Monica Lei

Lessons from the Top - Monica Lei

May 11, 20252 min read

Monica’s path to becoming a Director in Business Services at BDO wasn’t born out of a childhood love for the tax system. It was forged from necessity, grit and and belief that she could build a better life.

She migrated to Australia alone as a young woman, with a suitcase, determination, and her last bit of savings. There was no safety net, no family nearby. She set herself one practical goal: find stability, find direction.

“I didn’t really know what accountants did... I just thought they counted money.”

But at university, something clicked. What started as a practical decision evolved into genuine fascination. Accounting - rigid and rule bound to some - revealed itself to Monica as something beautifully logical.

"It’s different from science, which I loved in high school, but it has its own kind of clarity. A kind of certainty.”

That clarity, however, wasn’t just academic. It was personal. As a new migrant, Monica struggled to understand how the financial system worked. Every decision, from tax returns to managing expenses, felt overwhelming at first. But learning to master the system gave her confidence and purpose.

“When I first got here, I didn’t know how to manage my own finances... Understanding the tax system helped me make better decisions. Now I get to do that for clients.”

It’s the duality of structure and support is one that defines how Monica sees her work. She believes accounting has two faces: one that looks back, and one that looks ahead.

“A lot of people see compliance as backward-looking... But you need to know your history to plan forward. That’s where the real value is.”

At BDO, Monica does more than keep the books in order, she helps build futures. Whether it’s guiding a founder through their first capital raise or helping a seasoned business owner restructure, Monica brings calm clarity to complex decisions.

But her impact doesn’t end with clients.

As a leader, Monica is deeply committed to developing the next generation of accountants. Not just as technicians, but as communicators and leaders of impact.

“At BDO, we treat soft skills as essential, not optional... Technical ability will only take you so far - people skills are what carry you into leadership.”

From role-playing difficult client conversations to learning how to give and receive feedback, new graduates are immersed in training that equips them for the real world.

And when feedback showed that traditional workshops were overwhelming, BDO responded by shifting to short, bite-sized sessions that fit more naturally into the day.

“It’s all about supporting our young professionals... If they don’t feel supported, they burn out. And we don’t want that.”

Monica’s story is a powerful reminder that accounting isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people. It’s about helping businesses thrive, mentoring future leaders and breaking the tired stereotype of accountants as boring or disconnected.

“I want people to know accountants aren’t boring... We don’t just look back - we help our clients move forward.”

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