Chee-Sum Tan

My career has been primarily in accounting and finance. I started in public accounting in Malaysia right out of college in 1979 as an auditor. After I acquired my certification as a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), I came to America as a foreign student in pursuit of my MBA and graduated in 1983 from Drake University, Iowa. I am a skilled Excel/Database programmer and loves chess. I am also a past member of Mensa International. With my unusual academic qualifications, unique technical skills, and persistent pursuit of knowledge, I found myself in a very broad range of experiences and industries in accounting and finance. My roles included auditor, cash/short-term investment management, senior financial analyst, accounting manager, budgeting/business modeling, forecasting, asset valuations, consolidation accounting, foreign entity accounting, derivatives, database/excel applications development in such diversified industries like public accounting firms, manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, transportation, federal government, and, banking. In addition to public accounting firms, I have worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Guess? Inc., FedEx and Union Bank. I began teaching for the University of Phoenix in 2001 and more recently for UCLA Extension since 2005. Courses I have taught both at the undergraduate and graduate level included financial accounting, finance, managerial accounting, auditing and algebra. I’m really enjoying working with and teaching at UCLA. Today, I continue to take classes that interest me (e.g. Advanced Statistics, Calculus, Writing Fiction, and Drawing) as this keeps my mind active and nibble. I accumulated a lot in all my years of learning and working and I’m eager to put it to use for you and share what I’ve learned. Chee-Sum