Jiaxin (Jessie) Fan
Chief Accountant, Radisson RED Auckland
Master of Professional Accounting with Distinction
She chose the Master of Professional Accounting to build a strong foundation in accounting, says Jiaxin (Jessie) Fan who came to AUT as an international student from China.
“After graduating with a degree in electronic information engineering, I worked as an income auditor in a hotel. This experience made me realise how much I enjoy accounting, and that working in the hospitality industry requires international experience. AUT stood out to me because of its strong reputation in hospitality-related programmes in New Zealand, and for its practical, industry-focused learning and small class sizes. This made it the perfect choice.”
She still has fond memories of her time at AUT.
“During my time at AUT, I focused on studying steadily, following my lecturers’ guidance and pursuing my interests. I was pleasantly surprised to graduate with distinction, which made me and my family very happy. One highlight of my time at AUT was gaining experience in group work and public speaking. I used to feel uncomfortable speaking in front of others, but through class projects and presentations, I became more confident and improved my communication skills.”
Creating efficient systems
Now working as the chief accountant for Radisson RED Auckland, Jessie has achieved her goal of taking her accounting skills to the hospitality industry.
“I joined Radisson RED before it officially opened, and my main focus has been establishing accounting processes and systems to ensure smooth operations. I also oversee financial reporting and compliance as chief accountant. I’m proud of helping establish the hotel’s accounting processes before opening and successfully managing them after launch. Being part of the project from the very beginning and seeing it come to life has been very fulfilling.”
She enjoys using her accounting knowledge to help the company operate.
“I enjoy building processes and mechanisms from scratch, and seeing how they support the hotel. Collaborating with the team to create efficient systems is very rewarding.”
Advice for other students
Jessie, who graduated from AUT in 2019 and is fully CPA Australia qualified, has some great advice for other students dreaming of a career in accounting.
“My advice for future AUT students is to take it step by step. There are no shortcuts. After graduation, I started in a junior role as an accounts payable clerk, then progressed to assistant accountant, accountant, and finally chief accountant now. Each step taught me valuable lessons and helped me build the skills I needed to succeed.
“Focus on learning, gaining practical experience and improving your abilities gradually. Consistent effort, persistence and a willingness to embrace challenges will take you far; just like it did for me in my accounting career.”
