The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recently concluded the 2023 ACCA Global Council Elections, which included the election of Ms Lim Fen Nee. She is the first graduate of TAR UMT to be elected into this global council. She completed her Diploma in Commerce (Financial Accounting) at the then TAR College, which ran parallel with her ACCA qualification. Later on, she pursued her Masters of Business Administration in E-Commerce from Charles Sturt University, Australia.
Commencing her career as an auditor in Ernst & Young, she worked her way up with many achievements through hard work and discipline. Ms Lim currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director in various corporate entities, Chair of ACCA Malaysia (MY) Women’s Network and is part of the ACCA MY Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Task Force. Formerly, she was a regional partner with Deloitte Southeast Asia and prior to this, she was the Head of Audit Oversight Board (AOB), Securities Commission Malaysia. She also served as a Project Advisor to the Securities Commission covering various capital market initiatives and she was actively involved in international and ASEAN audit oversight activities. On a global level, Ms Lim also served her posting in the United States and held consulting roles in the World Bank.
With a number of prominent positions she has held in the past, Ms Lim shared how she approaches challenges and rise above them. “I find it very important to acknowledge and embrace changes. To do this, we must always have an open mind and view them as part and parcel of career development and learn from these changes. In addition, prioritisation and focusing on delivery outcomes are significant traits. One cannot be too complacent and it is crucial to always evaluate ourselves to ensure we are on the right track. Truth and honesty are of utmost importance, more so as accountants, we must uphold integrity at all times. Overall, a positive mindset with pertinent traits and diligence are crucial to achieve one’s career goals,” she shared. She further added “Family support is a cornerstone that I deeply value and am grateful for, in my career”.
As she gears up for her new role, she has identified key focus areas she hopes to contribute in. “I aim to serve in the best interest of ACCA members across the world, focusing on contributing meaningfully towards the advancement of the accounting profession. I would also like to see greater collaborations between ACCA and its key stakeholders to facilitate the evolving needs of the profession, where it also benefits the wider community. This includes having foresight on the required skillsets for accountants to serve the public’s interests, with greater adaptation and contribution to societal values, as well as technological and ESG requirements.”
Reflecting on her journey, she attributes her success to both the education and continuous involvement in the professional community. She also humbly remembers how she started off in her career. “I have benefited from the ACCA qualification, for the recognition in my career. The qualification gave me a strong knowledge base, with greater global prospects, as how I stepped foot into the United States to further my career journey. The qualification comes with great emphasis on ethical and professional conduct which built my character, and this is fundamental, yet valuable credentials as a professional accountant. On the side of my career, I got the opportunity to contribute to our ACCA community through inspirational sharing, and advocate for continuous learning, embedding greater skillsets in digital and sustainability knowledge. That’s the beauty of the ACCA membership, always timeless and thinking ahead of how to serve better in our society and economy."
“Looking back, I am glad to have pursued my education at TAR College, as a progression route to obtain my ACCA professional qualification. I am very proud and happy that my alma mater is now a University, a well-deserved recognition to its quality tertiary education which has given so many of us a chance for a bright future. More so, I greatly appreciate the lecturers at TAR UMT for their continued dedication and commitment in empowering the younger generation with good tertiary education that will also serve them well for their future,” she concluded.
