UHY GLOBAL JANUARY 2020 PERSONAL PROFILE
A WOMAN WITH HEART AND AMBITION
VANENCIA WIJONO, PARTNER, KAP HANANTA BUDIANTO & REKAN, INDONESIA HAS BASED HER CAREER ON A STRONG BELIEF THAT YOU ONLY GET BACKWHAT YOU GIVE IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE. AFTER FOUR DECADES IN ACCOUNTANCY, HER CONVICTION THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO, UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES IN ORDER TO FLOURISH IS AS STRONG AS EVER. EARLY DECISIONS When Venancia was deciding which career to choose after graduating from high school, she could not decide whether to embark on a degree in dentistry or economics. At that time it was possible to register for two different subjects so she opted for both until she was accepted on to the faculty of economics and chose to major in accounting. “As a child I had thought I would become a dentist because I was very good with my hands but looking back, I am glad I became an accountant. It is a profession I love, and I have met so many inspirational people through my work,” says Venancia. When she first qualified in the 1980s, Venancia remembers that accountants were still rare in Malaysia. “We had to work hard every day to earn people’s trust in our profession. It was largely unregulated at the time, but we have come so far in the last 30 years, and now our reputation is secure and we move from one success to another. My motto has always been that every challenge is an opportunity and I have embraced that throughout my career.” RAISING THE PROFESSIONAL BAR As an accountant who also has a background as a lecturer in accounting management and auditing, Venancia has always maintained a special interest in working with charities and aid bodies. One of her proudest achievements is that she created a consulting team that offers accountancy training and advice exclusively to not-for-profit organisations. “In this field donors have to be absolutely sure they can trust any organisation they are supporting so it is critical that we look after them and show them at every level that we can be relied on and that all beneficiaries are worthwhile. We set up a separate entity for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) consultation through which we provide training and workshops to help them to improve their governance. Nowadays, several donors have appointed us to give training to the local partners they support. “I get a thrill from knowing that our expertise contributes to the ongoing success and viability of many donor-funded projects, including Bread for the World and Cordaid,” says Venancia. Recognising that happy and satisfied clients and colleagues are her member firm’s most effective marketing tool, Venancia invests a lot of time in building strong, enduring relationships with the people she works with and the businesses and organisations she advises. “Contented employees and well-serviced clients are our best referral system because they go on to recommend us to others and the power of word of mouth cannot be overestimated,” says Venancia. “I always stick to my motto that every challenge is also an opportunity and I think that has served me well when tackling any more difficult situations.” FAMILY FEELING The appeal of accountancy is obviously in the family’s blood. Not only are Venancia and her husband accountants but all three of their children now also work in the fields of accountancy and finance. Her two daughters both majored in finance and accountancy and now run their own related businesses and her son, Revano Hananta, a chartered accountant, spent three years working at UHY Haines Norton, Sydney, Australia, before returning home to help to develop UHY in Indonesia. “I am very proud of all our children,” says Venancia, “and now I have a wonderful granddaughter too who is very cute and very smart and has just started talking, which makes me laugh a lot. I wonder if she too will grow up to be an accountant!” Although Venancia loves her work she also recognises the importance of relaxing with friends and family. Walking, jogging, travelling and a variety of sports are essential parts of her life too. “I consider myself fortunate to have such a close, loving family and to be part of the UHY network too. Having member firms across the world to refer work to and to receive referrals from is hugely beneficial and the regional and annual meetings every year are always very positive experiences for all of us. There is nothing better than interacting with people from so many different countries to share our experiences and learn from each other. “Here in Indonesia things are looking very buoyant too. Our new government is working hard to introduce new initiatives and technological advances – all of which should really boost our economy and improve our beautiful country’s prospects to flourish.” THE MAGIC OF JAKARTA Venancia’s hometown, Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is a dynamic and vibrant city with a wonderfully chaotic charm and juxtapositions of old and new on every street corner. Life here is lived at speed, and fuelled by optimism and hard work. Beneath the new high-rises, Jakarta has plenty of pleasant surprises, including a world-class food and coffee scene. Its citizens – even the poorest among them – are friendly, eager to help and positive, and compared to many world capitals, crime levels are low. Contrast and diversity pervade city life in Jakarta. From the steamy streets of Chinatown and Glodok to Kota’s vestiges of a colonial past, the old city is the prequel to Jakarta's development. The newer Merdeka Square is where Indonesia presents the face it wants the world to see – bold and confident. Further south, luxurious mega- developments sit next to humble neighbourhoods, with emerging art scenes and bohemian coffee shops. Across the city it is possible to rub shoulders with Indonesia’s future leaders and thinkers in sleek restaurants and roof-top bars. For centuries people have poured into the capital looking for a better life, and they bring with them a fabulous mix of cultures and beliefs from the nation’s 17,000 islands. Pedestrian alleys are filled with food stalls serving a huge variety of flavours; glitzy malls and hotels offer a fine dining experience; and souvenir bargains can be picked up on street corners, night and day. Jakarta has the country’s top museums, and a diversity of restaurants and public spaces to rival anything in Singapore or Bangkok. On Sunday mornings, when the road is close to vehicles, it is possible to stroll along the grand boulevard of Jalan M.H. Thamrin and marvel at all that has been built. RUNNING THE CITY Although Venancia leads a very full working life she understands the joy and the benefits of running in the open air – often with friends. Jakarta may be a huge urban city but there are plenty of places for runners to stay fit and escape the bustle and demands of life in the capital. Suropati Park has big trees and wide open spaces, the track that circles the park is flat and perfect for a leisurely jog or a faster sprint. Always shaded by lush vegetation, runners never need to worry about the scorching sun here. The National Monument Complex provides one of the biggest city parks in Asia – 80 hectares including stunning gardens, running tracks and a gym complex. Pluit Lake Park has shaken off its history as a slum neighbourhood to emerge with a completely new image. The government has built a lovely park here with running and cycling space as well as plenty of areas to play soccer and basketball. A beautiful lake is the perfect place to relax after your exercise. Ragunan Zoo brings wonderful opportunities to run amongst the wildlife. The zoo’s many different tracks are lined with big leafy trees offering a rare city breeze and enough variety to never get bored of your passing animals. Sudirman-Thamrin is the vibrant business district of the city during the week but on Sunday mornings it is a car-free area with great views of the city’s most developed pockets and plenty of post-run activities on offer.
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