Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

How did you get into your current line of work?

I applied for a position after my internship with the firm in 2019. From my internship experience, I knew I wanted to join PwC Malaysia as the people and culture suited me best. I was informed about PwC’s Tax Management Trainee (TMT) programme – a two-year programme that offered me the chance to do four rotations in Tax and Assurance, six months each. I joined the fourth batch of TMTs in October 2020. My first rotation was in Tax Reporting and Strategy (TRS) and while it was a challenge, it was also a blast. The challenges were mainly due to my transition from student life to working life while familiarising myself with the work and world of TRS. Adding to it all was the Movement Control Order due to COVID-19, so working virtually was definitely unexpected.

What do you do day-to-day on the job?

My exact daily routine would differ from time to time and, depending on the rotation, I would generally classify the activities as discover, discuss, and deliver. 1) Discover: I do background research on the entities and their business, any available opportunities, and tax technical readings to understand how the industry operates in general. 2) Discuss: I compile all the information and present it to my team/supervisors to gain better insights and suggestions for the team, given the varying experience and exposure. 3) Deliver: Transforming the information agreed upon from the previous two stages into various forms of deliverables that clients require, be it in the form of a presentation, report, or even important discussion points for a meeting.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The rotational aspect of the TMT programme is definitely the best part of my career so far. As a new graduate, getting the chance to rotate across different business units provided me with exposure to different parts of the business as well as the opportunity to expand

Trying out new things and taking brave first steps can never be a bad thing for your future.

QISTINA FAIZAL

EMPLOYER

DESIGNATION Senior Associate, PwC Malaysia

QUALIFICATION BA (Economic and Social Studies) (Honours) in Accounting and Finance, University of Manchester, 2020

“BE FLEXIBLE TO LEARN AND HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET.”

my business acumen. Personally, I get to learn new things about myself through challenging my limits and discovering what line of work is most suited for me. As a bonus, the rotations allow me to meet new people and build relationships that blossomed into lasting friendships.

What were the toughest parts of your role and how did you overcome them?

Every new task is a new learning opportunity, even when it might not be very enjoyable, and I know I have to deliver to the best of my ability. I try to break down the tasks and challenges into different stages and measuring my performance at each stage makes it achievable and easier for me to do my best. I also get to test my limits and perhaps even change my perception of the job or role.

What essential skills do you think are needed for your role?

Managing upwards. In this case, it is the ability to communicate well and align with your managers on what are the deliverables and expectations. This could also mean communicating your capacity, capability, and any opportunities you seek to your supervisors which would allow them to assign you suitable tasks and challenges at your level. By practising this skill, it builds trust in the working relationship by demonstrating your capability to perform your assigned tasks and helps develop your own managerial skill

Do you have any advice for your fellow graduates/juniors?

Be flexible to learn and have a growth mindset. Whatever you learnt during your university years may not be directly applicable but always be enthusiastic about every opportunity and challenge that could help you learn something new.

SECTION 6

Employer Listings

Discover more about top employers and the most recent opportunities they have to offer students and graduates!

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad ..............................................84 BDO Malaysia ........................................................................86 CIMB Bank Berhad................................................................88 Deriv Services Sdn Bhd .......................................................90 Employees Provident Fund (EPF)......................................92 ExxonMobil Malaysia ...........................................................94 EY Malaysia...........................................................................96 FWD Takaful ..........................................................................98 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad ..........100 Hartalega NGC Sdn Bhd .....................................................102 ICAEW Malaysia ..................................................................104 KPMG in Malaysia...............................................................106 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)..............................108 Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad .................................................110 PwC Malaysia......................................................................112 RHB Banking Group............................................................114 Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd .............115