It was close to midnight on New Year’s Eve in 2019 when Grace Tan and her team at ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in Singapore found themselves in a race against time. With just two minutes away from submission timelines, they completed the final of five technical submissions for digital banking license applications to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marking a historic moment in Singapore’s financial services landscape.
“There was a lot of buzz, because the applicants, if successful, would be Singapore’s pioneer digital banks,� Grace recalls, “and we were at the forefront of enabling this change.�
Grace's 18-year career at ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø, punctuated by such landmark achievements, marks the culmination of a career spent honing her own talent â€� empowered by fulfilling growth opportunities, steadfast mentorship and diverse exposure to different aspects of professional services within the firm.
From Audit to Advisory: motivated to be in front
"It's been a rollercoaster ride, in a good way," Grace says, reflecting on her transition from Audit to Advisory. “I started in Audit when I first joined the firm. After five years, I wanted a change. Thanks to the firm’s talent mobility programme, I was given an opportunity to join the financial services regulatory compliance team in Advisory. The rest is history.�
This career move called for significant adaptability and an intrinsic motivation for excellence, as each consulting project is unique in scope, with no one-size-fits-all approach � a stark contrast with audit’s structured methodology.
Nonetheless, the analytical skills acquired in audit gave her an edge and propelled her growth in advisory, where she honed the art of active listening � a core skill in becoming a trusted advisor “who effectively distils clients� real needs,� as she elaborates. This is now a cornerstone of her approach in providing effective advice and solutions for clients and businesses looking to transform in the evolving landscape.
Staying ahead of the digital revolution with the right people strategies
Having observed the financial services industry’s evolution firsthand, Grace identifies digital disruption as the most significant change, predicting that the industry will continue to be shaped by transformational technology such as AI today, and possibly quantum technology tomorrow.
Despite these digital evolutions, people and talent strategies still remain central to delivering effective solutions and outcomes, as Grace notes.
One major concern which clients have about the organisational changes that digital disruption demands is speed to market, to cater to changing customer preferences, although Grace adds that this is frequently subordinate to the talent challenge. “It is always about people � whether the existing workforce has the relevant skills and capabilities to adapt to the changes,� she explains.
The challenge of sustaining workforce capabilities amid technological disruption requires organisations to fundamentally rethink their talent strategies, including strategic workforce planning that begins with skills identification.
"You have to identify the specific skills required to power the business goals," she explains. This might involve upskilling existing staff, hiring specialists, or adopting new approaches such as managed services and co-sourcing arrangements.
Talent for tomorrow
With an eye on the future, Grace has long championed talent development initiatives at ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø. This includes her deep involvement in KNOW â€� ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Network of Women, a voluntary, employee-led group that focuses on creating and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace â€� and Explore Programme, a new two-year graduate programme that enables fresh graduates to rotate across Audit, Advisory and Tax teams.
The aim of Explore Programme is to develop the core and diverse skills needed in ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø graduate associates for them to continue to excel, regardless of their eventual business team placement after two years. These core skills include exercising sound professional judgement, the ability to identify and manage risk, and essential soft skills such as effective communication with clients.
When asked what it means to Be in Front, Grace quips:
If you don’t have the courage to embrace change, you would not be able to adapt to evolving client demands and stay relevant. At the same time, being courageous requires curiosity � especially when it comes to staying ahead of the disruptive technology of tomorrow and mastering the new skills it calls for. For me, this is what it takes to be in front.
Be in Front
Getting ahead, and staying ahead
We’re so much more than just a professional services firm.�
Our diverse minds and strategic approach bring disruption to the status quo, and transform your organisation for the future.�
We take account of the future, so you can #BeInFront