INTHEBLACK June 2025 - Magazine - Page 16
MEMBER PROFILE
“Yes, the introduction of AI will make auditing more efficient, but it’s not the
answer to everything. We still need to use human insight to understand the logic
behind a business’s motivation and inspiration, and how leaders want to operate.”
and control testing. “At the end of the day,
technology is technology, but it’s managed
by human beings,” she says. “Yes, the
introduction of AI will make auditing more
efficient, but it’s not the answer to everything.
We still need to use human insight to
understand the logic behind a business’s
motivation and inspiration, and how leaders
want to operate.”
THE PATH TO SUCCESS
In addition to her consulting chair position
at EY, Nguyen is the acceleration leader for
EY ASEAN’s financial services business,
and the financial services leader for Vietnam,
Laos and Cambodia. She is also the firm’s
lead audit partner for a range of major clients
in the banking, finance leasing, securities
and fund-management space.
Nguyen was just one of 10 university
graduates from a field of 500 in her year
to be picked up by the Big Four firms.
However, her early days at EY were not
without challenges, and Nguyen initially
felt auditing lacked creativity.
“Auditing at the time was very fashionable
and it was a skill that was in demand in
Vietnam,” she explains. “The job paid well
and that’s why I accepted the offer, but two
or three months after entering the firm
I was thinking, ‘I’m just not suitable for this’.”
With the support and encouragement from
her then senior manager, Cuong Dinh Tran,
now the country managing partner for
EY Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, Nguyen
quickly gained an appreciation of the
importance of accounting and auditing
and demonstrated a clear aptitude for
the work. Offered a role in EY’s Melbourne
auditing team, she spent five years in
Australia honing her skills, an experience
that paved the way for her future career
achievements in Vietnam.
Nguyen says that one of the keys to her
success has been an ability to drive new
opportunities by aligning different markets
and service lines, and then focusing on
sustainable, long-term revenue. For other
financial services leaders and managers
seeking to thrive, Nguyen offers a snapshot
of the skills and traits that can make
a difference.
First, she emphasises the importance
of discipline and strong principles in
effective leadership. “That’s the foundation
of our profession,” she says. Second, it is
important to be cognisant of the latest
market trends and be agile and flexible
enough to pursue those opportunities. Third,
to complement a disciplined and principled
approach, embrace ethics and integrity.
“We need to have integrity in whatever we do.”
GREEN LIGHT
In line with her ethical approach to business,
Nguyen has been a strong proponent
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
“Be passionate about what you do
and put your heart into it.”
16 INTHEBLACK June 2025
