Walking slowly, one with a tailored suit, the other with a neatly tied tie, both wearing high heels and leather shoes - a professional image. They are two professional accountants: Jacky Chan and Joyce Ng. They transformed from employees to employers, from supporting each other to becoming husband and wife, and finally, they became the founders of an accounting firm. While the work of an accountant centres on numbers, life itself encompasses interpersonal connections and human emotions. One plus one doesn't just equal two, it can also be three, and even countless endless collaborations. They inject warmth into the meticulous world of accountancy, becoming the financial family doctors for different businesses, walking together with clients to create brilliance.
Starting from Scratch, A Professional Journey
Jacky and Joyce were in the same cohort pursuing a Higher Diploma in Accountancy. When asked about their reasons for choosing the accounting field, Joyce revealed that her father’s influence had ignited her passion for numbers from an early age. On the other hand, Jacky approached it from a perspective of life planning, considering accounting as a stable and promising industry. Although neither of them had any prior exposure to accounting when choosing their path, they were not discouraged, and started from nothing. Both of them possessed a strong drive for self-improvement. With the support and guidance of their teachers at IVE, their school activities connected them and formed a supportive relationship. This brought a touch of sweetness to their challenging learning journey, and gradually they became a loving couple. Prior to graduation, they attained the Third Level of LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and they continued their studies to obtain the ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certification. Consequently, they seamlessly transformed their initial stage of being novices into professional accountants holding recognised qualifications.
Together on the Path, Boundless Possibilities
Soon after, the two got married. Jacky believed that becoming a practicing accountant and starting a family were just the beginning. In his life plan, establishing his own accounting firm was the ultimate goal. He understood the importance of balancing family life and work, striving to care for both his spouse and children while maintaining professional excellence. Therefore, after nine years of graduation, he bravely resigned from his position as a financial director in a company and founded J CPA, his accounting firm. Jacky's motivation for establishing J CPA was also driven by his awareness of the potential prospects that the accounting industry could provide for young professionals. He aimed to utilize his abilities to provide development and employment opportunities for vocational education graduates.
During the establishment of the company in 2012, Jacky had to personally manage every aspect of the business. Fortunately, through part-time work in earlier years, he had already built a network of contacts and accumulated a batch of clients, providing stability for the initial development of the company. Joyce's support was crucial during this time. While still working at her previous company, after work, she would lend a hand at J CPA but also managing household affairs. She skillfully balanced both internal and external responsibilities. Later on, Joyce also joined J CPA full-time, expanding the company's range of services. In addition to accounting, auditing and assurance services, they also offered company secretary services, administrative support, and taxation services. Later, J CPA also took on the role of financial advisors for their clients, utilising data to assess financial and operational situations, assisting in identifying business pain points and overcoming bottlenecks, and providing added value to their clients' businesses. Together, the two supported each other in developing the business and creating a future full of limitless possibilities.
Over a Decade Together, Dedication to Clients
"Care for your business every moment" is the core philosophy of Jacky and Joyce when they started their business. They use the term "You" to describe their clients because the service mission of J CPA is to wholeheartedly treat every one of "You.". They insist on having face-to-face conversations with their clients every year. Jacky mentioned that the atmosphere of accounting and auditing work can often be impersonal, where daily operations could simply involve exchanging documents with clients. However, they wanted to make a difference by approaching clients with sincerity. Joyce defined this service as being "financial family doctors," taking care of businesses from their infancy phase in an organization all the way to their journey through young adulthood and stable middle age. They meticulously look after every aspect of a company's life. As a result, J CPA has maintained long cooperation relationship with some clients for over ten years. Numbers may be cold, but relationships remain warm.
Crossing Twelve Years, Nurturing Affectionate Succession
J CPA, without realizing it, has been in operation for twelve years, with client growth exceeding twenty times. Jacky confessed, "This was originally my goal for twenty years of entrepreneurship, and now it has been achieved ahead of schedule!" Jacky and Joyce, who were once "employees," understand the busyness of the accounting industry, where typically one works day and night to "meet deadlines." Balancing both personal life and career is extremely challenging and often results in being encouraged to retire by the age of fifty. Recognizing this, J CPA is committed to maintaining employees' dedication. Jacky and Joyce actively engage with their staff, deeply involving themselves in their ideas and listening to their concerns. Together, they brainstorm, improve workflow, communicate and coordinate with clients, and expedite project schedules, effectively reducing work pressure during peak seasons. When other professionals are still rushing to meet deadlines, J CPA's employees have completed their work for the year and celebrate together with great satisfaction.
J CPA also implements family-friendly employment measures, such as establishing lactation rooms, parcel reception areas, and flexible working hours. Even when employees are busy beyond measure, they can still maintain a work-life balance. Jacky and Joyce, as pioneers who have changed the atmosphere of the accounting industry, hope to nurture the "second generation" to continue the spirit of integrating work and life. The company's employees have become accustomed to this work environment, and even if they venture into entrepreneurship or change careers in the future, they can bring this warm and compassionate approach to other companies, promoting a more ideal industry image—a true reflection of "infusing human touch into business."
Endless Succession, Passed down through Generations
Jacky and Joyce are devoted to nurturing the next generation, among whom are IVE juniors who have completed internships at J CPA and been hired as full-time employees. In addition to providing internship opportunities to their alma mater every year, the duo also shares insights on the development of the accounting industry and offers guidance on entering the profession, contemplating career planning, and fostering career aspirations. They advise young people to maintain curiosity and passion in life. Leading by example, they channel their enthusiasm into the company's design. For instance, Jacky designs the company's logo with a relaxed touch, showcasing a youthful and vibrant image. He also enjoys sharing the company's principles on social media, all in line with their philosophy of "infusing human touch into business". They hope that the spirit of treating others with care and dedication at J CPA can be passed down to the third generation, achieving an endless flame of succession.
