While many accountants dread audit, he found purpose—and even joy—in it. For Parash, it wasn’t just about ticking boxes, but uncovering the story behind the numbers.
Parash Swaminathan didn’t always imagine a career in audit. In fact, at one point, he dropped the subject altogether. “I didn’t quite enjoy it fully, and I don’t quite understand some of the terminologies,” he recalls with a laugh. Yet today, he sits at the helm as Director at PwC, with over 16 years of experience under his belt and a steadfast love for a profession many leave after just a few years.
IIn his own time, on his own terms
Parash’s academic story didn’t start with straight As or international accolades. “I had two As, three Bs, and three Ds in SPM,” he admits. “Life told me early on—that’s not your path.” But it wasn’t a failure, but a turning point.
After a chance encounter with a university fair booth, he signed up for Analytical Economics at MMU. “The name sounded cool,” he laughs, “but it was during my foundation year that I found a new love—for accounting.”
Being taught in English, accounting began to make sense. “Suddenly, a lot of things clicked. I could connect the dots. And I realised I really liked it.”
That pivot led him to an internship with PwC Malaysia—an experience that would anchor his career for the next 16 years
“Every balance sheet tells a story”
Parash’s voice lights up when he talks about his work. “My most recent client was a data centre in Iceland. I learned about Iceland’s ecosystem, how their electricity is 100% sustainable. Why are data centres being set up there? That kind of learning still excites me.”
He’s audited oil and gas, utilities, media, and more. Each sector opens up a new lens. “It’s like getting a backstage pass into how industries really work,” he says. “And that’s what kept me in audit.”
But it is not just the technical challenge but human one, too.
“Early in your career, clients might see you as someone just coming in to check their work. So they’re guarded,” he says. “But I find my personality helps break that down. You earn their trust.”
Thinking ahead in PWC UK
Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Parash had never worked or studied abroad. But in 2015, he took a leap—a secondment to PwC UK. “It was something I always wanted to try,” he shares. “And London was a melting pot. I worked with colleagues from Spain, Mexico, South Africa, and Ukraine. It reminded me: as Malaysians, we underestimate ourselves. We already know how to work with multiple cultures.”
Despite the global backdrop, his Malaysian training held strong. “Our (Malaysia’s) technical skills are solid. The global stage just taught me how to adapt quickly and think bigger.”
“The growth culture at PwC is real. And there’s always something new to learn,” he says. “Audit isn’t just about numbers. There’s a story behind every set of accounts—why a company did well, or didn’t. What they’re planning. What’s next.”
It’s a perspective he tries to instil in new joiners too. “Understand the bigger picture,” he advises. “Don’t just do the task. Ask—how does this company make money? Who are their customers? Where does their revenue come from?”
“Not many places get you into a position where you learn everything about a company,” Parash shares. “As auditors, we’re privy to so much information. You get to learn how a company is run, who the competitors are, who owns it, how the customers behave—and that’s something I thrive on.”
Choosing the right certification
When asked about his accounting journey, Parash explains why he chooses Malaysia’s MICPA and Australia-New Zealand’s Chartered Accountants programme.
He explained it as “One: flexibility. No weekly classes. Just one key weekend per paper. Two: buy one, get one free—I got both Malaysian and international recognition. Three: open-book exams. You still have to study hard, but you can bring your notes in. It teaches you how to prepare smartly.”
His advice to those seeking to pursue accountancy is “Don’t be afraid to be a late bloomer,” Parash says with conviction. “And don’t be afraid to ask questions. You don’t know what you don’t know.”
For him, the heart of audit isn’t compliance—it’s curiosity. “There’s a story behind every company. Every audit tells it. And I still want to learn more.”
Parash has now returned to PwC Malaysia.
