Since completing a Bachelor of Money and Banking at Southeast University in China, Stephen has gained international experience in banking and financial services, industrial corporations and business management roles for companies including ICBC, GE Capital and Standard Chartered Bank
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On top of this, Stephen has also completed a Masters of Accounting (CPA Extension) at Macquarie University in Sydney.
But he says banking has always been his true passion.
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“When I graduated from university, banking was quite a hot choice for students. So I was lucky that my first position was at the world’s largest bank, ICBC, as a Foreign Exchange Accountant,” Stephen says.
The 37 year old is now General Manager of Personal Banking at ICBC Asia (Chinese Mercantile Bank), in Guangdong, China, helping to serve some of the bank’s 150 million customers who live around the world.
Stephen says while it is a challenging role, it is one he enjoys because he has to keep up to date with industry trends.
“When you look at banking over the past decade, the Chinese economy has grown significantly and the operating model of banks has changed a lot. So I am quite lucky to be part of this.”
Besides taking on a senior management level position at ICBC Asia, Stephen says one of his biggest career achievements was being awarded the CPA designation in 2010
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He says the designation has turned him into a business leader and he’s noticed that his colleagues and customers have given him more respect.
“The CPA designation has given me a more professional standing amongst my colleagues, not just in accounting but also in other parts of the business. It has also provided me with a good network of people that I can draw from
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Stephen is a strong believer in helping the next generation of banking and accounting professionals, so he volunteers at the Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA).
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