Accounting and Ethics

Farisha HusseinFor Farisha Hussein Accounting is not only about numbers but about ethics as well.

She enjoyed the thrill of balancing a ledger as an accounting student during her high school student days and appreciated the amount of attention that was required to ensure that all transactions were accounted for.

“I loved working with numbers. I was always very fascinated by them. I knew early on that accounting was the field that I needed to be in if I wanted satisfaction in my career,” she said.

Born and raised in Ba in a nuclear family, Hussein attended Tagitagi Sangam School and Kamil Muslim College before moving to Nadi where she completed her high school at Nadi Muslim College. Always wanting to be in the accounts field, she enrolled in Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies’ (CBHTS) Diploma in Business Accounting programme.

“I always wanted to study accounting and not leave home to pursue higher education. FNU managed to meet both my requirements. This was very important to me as I live with my mother and did not want to leave her,” she shared.

Reminiscing about her student days, Hussein pointed out, “Those were the best days of my life. I learnt a lot as a student.”

Hussein graduated with a Diploma in Business Accounting in 2012 and immediately started working for R C Manubhai as an Internal Auditor in Nadi. In 2013, she joined Jacks of Fiji as their Internal Auditor and another year later, she joined HLB Mann Judd (Fiji) as an Accountant/Administration Supervisor.

HLB Mann Judd (Fiji) has been in Fiji for over 23 years and is a member of HLB International (HLBI) which is a dynamic network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers. Hussein has been working for the company for a little over five years now.

Speaking about her current role, she said, “I do general day to day accounting as well as manage the administration team who look after the overall administration for the company. As an accountant, I look after the accounts for more than 12 companies.”

Hussein says that she practices everything that she was taught as a student at FNU.

“From accounting to ethics, everything I was taught has been efficient and assisted me greatly in my career,” she added.

Satisfied with the quality of education provided by FNU, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations) programme at the Namaka campus in 2018 as a part-time student.

“I can see a lot of difference now. I am studying again, and I can see a lot of improvements and positive changes at FNU in terms of infrastructure and learning and teaching,” said Hussein.

Hussein credits her success to her mum and her lecturers.

“My mum has been my guiding light. She has given me immense support throughout my life, and I am ever grateful for that. I am also grateful for the lecturers we had. They were outstanding as they always motivated us and guided us every step of the way,” she shared.

Her advice to current and future students of FNU is not to take studies lightly.

“GPA does matter a lot. Pay attention to everything you are taught and use it wisely in the business world. This should help you excel,” she added.

Her top three tips for graduates starting in their career is to have the right attitude towards whatever they do, be focused on their work and learn as much as they can from their job.

Hussein resides in Nadi with her mother.