compliance – tax returns –and transactions like M&A, there are other specialist areas in tax advisory, including employee issues such as stock options and CPF contributions, indirect tax services like advising on VAT, GST and import duties, as well as personal or business taxation services for high-networth clients.

General overview

Many new hires start off as trainees in a tax department of a professional services firm as they study part-time for the professional qualifications needed to become a chartered tax accountant. From there, graduates may choose to move to a company that focuses exclusively on taxation issues, or specialise further in certain fields of taxation.

A full-fledged tax advisor prepares taxes for clients in such a way that it decreases the amount of tax that needs to be paid while still complying with government tax regulations. This includes research into previous tax filings, attending strategy meetings with clients and preparing presentations on their tax liabilities to keep them updated.

Required skills

A finance degree is helpful but not essential, though the Chartered Accountant certification is a must. Moreover, all practising tax accountants in Singapore are required to undertake 30 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) each year in order to maintain the quality of their work.

The course is offered by ISCA, the Tax Academy of Singapore, as well as selected tax and accounting organisations. SIAPT is an information institute about the tax profession.

Graduates will also need to arm themselves with knowledge about the latest laws and regulations in regard to taxation matters to ensure advice is timely and accurate. More than that, familiarity with the international business scene and tax laws in other countries is essential for dealing with international investments on behalf of clients.

Moreover, coping with pressure and practising discretion when handling clients’ tax affairs is also important in this line of work.

Pros and cons

Life as a tax accountant is exciting as the role may constitute working in a proposal meeting one day, and on large tenders the next. Tax advisory is also intellectually challenging as its purview includes helping clients resolve difficult taxation issues.

As tax professionals work in teams with varied backgrounds and specialisations, there is exposure to different aspects of advisory work as well.

Stress levels, however, are considerable from juggling multiple projects while pursuing specialised qualifications – all on tight deadlines. Occasionally, professionals can still encounter difficult clients who can be frustratingly secretive about their business accounts.

Featured Employer: BDO

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Shaping Success Through Learning

Since its establishment in 1972, BDO Singapore has become a trusted partner in the financial industry, offering audit, assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients both locally and internationally. Recognised as one of Singapore’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers for the past five years, BDO prides itself on its entrepreneurial spirit and strong focus on continuous learning and development. Audit Manager Xing Zengyi shares how his career journey with BDO, as well as its support, has shaped his growth and professional outlook.

Name: Xing Zengyi

Designation: Audit Manager

Company: BDO Singapore

Career highlights:

2018: Joined BDO Singapore’s audit division as an Audit Associate

2023: Progressed through the ranks and promoted to Audit Manager

2024: Successfully completed Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification Programme and conferred the designation, Singapore Chartered Accountant

Thriving in this environment requires careful planning, prioritising key matters and executing tasks efficiently and effectively.

1. Tell us about your current position as an Audit Manager

As an Audit Manager, I am responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of clients across various industries, including mining, construction, food and beverage, shipping, and telecommunications. My role involves overseeing the planning, execution, and completion of audit engagements while ensuring compliance with the relevant auditing and financial reporting standards. In addition to reviewing audit work, I manage engagement timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure efficient and timely delivery. Effective coordination and communication with multiple stakeholders—including management, the audit engagement team, and BDO member firms—are essential for achieving successful outcomes.

Beyond client service responsibilities, I am also tasked with managing a team. This includes resource allocation, talent development, and training initiatives. I assign staff to engagements based on their skills and development needs, provide guidance and coaching to enhance their technical competencies, and actively participate in performance evaluations and career development discussions. I strive to cultivate a collaborative team culture that promotes open communication.

2. What motivated you to join this industry and company?

In my final year at university, I thought a lot about my first job, including which industry to enter and how to shape my career to gain meaningful experience and exposure. I explored several options, such as becoming an auditor, accountant, or analyst. After researching these roles and reading about the job descriptions and career prospects, I decided to pursue a career in auditing, as it not only allows me to audit financial statements but also provides the opportunity to understand how each function of a company operates. Gaining this holistic understanding of a business makes the audit process more meaningful and rewarding.

I am motivated to join BDO Singapore as it offers opportunities that align with my career objectives of continuous learning and professional growth. During the interview, I was fortunate to meet my Audit Partner, Jocelyn Goh, who is now my mentor. She provided me with a comprehensive insight into the company and the growth opportunities it offers, which appealed to me and gave me a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. She has been instrumental in fostering my growth within the firm to this day.

3. Were there any challenges in your career journey? How did you overcome them?

Being involved in large and complex audit engagements is undoubtedly the most significant highlight of my career, serving as a testament to my ability.

During my time here, I have encountered challenging engagements. Fortunately, the continuous guidance and support from my superiors have helped me navigate through the obstacles efficiently. In the process of fulfilling these objectives, these experiences have also significantly contributed to both my personal and professional growth.

Aside from work, pursuing my professional qualification presented extreme challenges as I had to manage my schedule and juggle between giving my all for work and studies, while later starting a young family, all within the same working day. I am incredibly thankful for BDO’s commitment in supporting its employees through guidance from my superiors and the generous firm’s study leave policy, which has been crucial in helping me balance my responsibilities while equipping me with the knowledge needed to succeed in the exams.

4. What do you enjoy most about your job? Any achievements worth sharing?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job goes beyond completing audit engagements. It’s the network of colleagues across different service lines and BDO member firms that I have built up over the years. They provide me with access to resources and support that could enhance the quality of service for my clients. Ultimately, these strong and reliable connections are what truly make a workplace enjoyable.

5. What are some essential skills graduates should possess to thrive in this sector?

Effective project and time management are essential in this industry as it involves managing clients’ expectations regarding timelines, ensuring adequate resources to complete audit engagements, resolving audit issues and handling adhoc tasks. Thriving in this environment requires careful planning, prioritising key matters and executing tasks efficiently and effectively.

6. Any advice you’d like to share with aspiring graduates?

I believe in continuous learning because it allows me to gain valuable knowledge and new perspectives that I can share with others.

I see the need to develop my professional career further; hence, I decided to pursue the prestigious Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualifications after just 6 months in my job.

Learning is a journey, not a destination. Embrace continuous learning to boost your adaptability in the ever-changing world. This is definitely crucial for this industry.

Contact

600 North Bridge Road, #23-01, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778

Tel: (+65) 6828 9118

Web: www.bdo.com.sg/en-gb/careers

Email: career@bdo.com.sg

Social Media @BDOSingapore @bdosg @bdo-singapore

Number of employees

500 – 1,000 employees

Minimum requirement Degree Diploma

More about us

BDO Singapore is a full-service professional services firm deeply rooted in serving small and mediumsized enterprises, large privately held businesses, and multinationals across diverse industries in Singapore. Our clientele spans various sectors: consumer and retail, financial services, education, F&B, manufacturing, real estate and construction, logistics, healthcare, public sector, professional services, transport, technology, media, and telecommunications.

BDO Singapore is an independent member firm of BDO International. Established in 1972, we have evolved into one of Singapore’s leading and highly respected accounting and business advisory firms, with over 650 employees. We offer an extensive and comprehensive suite of professional services encompassing audit, business advisory, tax and business services outsourcing.

As a forward-thinking, digital-focused firm that sees digital as a cornerstone of excellence, we are proud of our partners and directors who consistently earn the trust of our clients and the market by delivering ideas that create value. We take pride in our dedicated team’s pivotal role in helping our clients grow, flourish, and transform. We cultivate a culture that transcends office boundaries, fostering collaboration and community engagement within and beyond our workplace.

Sector(s)

• Accountancy and Financial Management

• Consulting

Katherine Ang

JOB

Associate Director

EMPLOYER

BDO Advisory Pte Ltd

QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma in Accountancy, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Graduated in 2007

• ACCA Professional Qualification, ACCA Singapore, Graduated in 2013

• Chartered Accountant, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, Graduated in 2014

“Over the years, I’ve developed an eye for spotting control gaps in different industries, and I’m able to suggest improvements that make organisations run more smoothly.“

A Day In The Life

5:30 AM – The Early Bird Gets the (Audit) Worm

I’m an early riser, and I kickstart my day by clearing my inbox and tackling priority tasks. But it’s not all work! I’ve got a mini morning routine. First, I pack snacks for my son, enjoy breakfast together, and get my toddler daughter ready for childcare. Once the kids are sorted, my husband and I drop them off, and I head to the office. One of the perks of being an outsourced auditor is the ever-changing scenery. One day, I’m at a client’s office in one part of Singapore, and the next, I could be working in a completely different neighbourhood—or even overseas!

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Meetings...

By 9 AM, I am usually deep into meetings with my team or clients. This is where the real action happens. We discuss progress updates, ask questions, and conduct interviews with clients to understand how their processes work.

It’s one of the best parts of the job because I get to speak with people at every level—whether it’s front-line staff, department heads, or even C-suite executives. The knowledge shared during these conversations is incredible. Over the years, I’ve developed an eye for spotting control gaps in different industries, and I’m able to suggest improvements that make organisations run more smoothly.

11:30 AM – The Sacred Hour: Lunch

Lunch – my favourite part of the day. It’s not just about the food, but also because lunch is when I recharge. It’s my moment to bond with my colleagues, chat about everything from work to weekend plans, and laugh a little. As an outsourced auditor, I get to explore all sorts of lunch spots around Singapore. Every couple of weeks, I try new places, tick off must-try dishes.

1:00 PM – Back to Work (With a Side of Client Prep)

After lunch, I dive back into work. I focus on prepping for meetings, drafting proposals, reviewing audit reports, and working through audit papers. It’s a time for deep concentration, but I always keep an eye on the bigger picture.

2:30 PM – The Reality of Client Meetings: A Battle of Ideas (In the Best Way)

Usually, I would meet clients to update them on the audit progress. This is where the real intellectual sparring happens. I share our observations and recommendations, and we get into some deep discussions. Not every conversation is smooth sailing— sometimes, the debates can get heated, as clients are as passionate about their work as we are about ours. Sometimes they’re right and we’re wrong. But that’s what makes the job fun! Working together to find solutions and considering different perspectives is always a learning experience.

And just like that, I’m off to my next meeting or project update. Project management and time management are crucial in this role—there’s always something happening.

5:00 PM – Wrapping Up...

As my day ends, I ensure my partner and clients are up to date with the latest developments. A quick check-in, some emails, and I’m ready to head home.

Adulting doesn’t mean giving up on your favourite cereal.

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