The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) has released the second edition of its Snippets Revelations series, offering fresh insights into career opportunities and progression within the accountancy sector. The publication is the result of a collaboration between ISCA’s Salary and Career Review Taskforce and The Singapore Management University (SMU).
The launch was announced by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, in her speech as the Guest-of-Honour at the ISCA Conference.
Targeted at students, educators, and parents, Snippets Revelations #2: Accountancy – Possibilities, Perspectives, and Purpose builds on the success of the first edition by providing an in-depth exploration of the accountancy profession. This edition highlights the diverse career trajectories within the field, with a particular focus on salary trends and comparisons with other professions.
Voices of Experience Share Their Career Stories
This new edition features the career stories of 11 seasoned professionals, each offering a unique perspective on the pathways within accountancy. Through their personal journeys, the guide showcases the varied roles and opportunities available in the field, underscoring the dynamic nature of the profession and its potential for growth. The guide features the following professionals:
Mr Quah Zheng Wei, Chief Executive Officer of Accredify and a Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)], who shared how his background helped him transition into entrepreneurship; Ms Esther Wee, Deputy Accountant-General, Accountant-General’s Department, Singapore, CA (Singapore), and how she makes an impact in public finance; Ms Emelia Long, Financial Controller, Circular Now, CA (Singapore), who spoke about how her skills as an auditor has benefited her across a multitude of industries such as tech, eCommerce, energy, and pharmaceuticals.
ISCA CEO, Ms Fann Kor said, “There is a common misconception that accountancy jobs are boring, or that accountants only work with numbers. We hope that the stories shared by these professionals will provide fresh perspectives on the profession. Accountancy is an evolving field, one that not only builds essential skills but also opens doors to diverse career pathways."
It Pays to Stay in Accounting
Building on the foundation laid in Snippets Revelations #1, which highlighted starting salaries and career prospects for fresh accountancy graduates, Snippets Revelations #2 takes a deeper dive into salary trends and how they compare to other professions.
In partnership with SMU’s School of Accountancy, ISCA analysed data from the 2022 Occupational Wage Survey, conducted by the Manpower Research and Statistics Department of Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower.
A key finding was that the salary of professionals aged 40–49 is 45% higher than those aged 30–39, compared to a 27% increase for professionals in adjacent roles, highlighting the strong earnings potential in accounting-related occupations over time.
Ms Yvonne Chan, Chairperson of the ISCA Salary and Career Review Taskforce and Chief Financial Officer at SMU, added, “Following up from Snippets #1 earlier this year, this guide goes further. It benchmarks the accounting salary trends against other non-accounting roles and highlights the dynamic and strategic role accountants play in driving business decisions. Adaptability and strategic thinking remain key criteria to a long, fulfilling career as emphasised by our interviewees to the study. I hope these insights inspire students, educators, and parents to see accounting not just as a stable profession, but as a rewarding career that offers diverse opportunities and lifelong growth.”
Clarence Goh, Assistant Professor of Accounting (Practice) and Director, Professional Development at SMU School of Accountancy, remarked, “The findings from this report reinforce the value of pursuing a career in accounting. The profession offers both competitive salaries as well as the breadth and depth of opportunities which make it an incredibly rewarding career path. At SMU, we are proud to equip our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving global marketplace.”
Snippets Revelations Series:
Snippets Revelation #1: Accountancy – Pathways, Progression and Prospects
Snippets Revelations #2: Accountancy – Possibilities, Perspectives and Purpose