James Lee

Mentor

Headline:

Head of Internal Audit, Auditor-General’s Office

Programmes:

Accountancy
Nanyang Business School

Summary

A Fellow Chartered Accountant in 4 countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom) and ASEAN, with extensive auditing experience in various industries across the public sector in Singapore for over 30 years; as well as implementation of I.T. governance, risk management and security compliance, being the current Head of Internal Audit and former Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO), the Supreme Audit Institution in Singapore. Former Chairman of I.T. Services Advisory Panel at the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) for 17 years, and currently serving as the Chairman / member of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committees in ISCA. Highly decorated professional, with Commendation Medal (Pingat Kepujian) bestowed in 2012, ISCA Merit Award conferred in 2014, and Long Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Setia) awarded in 2019.

Professional Qualifications:
ASEAN CPA, FCA (Singapore), FCPA (Australia), CA (Malaysia), CPFA (UK), ACMA (UK), CGMA, CFE, CIA, CISA, CFSA, CISSP, CGEIT, CRISC, ABCP, BS7799 Lead Auditor, COBIT certified

Mentoring Experience:
- Singapore QP Approved Mentor, ISCA/SAC (since 2013)
- CARE Volunteer Mentor, MIA (since 2017)
- Career Mentor, NTU/NBS (since 2007)
- Career Mentor, NTUC/PA (since 2018)
- Mentor, CPA Australia (since 2007)
- Mentor, ACFE (since 2018)
- Mentor, ISACA (since 2022)
- Authorised Training Principal, ICAEW (since 2020)

Featured Skills

Auditing Certified Public Accountant Governance Analytics

Work Experience

Head of Internal Audit Jul 2023 - Present

Auditor-General’s Office Singapore

Chief Audit Executive (CAE) of the Internal Audit Department (IAD). To discharge duties and responsibilities under the Internal Audit Charter of the Auditor-General’s Office, Singapore.

Chairman of Investigation Committee / Member of Disciplinary Committee Mar 2015 - Present

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants Singapore

Investigation Enforcement Risk Assessment Evidence Internal Investigations Compliance Reporting

To discharge the duties and responsibilities pursuant to Article 63 of the Constitution of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants.

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jul 2010 - Jun 2012

Auditor-General’s Office Singapore

Software Development HTML Web Applications Databases Web Development Web Services Microsoft SQL Server .NET Cloud Computing System Administration

Head of Computer Information Systems Branch (CISB). Concurrently appointed as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Data Officer (CDO).

Chairman of the IT Services Committee Mar 1997 - Dec 2014

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants Singapore

Software Development XML Web Applications Databases Web Development Web Services Security Strategic Planning Automation Technology Certified Public Accountant

To advice the Institute on IT related matters in meeting it’s strategic objectives; and to advance the members’ interest in adoption of IT

Deputy Director Jul 1993 - Present

Auditor-General’s Office Singapore

Leadership Development Auditing Audit Management Information System Auditing Data Analytics TQM Strategic Planning Risk Assessment Sampling Internal Controls Corporate Governance Compliance and Quality

To discharge the duties and responsibilities as the National Auditor pursuant to Section 6, Subsection 2 of the Audit Act (Chap 17).

Tax Assistant Feb 1992 - May 1992

Inland Revenue Department Singapore

Tax Accounting Tax Law Corporate Tax Income Tax Tax Preparation Tax Returns Financial Statements Tax Accounting Corporate Law

Income tax assessment for businesses and individuals.

Accounts Assistant Jan 1990 - Jun 1990

C L Yeo Tax Management Sdn Bhd Malaysia

Accounting Financial Reporting Accounts Receivable Account Reconciliation Accounts Payable Finance Payroll Cash Flow Bank Reconciliation

Preparation of full sets of accounts, book-keeping, taxation, company secretariat, and liaising with auditors.

Education

Doctor of Business Administration (Business Analytics) Jan 2017 - Present

S P Jain School of Global Management Australia

Tableau Predictive Analytics Analytics Business Intelligence Big Data Data Mining

Post-Graduate Scholarship (Jan 2017)

Dean’s List (Nov 2018)

Master Of Business Administration (Business Administration) Jul 1996 - Jun 2018

University Of Dubuque United States

Team Building Strategic Planning Business Strategy Management Leadership Marketing

GPA 3.94 / 4.0

Bachelor of Accountancy (Accounting) Jul 1990 - Mar 1993

Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Accounting Financial Reporting Auditing Internal Controls Financial Accounting General Ledger

Passed with Merit.

Other Skills

Strategic Planning Program Management Management Government Policy Leadership Project Management Strategy Public Policy Analysis Training Project Planning Teaching Proposal Writing Budgets National Security Security Clearance Coaching Team Building Team Leadership Strategic Planning Program Management Management Government Policy Leadership Project Management Strategy Public Policy Training Analysis Project Planning Security Clearance National Security Coaching Team Building Team Leadership Budgets Proposal Writing Teaching Financial Audits Compliance Audits Fraud Investigations IT Auditing Risk Management Internal Controls Certified Fraud Examiner Internal Audit IT Audit

Careers James favourited

Adjunct Professor

Adjunct Faculty

James Lee's Skill Profile

Auditing Deputy Director @ Auditor-General’s Office

When I was working at Auditor-General’s Office (Jul 1993 - Present), I demonstrated the Auditing skill when I was in charge of multiple audit teams of national auditors. To tackle this challenge, I proactively discharged the duties and responsibilities pursuant to s.6 of the Audit Act. As a result, I managed to win an award The Long Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Setia) bestowed by the President of the Republic of Singapore in 2019.

Governance Chief Information Officer (CIO) @ Auditor-General’s Office

When I was working at Auditor-General’s Office (Jul 2010 - Jun 2012), I demonstrated the Governance skill when I was responsible for being the first full-time Chief Information Officer (CIO). To tackle this challenge, I proactively led the IT department and managed multiple key IT projects. As a result, I managed to win an award The Efficiency Medal (Pingat Kepujian) bestowed by President of the Republic of Singapore in 2012.

Income Tax Tax Assistant @ Inland Revenue Department

When I was working at Inland Revenue Department (Feb 1992 - May 1992), I demonstrated the Income Tax skill when I was part of trainees performing income tax and business tax. To tackle this challenge, I proactively mastered the taxation by extended the NTU Business Attachment program. As a result, I managed to win an award Certificate of Commendation conferred by NTU in 1992.

Analytics Doctor of Business Administration @ S P Jain School of Global Management

When I was working at S P Jain School of Global Management (Jan 2017 - Present), I demonstrated the Analytics skill when I was tasked to do advanced business research. To tackle this challenge, I proactively excel in quantitative and qualitative analysis. As a result, I managed to win an award The Dean’s List (for Top 10% of Doctorate candidates) in 2018

Certified Public Accountant Chairman of the IT Services Committee @ Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

When I was working at Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (Mar 1997 - Dec 2014), I demonstrated the Certified Public Accountant skill when I was responsible for IT initiatives for over 20,000 accountants in Singapore. To take initiative, I proactively led the IT Services Committee for 17 years as the Chairman. As a result, I managed to win an award The ISCA Merit Award in 2014.

James Lee

Head of Internal Audit Jul 2023 - Present

Chairman of Investigation Committee / Member of Disciplinary Committee Mar 2015 - Present

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jul 2010 - Jun 2012

Chairman of the IT Services Committee Mar 1997 - Dec 2014

Deputy Director Jul 1993 - Present

Tax Assistant Feb 1992 - May 1992

Accounts Assistant Jan 1990 - Jun 1990

Doctor of Business Administration (Business Analytics) Jan 2017 - Present

Master Of Business Administration (Business Administration) Jul 1996 - Jun 2018

Bachelor of Accountancy (Accounting) Jul 1990 - Mar 1993

James Lee's Skill Profile

Auditing Deputy Director @ Auditor-General’s Office

Governance Chief Information Officer (CIO) @ Auditor-General’s Office

Income Tax Tax Assistant @ Inland Revenue Department

Analytics Doctor of Business Administration @ S P Jain School of Global Management

Certified Public Accountant Chairman of the IT Services Committee @ Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

Q&A with James Lee

What are your strongest skills that have contributed to your success in this field?

Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

What sacrifices have you had to make to succeed in this field, and do you feel the sacrifices were worth it?

What is your personal goal in your profession?

How would you describe yourself in one sentence?

What experience did you find most invaluable in your career so far?

Is there something you wish you'd known starting out in your field? Or is there something you wish you had done differently starting out?

What excites you about the industry you are in?

What kind of education or training did you find most useful in your field?

What are your interests and in what way does this career satisfy your interests?

What achievements in your career are you most proud of?

What excites you about the industry you are in?

What did you do to make yourself marketable?

What excites you about the field that you are in?

How do you attempt to overcome your lack of knowledge in particular areas?

James is not following anyone.