Breaking borders: how international mobility creates new opportunities for a seasoned accountant

With more than 18 years of experience in the accounting industry under her belt, Sao considers this MOVE programme as a significant milestone in her career development.

(Image featuring Sao at Mazars in Singapore office)

Hear from Sao on her experience of working in Singapore:

1. What drew you to the MOVE programme?

Throughout my career, I have gained expertise in accounting, auditing, and financial SAP consultant. But joining this MOVE programme is my first opportunity to work in a different country and step out from my comfort zone.

2. Why did you choose to work in Singapore?

There are three primary factors that motivated me to come here. The first one is the proximity of Singapore to Thailand so it’s very convenient if I need to travel home for any reason. Secondly, since we are neighbouring ASEAN countries, our food scene and cultures are quite similar, so I do not need to adjust my lifestyle significantly.

Finally, the most compelling reason for me to work here is that Singapore is a global business hub. I believe that by working here I can learn new working styles, improve my English skills and gain insights from how Singapore professionals conduct themselves.

3. How was your experience in the Singapore Outsourcing team? Were there anything in particular that were unexpected?

The key work structures in the Singapore Outsourcing team are quite similar with Thailand as we follow the same global policies. However, I was very surprised to learn that Singapore has a completely different approach to managing junior team members.

In contrast to Thailand, where the manager serves as the main contact person to communicate with clients, the Singapore office empowers the junior team members to communicate with clients directly.

This methodology gives an opportunity for the junior staff to improve their skills, and as a result, the junior team in Singapore is notably stronger than my team. I am now considering adapting this approach in my team in the future as I am sure it will be very useful to develop our talent.

4. What are the top lessons you learned from your time in Singapore?

1. Work speed: People here work at a much faster pace and it makes for a good work environment. I find myself being more proactive whilst working here.
2. Commitment to timeline: Everyone is serious and committed about meeting project timelines. This is a notable aspect of professional skills in Singapore. I learned to manage my schedules effectively and handle critical situations better.
3. The people: I appreciate the warm welcome that I received since the day I arrived here. Singaporeans are friendly, kind and empathetic and they made me feel right at home.

5. How do you think this MOVE experience has helped you to develop personally and professionally?

To be honest, this cross-cultural experience completely helped me to develop my personal and professional life. I gained valuable takeaways from this secondment such as the exposure to the working style in Singapore. This has taught me the importance of being productive and adaptability. I have become a fast learner to adapt to the new work environment.

Nothing is easy from the beginning when we step out from our comfort zone. But I believe this is the fastest way for self-improvement. Being alone in a new country helps me to develop myself not just professionally but also personally.

6. Words of advice for Mazarians who wants to join the MOVE programme?

It’s important to change our mindset. Every experience will fit like a jigsaw puzzle in your journey to success. Once you open your mind to taking risks, learning new things and meeting new friends, all of these parts will help you succeed faster.

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The Mazars MOVE programme is an international mobility initiative which gives employees with at least 2 years of experience the chance to gain international experience and develop new skills on specific projects. The programme lasts from 2 to 6 months.

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