Fairuz Mama – Xero Certified Advisor

I’m Fairuz Mama, but it makes me smile when just you call me Fai (sounds like Hi!). I grew up in a small village which is surrounded by water – to the east is the lake and to the west is the river, and it is in that small village where my taste for an adventure and wanderlust began. I love that small village still and it reminds me of all the misadventures, all of them great memories, I had as a kid.

Even growing up in that environment, my parent’s utmost priority was our education. Sadly, I had to leave that small village to study in a private school and luckily, I completed my study and have a degree in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. I know, my career experience is so far from what I had studied, but I’ll get to that part.

I landed my first job in 2006 as an accounting staff member, and it was the first time I was introduced to this area. I was hired purely because of the “computer” knowledge I have at that time, and I discovered my love for performing accounting and admin works. I like that feeling of that “heart-pumping” moment of beating the deadlines and it feels like I am in that small little village again.

So, for the past 13 years, I’ve been working in the field of accounting and office administration. The most notable experience I have is a start-up company in Australia where I acted as the Accounting Officer. This was the first time I was introduced to Australian accounting systems and it gave me the confidence to join the YBO company (they were hiring CPA only at the time, but I’m not the type of person that won’t try just because I don’t have the degree). Luckily, I was hired as a bookkeeper, then was promoted as a Payroll Manager.

Even if I never took the time off in my career, I never failed to balance my life and work. I always prioritise travelling and family. I’ve been to so many places, and ticked-off my bucket lists. I went to Kota Kinabalu to do river rafting, I went to Macau to climb the Macau Tower, I went to Singapore to do Slingshot ride, I went to Chiang Mai to see the White Temple, I went to Cambodia to explore Ankor Wat, and I went to Jeju Island just to touch that Fertility Statue – not really… I went there to climb Mt. Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea. There are still so many things I want to do, and the most rewarding part is I’m able to get my family to experience this with me. When I’m travelling to a new place, I am reminded again of being that skinny, little girl in that small village – and no place I’ve been to yet has surpassed that little village.

I love living my life single, and this is the path I’ve chosen.
I love to travel.
I love to swim.
I love to climb.
I love non-sense conversation.
I love to eat.
And most of all, I love to laugh – this is my most favourite thing.

For a copy of Fairuz’s resume please click here.