A vibrant and enriching journey - Jace Li Jing Chen, Financial Advisory intern

(Image: Picture of Jace Li Jing Chen in front of the Mazars logo at Mazars in Singapore office)

Hi there! Jace here! I am an undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), reading a double degree in Accountancy and Business. I will be entering my sophomore year this August.

I discovered this internship opportunity when I participated in a Mazars’ sharing session at NTU. What sold me on the offer was the amazing workplace culture and ‘good vibes’ shared by the recruitment team.

Bridging the gap between theory and industry

As an avid learner, I have taken upon myself to complete the CFI's Financial Modelling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification and enrol in online M&A courses such as the Yale University's Financial Markets in my free time.

While I thoroughly enjoy learning through these courses, the finance industry seemed like an abstract and distant concept for me. It was not until I started my internship that my practical understanding in this industry grew by leaps and bounds.

As someone who is very interested in the corporate finance industry and had previously interned at a buy-side firm, taking a deep dive at Mazars transaction services team has provided me with an unparalleled experience in gaining more exposure in the M&A industry.

It was exhilarating to receive the opportunity to apply Financial Modelling best practices from FMVA and various excel shortcuts to real-life cases.

An enriching journey with meaningful projects

If I could describe my experience at Mazars in one word, it would be ‘vibrant’. It has been an enriching journey in and of itself, where I was never treated differently from the full-time staff.

The responsibilities given to me by my supervisors were challenging and thought-provoking. I was fortunate to touch on some of the key M&A matrices such as valuation and financial due diligence (FDD) and contribute meaningfully to the team.

Throughout my internship period, I was entrusted with a number of important projects. I faced many challenges as it was my first time performing a financial valuation on an actual client. But thanks to the effective feedback from my team and their unwavering support, I pulled it off! I’m really grateful for my mentors who are always open to my suggestions and ideas.

Working with clients and team members at Mazars has been a growth experience, and I learned to be a better team player. My team has not only helped me to hone my technical skills, but also further develop my soft skills that will be valuable in my future career.

Young and vibrant culture

Mazars has a young and vibrant culture making it a great place for people to learn. This internship experience has certainly exceeded my expectation and I will definitely take up an offer to work with Mazars again.

Some words of advice to new interns, always keep an open mind. It is okay to make mistakes and always be proactive at the workplace!

For internships opportunities at Mazars in Singapore, please refer to this link.