Successful Alumni Sharing Session Held for MSc Professional Accounting Students

On October 24th, Yue Ma, an outstanding alumnus of the MSc Professional Accounting programme, returned to IBSS to deliver an engaging career development session for the new MSc Professional Accounting cohort of 2025. The session was opened with a welcome address by Ms. Yan Jin, Programme Director of the MSc Professional Accounting programme.

Yue Ma, who brings rich professional experience from Deloitte CPA LLP and Guolian Minsheng Investment Banking and currently serves as Executive Assistant to the President at Pulian Huiju Financial Consulting Co., Ltd., shared his insights from a unique dual perspective of both audit and investment banking. During the session, he systematically analysed the job responsibilities and career progression at different levels within accounting firms, using his own career path as a framework. He also provided an in-depth explanation of the operational logic and core competency models of investment banking. Addressing students' key concerns regarding job preparation, he offered detailed guidance across three critical stages—CV writing, written test preparation, and interview techniques. For key assessment areas like case analysis and behavioral interviews, he also shared practical strategies and response examples.

Yue Ma, 2016 MSc Professional Accounting Alumnus

During the interactive Q&A session, students actively posed questions covering diverse topics such as career direction choices, professional certification planning, and internship opportunities. Yue Ma provided thoughtful answers based on the latest industry trends and his personal experience, fostering a warm and lively atmosphere. He encouraged students to define their career goals early, make the most of university resources, and continuously strengthen their professional knowledge and comprehensive skills to build a solid foundation for their future careers.

The sharing session not only provided MSc Professional Accounting students with valuable clarity on industry demands and career planning, but also fully demonstrated the supportive culture of IBSS's alumni network—"passing the torch and growing together." It built a vital bridge for students transitioning from the academic world to the professional stage. The event concluded with enthusiastic and productive exchanges, characterized by participating students widely reporting substantial insights and a clearer roadmap for their professional development.

Contributed by: Yuchen An
Photography by: Hailu Hou
Edited by: Hailu Hou