Uplifting People to Be In Front for Clients

People are at the heart of a nurturing work environment, and has remained the top factor drawing Andrew Wee, Audit Senior Manager, to a career at KPMG in Singapore. “Even though I’ve been at KPMG for 13 years, you could say my time here comes close to 16,” says Andrew, reflecting on his various internships with the firm, before cementing his long-term status as a full-time employee since he graduated in 2011.  

Recollecting his experience in the professional services industry and the accelerated growth opportunities that arose from being challenged to innovate and set ambitious goals, Andrew is committed to fostering the same, inclusive environment which benefitted him in his early career – one which was filled with mentorship, support and learning. 

“It’s a safe space where anybody can reach out to colleagues across teams and business functions with their questions or even just bounce off ideas,” he explains. “I want to do my part to nurture the same environment that thrives on collaborative thinking and a coaching culture for the people around me. It is not just up to the senior leadership to create that kind of culture. It is up to every individual.” 

Empowering people at work

After his fifth year at KPMG, Andrew was given the opportunity for a two-year secondment in London, a move which had the full backing of his seniors at the time. This period turned out to be one of the defining moments in Andrew’s journey with the firm.

“I had the chance to be a manager after my first year in London. The time spent there not only honed my soft skills and my leadership abilities, but also immersed me in a diverse, multicultural environment. I learnt how to effectively collaborate with people from different backgrounds, guide them in navigating challenges and bring out the best solutions they can think of,” he reflects. 

Andrew now manages various teams, ranging from two-member teams to larger ones with up to 15 members. As a leader, he strives to be inclusive, involving them in various stages of decision making. 

“I let them explore different options and encourage them to think about what they would do in a situation. Most importantly, I practice this across all grades from interns to senior members of the team: fresh perspectives are always valuable,” he explains on his approach toward talent development. 

Be in front for clients in a rapidly changing world

Talent development transcends borders at KPMG. Andrew credits KPMG’s global network for instilling in him a global mindset and future-ready skills. This well-rounded and multi-disciplinary perspective keeps him ahead of trends, such as sustainability reporting, and helps meet growing demands from clients in the fast-evolving audit profession.

The knowledge and technological capabilities shared across member firms has been invaluable too. Andrew shared how insights from many experts in different fields and backgrounds help clients stay at the cutting edge. 

“As leaders in our field backed by our global network, clients look to us for global sector and industry knowledge that they can’t get elsewhere.”

Leading KPMG people to be in front

Whether he’s helping a client or a colleague to solve a problem, Andrew’s focus is on fostering growth and collaboration to be in front for people, clients and communities. 

He believes in equipping his team with the knowledge and confidence beyond the technical aspects of the job, enabling them to recognise hidden opportunities and chart innovative paths to success.

It’s about equipping your team with the knowledge and confidence to lead well.”  For Andrew, the greatest reward is seeing his entire team succeed.