6. 30s
Brian Bian CPA
Founder, U&I Group
Shanghai, Mainland China
Brian Bian believes accountants are in the business of solving problems, so he aims to deliver service and solutions.
What first drew you to accounting?
I grew up in a traditional family. My parents wanted to give me a better life, so my mother went to night school to study accounting. I remember seeing her working so hard at her studies, but I did not understand why.
She was eventually promoted to CFO of her company and I realised then that knowledge is power. This had a profound influence on me and sparked my career in accounting.
To me, the work of an accountant helps businesses in meaningful ways, and that is why I chose this profession.
What is one thing you love about the profession today?
My favourite part of accounting is that I am not only a service provider, I am a solutions provider. I enjoy connecting businesses globally through my accounting knowledge and skills.
I also enjoy helping others and giving back, which is why I also serve as a part-time senior lecturer at universities in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants right now?
New technology presents challenges, but also opportunities. We can take information from technology and apply our own knowledge and experience to become even more helpful.
As human beings, we have emotions, and that helps us to connect with clients. AI can only give us information.
How do you see technology shaping the next decade?
I think technology like AI will become a digital co-worker, but we cannot be dependent on it. We need to bring our own skills, maintain our independent mindset and challenge the information we get from AI.
What legacy do you hope to leave in the profession?
I would like to be a role model for hard work and I hope that that influences others. Also, I think it is my social responsibility to give back.
