Lay Zhi Chen
Result-oriented Accounting & Finance graduate with strong practical experience in external audit and financial accounting across 3 professional internships. Proven ability to manage workloads for 30+ client companies simultaneously, execute outfield audit assignments, and perform independent reconciliations under tight statutory deadlines. Seeking a Junior Associate or entry-level role in Audit or Corporate Accounting.
Built for audit & advisory
I gravitate to work that blends judgement and structure — the same reason audit and advisory suit me. I'm comfortable opening a workbook, asking the second question, and writing the memo that closes the loop.
- Hybrid working — happy to be on client site
- Detail-oriented, deadline-driven
- Comfortable across audit, tax & accounting work
- CompletedICAEW Sustainability Accelerator ProgrammeSustainability reporting fundamentals
- CompletedICAEW Fundamentals of GenAIAI literacy for finance professionals
- Applied in practiceMPERS & MFRS applicationThrough audit engagements at ZL & Co PLT
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
Diploma in Management Studies
Comfortable picking up new audit and analytics platforms quickly.
Audit Trainee
Jun 2025 – Aug 2025ZL & Co PLT — Malaysia- Supported senior team members on audit engagements for 30+ client companies, preparing and organising critical audit documentation.
- Executed 8 outfield audit assignments, conducting vouching and substantive test procedures to ensure compliance with MPERS and MFRS.
- Reported directly to the Audit Partner, maintaining quality assurance and accuracy across assigned administrative and technical audit tasks.
Audit & Tax Intern
Jun 2024 – Aug 2024KTP & Company PLT — Malaysia- Prepared comprehensive audit working papers, compliance documentation, and draft financial statements.
- Performed detailed substantive audit procedures across income statement and balance sheet line items.
- Conducted 3 outfield vouching and testing assignments, drafting final audit reports for partner review.
- Managed audit assignments within strict scheduled timelines, ensuring seamless project delivery.
Skills-Based Volunteer
Dec 2023 – Jun 2024Empact Pte Ltd — Down Syndrome Association (Singapore)- Maintained precise accounting records, accurately processing journal entries, fixed assets and prepayments.
- Analysed general ledger accounts and executed monthly bank reconciliations for client asset portfolios exceeding S$1.0M.
- Leveraged QuickBooks and advanced Microsoft Excel functionalities to optimise record-keeping efficiency and data accuracy.
Events Subcommittee
Jul 2023 – Jun 2024SIM Accounting Association — Singapore- Coordinated logistics, operations and financial budgeting for multiple large-scale student association events.
- Liaised with external corporate partners and university representatives to ensure smooth event execution.
- Drafted and submitted event proposals to university administration for compliance and approval.
- Recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award for exceptional commitment and teamwork.
Outfield audit — 8 client engagements
Led on-site vouching and substantive testing across 8 ZL & Co PLT clients, validating MPERS/MFRS compliance and feeding findings into partner-reviewed working papers.
Draft financial statements — KTP & Company
Built audit working papers and drafted full financial statements across income statement and balance sheet line items for SME audit clients.
Bank reconciliations — S$1.0M+ portfolio
Reconciled monthly bank statements and general ledger accounts for client asset portfolios exceeding S$1.0M using QuickBooks and advanced Excel.
- Outstanding Contribution Award — SIM Accounting Association (2024)
- ICAEW Sustainability Accelerator Programme — Completed
- ICAEW Fundamentals of GenAI — Completed
- EnglishProfessional
- MandarinNative
- Bahasa MalaysiaConversational
Let's work together on your audit & advisory needs.
Hybrid-ready and available to start immediately. I'm eager to discuss graduate programmes and associate roles.