Finance professional supports to achieve the financial growth of the company with concise knowledge and skill.

Armed with cross borders knowledge, and versatile finance skills and experience of over 37 years, is Jayasri, Director of Singapore based firm Brindavan Lian Meng. A Trusted Advisor, always concerned with her client's best interests, Jayasri has extensive experience in Audit, Compliance, Tax, trading, consulting, training, finance, accounting, and CFO services.

Previously, Jayasri cut served as a Civil Servant under Indian government, appeared before Indian parliamentary committees on audit, and worked as Finance Controller for Bharat Electronics in Chennai and Singapore. Among Jayasri's most notable achievements is her completion of the CA program in Singapore during a mid- career shift with distinction and rank, and creating a professional practicein Singapore after 22 years of salaried employment in Indian government sectors. In a conversation with Women Entrepreneur magazine, Jayasri provides us an insight into her professional background and her enterprise, Brindavan Lian Meng (BLM).

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table.

My childhood years were spent in a small temple town Srirangam , Trichy. I then moved to Bangalore where my mother,a single parent,setup our home in Bharat Electronics Colony. I completed my college BCom.,MCom., MBA and professional studies CA(SG, Australia), ICWA(SG, UK), CFA while workingfull- time as a Civil Servant(India Government) and later with Bharat Electronics,and also managing travel, marriage, family etc.

I am bestowed with cross border country knowledge covering India, Singapore, Australia and UK and have multi-dis- ciplinary understanding of diverse companies.I also managed the trading arm of companies in agricultural commodities (through self-group for women created in India) and sourcing wifi components from CISCO distributors.

Introduce us to Brindavan Lian Meng (BLM) and its primary area of expertise? In your opinion what sets the organization apart from its contemporaries?

BLM, a licensee of IRAS and ACRA Singapore, provides taxservices and professional corporate secretarial services . Our expertise is in establishing businesses for foreign companies and successfully maintaining their Legal, Tax, and Companies Act compliance.

It is unique for an Accountant to possess multiple jurisdictional knowledge and skills to manage diverse industrial challenges. This is my USP. We operate as the sole contact for our client in Singapore and manage them as a family company. This distinguishes us from our competitors.

Tell us about the various responsibilities your shoulder as the Director of Brindavan Lian Meng. How do you drive growth for the organization?

Compliance expertise delivered with trust is the hallmark of our business.We provide personalisedfinancial consulting as there is no common framework that fits all.

My responsibilities include client management, business development in networking/referrals, manMy responsibilities include client management, business development, hiring, managing and training , interaction with banks and government agencies, and ensuring successfulgovernment's annual audits for the clients.

Maintaining my network and relationships is my primary source of development. Above all, being trustworthy and timely are the hallmark of our success.

"Raise yourself and go the extra mile whenever possible, never give up on your passion regardless of changes in life."

Throw some light on the most critical challenges you face in your current role. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you encounter?

Employee training and retention is a major challenge. The most difficult part is instilling moral value systems and work attitudes in employees. My strategies for getting around the issue have been patience, perseverance, endless teaching, and working around. The clients' too face challenges e.g.in opening bank accounts due toSingapore banks being recently more selective for the offshore companies. We have formed alliances with payment services and plan to soon launch our own payment service.

What would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Raise yourself and go the extra mile whenever possible, never give up on your passion regardless of changes in life. Have value systems and attitudes that reflect your personality. Compassion and empowerment are two of a woman's pillars; practise them in your daily life.

Tell us about the various responsibilities your shoulder as the Director of Brindavan Lian Meng. How do you drive growth for the organization?

• Purchase of office amidst odds of finance in 2015

• Few companies have had growth from 100k to 40 mil – Trade finance was facilitated by me with banks. -2010 to 2016

• Few companies have grown strategically from 20 mils to 80 mil – framing of working capital strategy and techniques by me 2012-2014

• A client was given new lease of life in shipping when I asked the company to bid in a new area of business- allied though, Harbour Mobile Cranes in India- from 1 crane to 10 they own today, and some 200 employees benefited – the revenue of the company is 200 Cr INR and the valuation of the company is 700CR INR.

• A company lifted out of bankruptcy after being officially charged by the bankers- by working capital management techniques- 400 Indian workers' future was at stake during Covid times. The company now is valued at SGD 40 Mil and has a good order book at SGD 50 Mil this year.

• Setting up of Self-help group in India of ladies to till Chilies and supply them to our trading arm.

Jayasri, Director, Brindavan Lian Meng

Jayasri is a versatile financial professional who has worked in trading, consulting, training, finance, accounting, and CFO services. Jayasri is a reliable advisor who is always concerned with her clients' best interests.