INTHEBLACK March 2025 - Magazine - Page 31
Wei Hock Lee FCPA is the
deputy assurance leader at
EY Singapore and serves as
CPA Australia's Singapore
Divisional Council member.
Lee recounts sage advice
from his father who suggested
a career in accounting, as well
as the bittersweet moment he
became a partner at EY.
Lee believes the root cause
of the talent shortage is
misconceptions about the
industry and he offers his advice
for up-and-coming accountants.
LEADERS AND INNOVATORS
Words
of wisdom
Wei Hock Lee FCPA reflects on his professional successes
and personal losses — and why he believes modern technology
advances are no substitute for hard work and dedication.
Words Cameron Cooper
Photography Rebecca Toh
CONTEMPLATING HIS CAREER
achievements and a senior leadership role
at one of the world’s largest professional
services firms, Wei Hock Lee FCPA is
forever indebted to his late father.
Now the deputy assurance leader at
EY Singapore, Lee admits he once
considered becoming a mathematician
and teacher. However, his pragmatic father
suggested pursuing accounting “because
you’ll never be out of a job”.
“His rationale was that whether you’re
setting up a business, running a business
or even winding down a business, you’ll
always require an accountant to be involved,”
Lee recalls.
Equipped with a Bachelor of Accountancy
from Nanyang Technological University in
Singapore, he has forged a successful career
at EY, becoming a partner in 2016 and
serving two years in the firm’s New York
office on global audit engagements.
Also serving as CPA Australia’s Singapore
Divisional Council member, Lee leads
a team of EY professionals across audit,
financial accounting advisory, climate change
and sustainability, forensic and integrity, and
technology risk management services.
“I took my father’s advice and I’m glad
I did,” Lee says.
HIGHS AND LOWS
Becoming a partner at EY remains a
“bittersweet” moment for Lee. While he
says such acknowledgement is the “dominant
highlight of any professional career”,
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 31
