Wilson Wong, FPAC, FP&A Analyst for TechSource Systems, handles variance analysis, sales performance reporting, efficiency analysis and host of other tasks. Starting out in accounting but also possessing a background in IT, Wong saw an opportunity to move to the FP&A field.

He recently spoke with AFP about his career, and why he chose to earn the FPAC certification.

AFP: Let’s begin by talking about your background. How long have you been with TechSource and where were you before?

Wilson Wong: I’ve been at TechSource for four years, where I’m currently the lead FP&A analyst. I also have about three years of experience as an accountant at Apex Fund Services, which is a fund valuation company. At TechSource, I’m responsible for budgeting and forecasting and other more.

AFP: What made you decide to earn the Certified Corporate FPAC Professional designation?

Visit our interactive guide, The Transition from Accounting to FP&A, for a side-by-side comparison of the differences in skills and mindset. You can also download the full pdf here. 

Wong: I went for the FPAC certification because I felt it was important in my professional career to distinguish myself. No one else that I’ve met in Singapore has the certification, so I thought this could make me more relevant. There’s no standardization for FPAC here in Singapore, and so I felt coming in as an accountant, having a relevant professional certification would help me make the move from accounting to FP&A.

AFP: Is that common in Singapore, for accountants to move to FP&A? Do they find themselves wanting to do more forward-looking work?

Wong: FP&A is a combination of accounting and understanding the business, and then using analytics and IT to generate key insights. And it’s an important leadership position. When it comes to accounting and IT, I’ve found that almost no one has these two qualifications; it’s either one or the other. And consequently, as more people gain experience in each one, I feel that FP&A is something that is going to continue to emerge.

AFP: Given that earning the certification helped your move into FP&A from accounting, would you say that it bolstered your career?

Wong: Yes, definitely. I just had a promotion earlier this year, going from senior FP&A analyst to lead FP&A analyst. Now, the promotion wasn’t solely due to the certification, but I do feel that obtaining it was a big factor. I also had offers from other companies. But TechSource was looking to expand the FP&A team, and they made sure to acquire the right talent.

AFP: What would you say that every company should expect from its FP&A team? What does an FP&A department need to be to the rest of the organization?

Wong: I definitely feel that FPAC requires a lot of insights into the business; you have to ask the right questions. FPAC sells itself by how it can help the business overall, so I have focused on that at TechSource.

Learn more about the Certified Corporate FPAC Professional designation here.