Be in Front for Clients in Tax Compliance

Dyanna Seah, a corporate tax compliance senior manager at KPMG in Singapore, refuses to accept the status quo – particularly in her profession.

“We don’t accept the notion that there’s very little one can innovate in compliance,” Dyanna insists. “Year after year, we ask ourselves – how can we do this better? How can we do things more efficiently? How can we add value for our clients?”

This proactive attitude exemplifies three factors central to KPMG in Singapore’s commitment to Be in Front for its clients: innovation, the courage to take bold steps and the determination to empower the talent to achieve things beyond the ordinary.

A prime example was Dyanna’s dedication in launching the firm’s pilot launch of Digital Gateway in Singapore last year. KPMG Digital Gateway is a global tech platform designed to enhance workflows and streamline communications for staff and clients. It integrates various KPMG technologies and services into a single, centralised solution that provides real-time updates.

Implementation in Singapore was hardly a case of plug-and-play.

“There was no particular handbook on how to implement this platform in the local market.,” Dyanna explains. “Our mission from day one was to adapt a global solution to our local needs but yet ensure that it remains scalable across multiple jurisdictions."

This called for an adaptability in optimising the platform to local requirements and with Dyanna and the team’s leadership, the pilot launch was a success. “Digital Gateway is still new in Singapore, but the feedback from the pilot launch has been positive,” she says. “With the full rollout this year, we hope to eliminate inefficiencies and streamline processes for our clients."

KPMG Digital Gateway is just one of several transformative projects that illustrate Dyanna’s determination to reject the status quo and embrace innovation – despite her being, in her own words, “no expert in technology.”

Since Dyanna joined KPMG’s Corporate Tax Planning and Compliance practice in Singapore eleven years ago, as a fresh accounting graduate of Singapore Management University, she notes she has been fortunate enough to be involved in projects that push out technology innovation solutions in tax compliance and help KPMG in Singapore go through a transformative journey. 

“It all started when I was a senior associate where I was roped in to help on one project. That soon became two, then three,” she explains. Each one – taken on in addition to her day-to-day job in tax compliance – has required her to take a bold step into the unknown.

The benefits of this approach have been manifested throughout her career. “Having the courage to take on this work outside of my comfort zone has given me greater confidence to take on more.”

Dyanna took on the KPMG Digital Gateway project last year immediately after returning to work from her maternity leave. While such a significant responsibility so soon after a long break might have been daunting to others, Dyanna embraced the challenge without hesitation, crediting the people-centric culture at KPMG that she has experienced from day one. 

“You’re never alone. There’s always support somewhere,” she explains. 

Dyanna remembers the time she was about to finish her studies and had to decide on her first job. “As someone who had not worked full time before, the mere thought of it made me nervous. Then, I thought about my internship at KPMG. It felt like a safe place to learn and grow professionally. So, I went back to my former manager there and asked for an opportunity to return full time.” she says.  

Today, as a leader, Dyanna strives to provide the same environment where everyone can thrive. “Some team members need help with timelines, while others are technically stronger but need guidance on client interactions. Each person is different, and rather than focusing on their weaknesses, I focus on their strengths to bring out their best, so we can put our best foot forward for the client,” she explains.

Dyanna’s adaptive approach, combined with the courage so evident in her involvement in various transformative technology projects, extends to her clients. She recounts a new engagement last year on a project with a tough deadline. 

“It was the first time the client and I both worked together, so we were learning about each other. During the post-mortem review, I took the first step to acknowledge that there were areas that I, as the engagement manager, could have done better. The conversation that followed was open and collaborative. I think taking that first step helped to build trust and showed the client that we’re all in this together,” she explains. 

Dyanna’s reputation among her clients as a trusted partner in compliance, and among her team members as an inclusive leader, boils down to a simple philosophy.