Unveiling Helmi Ali: The oil and gas maverick defying limits from PETRONAS to Qatargas. Discover how his ACCA journey with Kaplan and Imperial College London propelled him to extraordinary heights in the industry!
Helmi Ali, began his educational journey at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Muar, and subsequently pursued an engineering degree at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) with a full scholarship from PETRONAS.
In a delightful twist of fate, Helmi Ali went on to complete his ACCA at Kaplan Financial in London, before undertaking a master in business administration (MBA) at Imperial College, also in London.
A true luminary in the oil and gas industry, a field he has dedicated his entire career to, he now holds a crucial position as the Senior Venture Control at Qatargas, located in the burgeoning city of Doha, Qatar.
Educational background
Helmi Ali possesses over 14 years of work experience in esteemed oil and gas companies in Malaysia, including PETRONAS and SapuraKencana. Throughout his career, he has always aspired to be an engineer.
He turned his dreams into reality when he graduated from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
An occupational revelation
Following his graduation, he began working for his sponsor, PETRONAS, in supply chain management.
“A lot of experiences that I have gained are all thanks to PETRONAS. The company contributed to where I am today. My experience working there also taught me the value of resilience, which enables me to take on any challenges that comes my way,” Helmi said.
During a particular project at the fortune global 500 company, he experienced a transformative shift in perspective regarding the significant role that finance and accountancy play.
Engineers conceive grand ideas, transform them into coherent processes, and materialise these abstract concepts into remarkable realities. However, a comprehensive understanding of the cost implications and revenue potential of these ideas is a crucial element for any ambitious plan to come to fruition—a domain in which finance and accountancy excel.
At this turning point, Helmi chose to compliment his engineering skills with accounting by refocusing his educational pursuits, discovering his remarkable adaptability. For him, the sky is the limit.
Studying at Kaplan and pursuing an MBA
Unexpectedly altering the trajectory of his career, Helmi completed his ACCA at Kaplan Financial, supported by a scholarship from MARA.
Helmi appreciated Kaplan’s teaching methods, which emphasised on practical applications and facilitated his comprehension. “The focus by the teachers is on understanding instead of memorising. In accountancy, there are a lot of standards to memorise. To make it easier for us to remember the standard, they ensure we understand why the standards are there and their uses in real-life situations,” says Helmi.
He added that he could still remember the explanations about accounting standards by the lectures at Kaplan from more than a decade ago. According to him, the way the lecturers describe fundamental concepts were so effective that they “stick in your mind”.
Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he further challenged himself by pursuing a master’s in business administration at Imperial College, London, aiming to make a meaningful impact in his field of work.
Love in London
Amidst the arduous hours of studying, Helmi cherishes a fond memory of his time in London—a memory of love.
Helmi’s wife played a vital role in his journey as he embarked on the Herculean task of completing his ACCA. As a highflying person who also studied ACCA in Kaplan, Arthini Sham stood by Helmi’s side, empowering each other in their studies. Sharing a deep affection for the vibrant city of London, they also indulged in exploring its culinary delights and theatre options.
Life in Qatar
Presently, Helmi Ali works in Qatar, where he finds the environment conducive to his family life. His current workplace accommodates the needs of employees like attending to family matters, if work remains efficiently managed.
He describes the management as proactive, attentively addressing employees’ suggestions and concerns, swiftly implementing rational solutions within the workplace.
Helmi Ali is content with his work-life balance, feeling blessed to return home to his family with a serene mind. He even manages to squeeze in workout sessions amidst his demanding schedules.
Having achieved numerous triumphs, one cannot help but wonder what greater feats this promising young industry leader will undertake next. One thing is certain—we will encounter him at the precipice.
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