ACA
From Malaysia to France, the UK, and Mexico - Amani’s story
16 Oct 2023
Amani Khairuddin, ICAEW Chartered Accountant, recently shared her inspiring story from being accepted on Malaysia’s only Fortune Global 500 company, PETRONAS to studying with Kaplan and travelling around the world.
Amani’s career
After being accepted on a scholarship programme at PETRONAS, Amani was sent to France to study for her degree in accounting and finance. Following this opportunity, she then went over to the UK and was accepted as a trainee for Flemmings, a business advisory group specialising in accounting, financial services, and tax.
During Amani’s time in the UK, she studied towards her ICAEW exams with Kaplan, where she admired the “quality of the tutors” who were “professional and had a lot of professional experience themselves.”
Amani also enjoyed the quality of learning during her ICAEW studies, highlighting that the tutors ensured that there was a mixed balance of learning and understanding all of the content, but with a focus on exams so that learners could feel confident in passing their exams.
Adapting to life overseas
Amani spoke more in detail about what life was like training to be an accountant overseas to her home country:
“In my third year at PETRONAS, I was assigned the task of setting up a team in Mexico, and training the locals on the financial accounting requirements of the PETRONAS group.”
However, despite being very far from home, Amani showcased her competency in effectively managing a foreign community, which was made possible due to her studies in France.
While in France, Amani thrived outside of her comfort zone. While she was studying for four years from her diploma to her accounting and finance degree, she immersed herself in studying using the French language.
She reflected back on her thoughts during her time in France:
“I must admit it was a rather lonely period for me. Being the sole Malaysian student in the entire university, I faced considerable challenges. Moreover, the fact that French was not my first or second language created a social barrier.”
Nevertheless, Amani’s journey is a true story of resilience and adaptation, where she even participated in competitions with her French peers, such as the national competition, La Creation Des Entreprises, where her team achieved first place.
Solidifying her technical competency
Amani moved over to the UK after completing her degree. This is where she joined Flemmings as a trainee accountant and studied towards her ICAEW qualification. This gave her the opportunity to work internationally and work to gain the trust of clients as a new accountant in a foreign country.
Over time, her confidence grew and she consistently demonstrated her technical competency and expertise - highlighting the value of diversity and unique perspectives in the industry.
Kaplan’s training played a crucial role in Amani’s educational journey and experience as an ICAEW learner, which helped her to significantly grow as an aspiring leader in finance. Not only was the ICAEW great for developing her knowledge, but it also equipped her with the necessary professional development skills and business acumen needed to excel in the finance field.
Building Malaysia through PETRONAS
Now 33 years old, Amani holds the position of Head of Finance Accounting (gas business) at PETRONAS. From travelling around the world - studying in France, and working in the UK and Mexico - Amani’s heart remains firmly committed to Malaysia’s growth and development.
PETRONAS is a prominent oil and gas company that holds significant influence over Malaysia’s wealth and has a profound impact on the nation, contributing to more than 15% of the Malaysian government’s revenue. So, there’s no surprise why Amani feels so passionately dedicated to the company’s cause and work.
Working at PETRONAS, Amani has played a crucial role in the financial growth of the company. She describes the company’s responsibility as amanah (trust) to unlock the potential of Malaysia’s oil and gas resources.
Encouragement and motivation
Amani recognises the support of her family, sharing that her husband, who’s in the same professional field, has been a constant pillar of encouragement throughout her journey.
It has been essential to understand the demands of the finance industry throughout her experience at PETRONAS. So, although there have been the occasional demand of late nights and weekend work, Amani is grateful to have a husband who understands the nature of her job, while he has helped to create a nurturing and harmonious environment that allows her to focus on her career.
When asked about what drives her, Amani noted that PETRONAS’ focus is on individuals who are motivated to serve the nation. For her, the primary source of motivation lies in the sense of purpose derived from contributing to Malaysia.
She concluded: “In PETRONAS, motivation is key. The more opportunities you seek, the more you will receive.”
Watch the interview with Amani - My ICAEW journey with Kaplan
Feeling inspired?
Learn any time, at any place, with Kaplan Learning. Browse all of our online courses now and view our subscription method so that your study journey is on your terms.
ACA
From Malaysia to France, the UK, and Mexico - Amani’s story
16 Oct 2023
Amani Khairuddin, ICAEW Chartered Accountant, recently shared her inspiring story from being accepted on Malaysia’s only Fortune Global 500 company, PETRONAS to studying with Kaplan and travelling around the world.
Amani’s career
After being accepted on a scholarship programme at PETRONAS, Amani was sent to France to study for her degree in accounting and finance. Following this opportunity, she then went over to the UK and was accepted as a trainee for Flemmings, a business advisory group specialising in accounting, financial services, and tax.
During Amani’s time in the UK, she studied towards her ICAEW exams with Kaplan, where she admired the “quality of the tutors” who were “professional and had a lot of professional experience themselves.”
Amani also enjoyed the quality of learning during her ICAEW studies, highlighting that the tutors ensured that there was a mixed balance of learning and understanding all of the content, but with a focus on exams so that learners could feel confident in passing their exams.
Adapting to life overseas
Amani spoke more in detail about what life was like training to be an accountant overseas to her home country:
“In my third year at PETRONAS, I was assigned the task of setting up a team in Mexico, and training the locals on the financial accounting requirements of the PETRONAS group.”
However, despite being very far from home, Amani showcased her competency in effectively managing a foreign community, which was made possible due to her studies in France.
While in France, Amani thrived outside of her comfort zone. While she was studying for four years from her diploma to her accounting and finance degree, she immersed herself in studying using the French language.
She reflected back on her thoughts during her time in France:
“I must admit it was a rather lonely period for me. Being the sole Malaysian student in the entire university, I faced considerable challenges. Moreover, the fact that French was not my first or second language created a social barrier.”
Nevertheless, Amani’s journey is a true story of resilience and adaptation, where she even participated in competitions with her French peers, such as the national competition, La Creation Des Entreprises, where her team achieved first place.
Solidifying her technical competency
Amani moved over to the UK after completing her degree. This is where she joined Flemmings as a trainee accountant and studied towards her ICAEW qualification. This gave her the opportunity to work internationally and work to gain the trust of clients as a new accountant in a foreign country.
Over time, her confidence grew and she consistently demonstrated her technical competency and expertise - highlighting the value of diversity and unique perspectives in the industry.
Kaplan’s training played a crucial role in Amani’s educational journey and experience as an ICAEW learner, which helped her to significantly grow as an aspiring leader in finance. Not only was the ICAEW great for developing her knowledge, but it also equipped her with the necessary professional development skills and business acumen needed to excel in the finance field.
Building Malaysia through PETRONAS
Now 33 years old, Amani holds the position of Head of Finance Accounting (gas business) at PETRONAS. From travelling around the world - studying in France, and working in the UK and Mexico - Amani’s heart remains firmly committed to Malaysia’s growth and development.
PETRONAS is a prominent oil and gas company that holds significant influence over Malaysia’s wealth and has a profound impact on the nation, contributing to more than 15% of the Malaysian government’s revenue. So, there’s no surprise why Amani feels so passionately dedicated to the company’s cause and work.
Working at PETRONAS, Amani has played a crucial role in the financial growth of the company. She describes the company’s responsibility as amanah (trust) to unlock the potential of Malaysia’s oil and gas resources.
Encouragement and motivation
Amani recognises the support of her family, sharing that her husband, who’s in the same professional field, has been a constant pillar of encouragement throughout her journey.
It has been essential to understand the demands of the finance industry throughout her experience at PETRONAS. So, although there have been the occasional demand of late nights and weekend work, Amani is grateful to have a husband who understands the nature of her job, while he has helped to create a nurturing and harmonious environment that allows her to focus on her career.
When asked about what drives her, Amani noted that PETRONAS’ focus is on individuals who are motivated to serve the nation. For her, the primary source of motivation lies in the sense of purpose derived from contributing to Malaysia.
She concluded: “In PETRONAS, motivation is key. The more opportunities you seek, the more you will receive.”
Watch the interview with Amani - My ICAEW journey with Kaplan
Feeling inspired?
Learn any time, at any place, with Kaplan Learning. Browse all of our online courses now and view our subscription method so that your study journey is on your terms.
