In today’s competitive job market, companies are looking for talent who are skilled in different domains to drive business growth. To get ahead at work, it is important for professionals to master new skills, especially in-depth domain knowledge of another field. Hence, it is imperative for individuals to equip themselves with the skills necessary to advance their career.
Balasubramanian Arvind, an alumnus of SMU’s Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) programme and a law graduate, shares how his accounting knowledge gives him a different perspective at work and how he gets the best of both worlds.
As a law graduate, what made you choose MPA?
Tax and revenue legislation, which blend economics, law and accounting principles, have always intrigued me. I wanted to undertake postgraduate studies in an area that would complement my legal background and better equip me for a career in tax consulting. MPA proved to be a great way of doing that.
What are the challenges that you faced throughout the programme and how did you overcome it?
They say lawyers are bad with numbers, and I wanted to try dispelling that myth. I think I achieved some success at that, thanks to the professors and classmates who were always there to answer my most intractable questions! The numerous field trips and bonding sessions that we had in Singapore and overseas also gave us respite from the challenging academic terms.
What did you enjoy about being in the MPA programme?
The diversity of the student body and vibrant in-class atmosphere stands out the most to me. The programme was also very well designed, challenging and deeply enriching. We had many opportunities to bond, work together and debate over coursework. I was able to make some very good friends with people from all walks of life and professions including accountants, other lawyers and even CFOs of multinationals.
I especially cherished the opportunity to attend classes taught by industry stalwarts like Mr Chan Yew Kiang and Associate Professor Cheng Nam Sang.
How would you advise candidates who are interested in pursuing the MPA programme?
One has to understand what one wants to get out of a Master's Programme and work towards it from the very start. Are you interested in a career switch? Do you wish to upgrade your skills? Are you a professional looking for career advancement in finance but comes from a non-accounting background like engineering?
A postgraduate degree is very different from an undergraduate one, and one that offers you not only a chance to gain a much deeper understanding of an academic discipline, but also a chance to stand out!
I believe the MPA can help you achieve all goals.
Balasubramanian Arvind was previously working in a law firm before joining the MPA programme. An SMU Postgraduate ASEAN scholar, he is currently working in a Big 4 accounting firm specialising in the areas of tax consulting and transfer pricing.
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