From Academic Setbacks to Business Success

Alan Kwok Yu Cheng transformed early academic struggles into a journey of resilience, founding AK Accounting & Consultancy in 2019 after years of hard work and dedication. In this interview, we learn about his story of perseverance and continuous learning in achieving success.

3 September 2024

At 34, Alan Kwok Yu Cheng is the Director of AK Accounting & Consultancy Pte. Ltd., a thriving firm he founded in 2019. But the road to this achievement was anything but smooth.

Alan's academic journey, marked by a PSLE score of 193 and an L1R4 of 19 for his O' Levels, could have been seen as a series of obstacles. However, Alan's resilience and determination proved that your past does not dictate your future by turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

After completing National Service, Alan faced the daunting task of rebuilding his academic and professional life. He set his sights on the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certification, a qualification known for its rigorous and complex exams. While working full-time as an account executive, Alan enrolled in night classes and dedicated his weekends to intensive study sessions. His hard work paid off—he passed all 14 ACCA papers in one attempt, achieving top rankings, including 1st place in a professional paper at ACCA Singapore.

But Alan's journey was not just about personal success. Despite the demanding hours of his job as an auditor, he pursued an Advanced Certification for Training and Assessment (ACTA), driven by his desire to give back and help others. Becoming a qualified trainer allowed him to share his knowledge and experiences. This mission strengthened as he earned his Chartered Accountant (Singapore) license while working at BDO LLP Singapore.

In 2019, Alan founded AK Accounting & Consultancy. Starting a business from scratch is never easy, but Alan's firm quickly flourished. Within five years, it expanded to a team of seven through his leadership and the trust he built with clients.

Alan's story is also one of continuous learning. In 2023, nearly a decade after his last formal education, Alan pursued a Master of Science in Professional Accountancy from the SIM-University of London. Balancing the demands of a growing business, rigorous academics, and family responsibilities required exceptional time management and resilience. His experience at SIM was instrumental, offering insights that he could immediately apply to his business, reflecting his belief that education should be practical and relevant to real-world challenges.

Looking forward, Alan aims to expand his firm and inspire the next generation of accountants by sharing his experiences. With winning the Chairman's Award for Resilience, Alan's advice to those facing challenges is clear: "You are what you are today because of the choices you made yesterday. If you want to see changes, make changes today, and persevere until change happens." His story is not just about overcoming adversity, it is about the power of choice, the importance of persistence, and the belief that success is built one step at a time.