Youngest of two siblings, Sanjeet Singh always wanted to be in the field of accounting.

“I loved working with numbers and felt that accounting was the field where I could demonstrate my skills,” said Singh.

Coming from a farming community in Bulabula, Ba, he attended DAV Primary School from 1993 to 1995 and then Bulabula Indian School from 1996 to 2000. Singh attained his secondary education at A D Patel College in Ba.

After Form Seven, Singh joined the workforce as the Data Entry and Inventory Clerk for R. C. Manubhai Co. Limited.  He served on this position for five months before being promoted to Payroll and Accounts Officer.

After gaining sufficient industry experience, Singh decided to further his education and  enrolled to study Diploma in Business Accounting at the Fiji Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2007.

“I chose FIT because it was convenient for me as a working student and it was very affordable,” said Singh.

Being a working student, Singh faced some challenges while juggling work and studies.

“It was a bit difficult at first, however, I learnt to prioritise things and improved on my time management which allowed me to handle work and studies well. I also had support from my employer. The lecturers were also helpful and very accommodating,” he said.

After serving as the Payroll and Accounts Officer for five months, Singh was offered the position of Assistant Inventory Controller. He worked on this position till July 2007 after which he changed employers and joined Kasabias Limited as the Assistant Accounts Executive.

Seeing opportunities along the way, Singh continued to work for different companies to learn as much as he could about the field of accounting in different organisations.

In 2008, he joined Aarkay Motors Limited as the Accounts and Administration Officer – a position he served in for the next two years.  By this time, he had completed the Diploma in Business Studies programme from FNU and graduated in 2009.

In 2010, another opportunity presented itself and Singh joined Prime Event and Management Limited – Royal Davui Island Resort and Hibiscus Air Limited as the company Accountant. While working there he started the Bachelor of Commerce programme majoring in Accounting at the Fiji National University (FNU). He studied as a part time student while working full time.

This qualification served him well as he was eventually offered the position of Team Leader – Finance at the Pacific Theological College (PTC) in 2013.   Within the next three years, he was promoted to Director Finance and Administration, a position he currently serves.

His current role includes maintaining the financial integrity of the college, preparation of monthly and annual accounts, preparation of budgets and cash flows, ensuring that the principles and purposes of the new chart system of accounts are strictly adhered to in all financial transactions, monitoring the financial situation of the college and providing financial advice to the principal and other appropriate committees, establishing firm objective procedures in handling funds, supervision of existing staffs in the finance section, and to be a part of the management team, Finance & Property Committee, Executive Committee, and the College Council.

“I love my job. I am doing what I am passionate about. I have worked hard to reach where I am today. I must say it was not easy but with hard work and dedication anything is possible,” said Singh.

“Achieving a goal may take days, months or years, do not rush. Everything will happen when it is supposed to,” he added.

Singh graduated with the Bachelor of Commerce programme majoring in Accounting in 2018. He is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from FNU and a Certificate in Theology from PTC.

His advice to current and future students is that dreams cannot be fulfilled overnight.