NOT EVERYONE WHO qualifies as a chartered accountant dreams of a career spent compiling spreadsheets, preparing month-end profit and loss statements, and vetoing outrageous expense claims from the sales department.
In fact, some see their professional accountant status as simply a starting point, knowing it can open doors to almost unlimited opportunities in the business world and serve as a second passport for working one's way around the globe.
'Soon after I qualified, I realised life as a conventional chartered accountant would not be my cup of tea - I needed something more challenging,' said David Maund, managing director of Alvarez & Marsal Asia.
So he picked up his backpack and set off in search of adventure.
His travels eventually led him to Sydney, where he accepted a job as a financial analyst at Oracle's head office in Australia.
When it was time to look for a fresh challenge, he joined an accounting firm that specialised in insolvency and restructuring, and was in the process of expanding into Asia.
Before long, Mr Maund was offered what looked like an attractive assignment - taking charge of the firm's new Bangkok office. As he was about to leave for Thailand, he heard a dramatic piece of news.