|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
As an AO
Mr. Chua Kwan Ping
Director, Finance and Development
Ministry of Education
While studying for my degree in the USA, I did internships with Goldman Sachs and Apple Computer. At Goldman Sachs, I helped traders track their clients’ accounts, oil prices and inventories worldwide. It gave me a taste of working in a fast-paced world.
My experiences in the private sector
In Apple Computer, I worked closely with the Financial Controller on the budget for the entire Desktop Division. We developed models to analyse gross margins and its impact on Apple’s financial position. It was here that I saw that every decision, large or small, could have significant effects, as we needed to make hard decisions, including laying off staff when programmes were not funded, so as to allow the company to succeed in the highly competitive environment.
As an Administrative Officer, I was also exposed to the private sector via secondment to the Standard Chartered Bank for one and a half years.
My experience in the private sector enabled me to appreciate the complexities of working in the Civil Service. Unlike private companies that inevitably have a customer focus, the government cannot choose to serve only a segment of the population.
The challenges of the public sector
Policymaking is more complex as it needs to take into account the diverse needs and aspirations of the population. We need to find solutions that meet the needs of the majority without placing the minority in an unfairly disadvantaged position. Success within the private sector can be easily determined by meeting or exceeding identifiable benchmarks - revenues, profits or annual margins. However, successful governance is less obvious and results may only be seen generations from today.
Discovering meaning in my work
I began to appreciate the importance of the work that public officers do when I had the opportunity to work in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) while serving my National Service. In MINDEF, as I gained greater exposure to government work, I saw that what we do results in more than merely making money or closing the next big deal. It is about ensuring the future of Singapore – by perpetuating an environment where there are opportunities for all to succeed. We need to build a caring society where we are constantly mindful of and help the less fortunate members of our society.
Guidance from experienced officers
This sense of calling and mission became even stronger when I served in the Ministry of Finance, where I had the opportunity to work under Mr Lim Siong Guan, Permanent Secretary of Finance and former Head of Civil Service. He paid a lot of attention to the development of young officers and spent time explaining to us what it meant to be an Administrative Officer (AO) and a leader. Through regular interactions with him, I better understood the role of government, the importance of the work we did and the difference we could make in the lives of Singaporeans.
The difference we can make
In my current capacity as Director for Finance and Development in the Ministry of Education, I oversee the financial operations of the Ministry. Among other responsibilities, I manage the budget, and ensure that we have sufficient funds to run the programmes and initiatives that we have planned, from the school sector right up to the universities. Due to the economic crisis and the restructuring of the economy, many Singaporeans lost their jobs or had to take on jobs with lower pay. To help children from such families, we reviewed and revised the financial assistance schemes to help more families. It was extremely satisfying when teachers and school leaders gave their feedback on how they appreciated the enhancements as it really helped their students.
Another project that I considered to be one of the highlights of my career was being part of a team that was tasked to review the role of Temasek Holdings with the Ministry of Finance. We had to carve out a better understanding of the role that Temasek Holdings should play in the global environment. This ultimately led to the establishment of the Temasek Charter, which provided the company with a purposeful direction that would help further the interests of Singapore.
While there are many highlights in my career as an AO, the most satisfaction I get is the opportunity to work closely with different people – from senior civil servants to office attendants. With the opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a young age, I feel that being an AO is not just a job. It is a calling to serve the nation and fellow Singaporeans. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Last Updated on
28 Jul 2009
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
