At a glance
As a teenager, Lim Wei Ri CPA spent his holidays helping his mother in her accounting practice in Singapore, photocopying, filing and generally learning the ropes. “It was about gaining some experience and to see if I wanted to pursue accounting,” he says.
The experience paid off. After high school, Lim enrolled in RMIT University’s bachelor of business (accountancy) through SIM Global Education, which gave him a thoroughly well-rounded education and set him up for a successful career.
“I think it is very meaningful work. By analysing financial data, accountants can identify opportunities to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve process quality, which are all essential elements in creating value for businesses,” he says.
Mentoring Program
Auditing focus
Having interned with his mother, Lim was well-placed to step into interning opportunities with the Big Four during his studies, which led to a graduate role at EY Singapore as a financial auditor.
Auditing opened Lim’s eyes to a whole new world. It ultimately led to him to join the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), one of the world’s largest international anti-money laundering and financial crime prevention communities.
“I began to appreciate the focus of regulators worldwide on combating money laundering and implementing measures to promote integrity and stability in the financial systems.
"Law firms, corporate service providers, real estate agents and developers all need to adopt some form of financial crime prevention or anti-money laundering risk management framework."
“Unlike financial auditing, which usually happens once a year, the financial crime prevention process takes place daily, throughout the whole year,” Lim says.
“I find it intriguing and meaningful to look for potential control gaps for my clients and provide recommendations for improvement to make sure they are not being used for any illicit activities by criminals.”
His work experience so far has been diverse, allowing him to explore sectors beyond financial services.
“Law firms, corporate service providers, real estate agents and developers all need to adopt some form of financial crime prevention or anti-money laundering risk management framework,” he says.
A budding entrepreneur
In his spare time, Lim is an aspiring pastry chef, and, together with his wife, he regularly posts cooking videos and his dining experiences on social media. “It’s a passion born out of my love of food,” he says.
“Generally, most Singaporeans love to eat and, as an auditor, even more so. After a long day, I think that’s where we relax and hang out with our team members – over a good meal. Sharing a meal with a client is also common and it is a great way to build rapport.”
Looking to the future, Lim plans to open his own business.
“I’m moving into setting up my own consultancy firm from 2024. I’ve got a vision that, one day, I’ll have a dedicated cafe or a place where I’ll be able to cater for my clients. I really see myself making that perfect cup of coffee for my clients – I think it helps to draw the relationship closer.”
Next gen
Lim has also started mentoring graduates through a program that CPA Australia runs with tertiary institutions in Singapore.
“I enjoy speaking to students,” he says. “I see my younger self in them – they are just starting to build perspectives of a career pathway that best fit their aspirations and interests.
“My diverse experience really helps me offer advice to these students. We keep in touch – some still come back to me to ask me for advice to help them shape their next move in their career.”
