{"id":17036,"date":"2026-08-28T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T15:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careers.zen.group\/?p=17036"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:28:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T06:28:34","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-shan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careers.zen.group\/en\/2026\/08\/28\/a-day-in-the-life-shan\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day in the Life: Shan (Corporate Finance)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shan<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Nationality: Canadian
\nOriginally from: China<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Hi, I\u2019m Shan from the Corporate Finance Department at ZenGroup. I moved from China to Japan when I was four years old. Partway through high school, I moved to Canada. I later returned to Japan to begin my professional career, gaining experience in back-office operations at a global securities firm and in finance at a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Before joining ZenGroup in December 2024, I served as Head of Finance for a local subsidiary in Indonesia and was also involved in establishing the Osaka office of a securities firm. Today, I oversee the accounting function while also serving as CFO and Head of the IPO Preparation Office, leading the company\u2019s IPO preparations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Schedule<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8:30\u201309:00am<\/td>\nArrive at the Office<\/p>\n

I start my day by checking my task calendar and email, followed by Slack and Asana. I look over not only my own tasks, but also the CEO\u2019s and my team members\u2019 schedules to get a sense of what the day ahead will look like.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

09:00\u201312:30pm<\/td>\nMeetings & Desk Work<\/p>\n

Every day is different, but I typically spend about half of my time in meetings and the other half on desk work. My meetings include regular check-ins with the CEO, IPO progress updates, management reporting, meetings with other departments, and team meetings. I also meet with external stakeholders, including our audit firm, tax advisors, internal controls consultants, and banks. When I\u2019m at my desk, I prepare for meetings, work on management analysis, move IPO-related projects forward, improve internal processes, and manage the team.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12:30\u201301:30pm<\/td>\nLunch<\/p>\n

I often go to restaurants near the office. At ZenGroup, employees can take up to two hours for lunch, so sometimes I\u2019ll go a little farther out or meet up with friends.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1:30\u20137:00pm<\/td>\nMeetings & Desk Work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7:00pm<\/td>\nWrap Up<\/p>\n

Before leaving, I organize any remaining tasks and review my schedule for the next day.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Daily Tasks<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

What are your main responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

I manage the Accounting Section, overseeing both the team\u2019s operations and people management, while working to strengthen and enhance our accounting framework. I also communicate regularly with external stakeholders, including banks, payment service providers, and our audit firm. Another important part of my role is leading our broader financial strategy, from management reporting to the CEO and business analysis to proposals for improving internal operations.<\/p>\n

The other major focus of my work is preparing for an IPO. I serve as a central coordinator for the process\u2014coordinating with consultants and the CEO, tracking progress across departments, and helping build internal consensus when management decisions are needed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Which tools and platforms do you use daily?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

We use Slack for communication, Asana for project management, and Google Workspace for spreadsheets, documents, and file management.<\/p>\n

For accounting, we use freee as our accounting system and DIGGLE for budget-versus-actual management, along with web-based tools provided by various financial institutions and payment service providers.<\/p>\n

I also frequently use ZenMarket\u2019s admin panel and analytics tools to access and analyze data.<\/p>\n<\/div>

How do you prioritize your tasks?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

I always have multiple tasks moving forward at the same time, so I work backward from deadlines and consider the potential impact each task will have on the company. At the same time, I think deciding what not to do is just as important as deciding where to start.<\/p>\n

For example, if a task can be handled by another team member, I\u2019ll ask them to take it on. If a question can be resolved through a conversation without creating a document, I\u2019ll suggest doing that instead. I try to make sure our limited time goes toward the work that truly needs it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Team Collaboration<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

What’s your team like?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Within the Corporate Finance Department, the Accounting Section includes the Accounting Team, Finance Team, and FP&A Unit. Each brings its own area of expertise, but we work closely together as one team.<\/p>\n

Because we work with numbers, there are many situations where accuracy and speed are essential. But that doesn\u2019t mean the atmosphere is overly formal. We value an open environment where people can immediately speak up if they have a question or feel that something doesn\u2019t quite add up.<\/p>\n

Sometimes casual conversations at our desks turn lively, and we also get together for things like cherry blossom viewing and team dinners.<\/p>\n<\/div>

What are the unique points about your team?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Accounting is where all the financial information needed to prepare a company\u2019s financial statements comes together\u2014from sales and purchasing to expenses. That gives us a clear view of the company as a whole and allows us to understand the business from multiple angles, which is one of the things I find most interesting about being part of this team.<\/p>\n

We also have the opportunity to be deeply involved in the IPO preparation process from a finance and accounting perspective. Being able to experience firsthand how the company\u2019s systems and processes evolve\u2014from accounting standards to internal controls\u2014while also deepening our expertise through our work with the audit firm is another unique aspect of the team.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you collaborate with other departments at ZenGroup?<\/h2><\/div>

Yes. Finance and accounting touch nearly every part of the company, so we work with almost every department on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

That includes requests for bank transfers, expense reimbursements, and questions about withholding tax, as well as budgeting, analyzing budget-to-actual variances, and discussing business performance with different teams.When the company begins a new type of transaction, we may first work to understand the business model and then discuss it with the relevant teams from an accounting and tax perspective.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to work across the organization, collaborate with many different departments, and understand the business as a whole is another aspect of the team that I really enjoy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Learning and Development<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

How do you stay updated on the latest trends in your position?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

I try to keep my knowledge current through a combination of conversations with external experts and my own ongoing research.<\/p>\n

I often learn about the latest trends and practical issues through meetings with our audit firm, consultants, and financial institutions. I try to deepen my own understanding of what I learn and apply it to my day-to-day work and problem-solving.<\/p>\n

On my own, I follow economic news and updates to accounting standards, while continuously keeping up with IPO cases and the latest accounting and tax topics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What are you doing for self-improvement?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

There\u2019s still so much I don\u2019t know about accounting and business, so I try not to leave questions unanswered.<\/p>\n

When something isn\u2019t clear to me, I use AI to explain it or as a sounding board, and I keep digging until I genuinely understand it and feel satisfied with the answer.<\/p>\n

I also try to approach each challenge I encounter in my day-to-day work with a positive mindset. I believe that accumulating the experience and lessons I gain along the way is what helps me continue to grow.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Work-Life Balance<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

How do you manage your work-life at ZenGroup?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

For me, work and my personal life aren\u2019t completely separate\u2014I believe they can have a positive influence on each other.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why feeling that I\u2019m contributing to the company through my work is an important foundation for the rest of my life.<\/p>\n

At the same time, I make a conscious effort to take time off and leave work on time so that I can enjoy both my work and personal life without compromising either.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you have any tips for maintaining productivity and avoiding burnout?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

I think it\u2019s important to have an accurate understanding of how you\u2019re doing personally.<\/p>\n

I try to understand my own capacity\u2014how much pressure I can realistically handle\u2014and then gradually expand the range of challenges I take on. I also think it\u2019s important to strategically take time off and recharge before reaching my limit.<\/p>\n

At work, I break down what needs to be done into specific tasks, set deadlines, and work through them one by one. Building up a sense of accomplishment, even from small wins, helps me avoid feeling constantly overwhelmed and stay positive about my work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Memorable Experiences<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

Are there any memorable experiences or successes in your role that you can share?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

One experience that stands out from my time as Head of Accounting was when my financial analysis led to a meaningful improvement in the business.<\/p>\n

At the time, I analyzed the profitability and risks of one of our services and identified an opportunity for improvement. Based on the numbers, I proposed to management that we could take a more proactive approach while still taking the potential risks into account. The proposal was quickly accepted, and changes to the service were implemented the following month. As a result, we were able to improve convenience for customers around the world while also making a positive contribution to the company\u2019s revenue and profit.<\/p>\n

It was an experience that showed me firsthand how someone working in accounting can have a direct impact on the business itself.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Personal Insights<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

What do you enjoy most about your job?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What I enjoy most is being able to directly influence management decisions through numbers.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a unique sense of fulfillment when my analysis or recommendations contribute to a management decision or help the business grow.<\/p>\n

I also enjoy being able to work closely with the CEO and leaders across different departments, as well as collaborating with a wide range of external experts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What would you say to someone considering joining ZenGroup?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

At first, you may find yourself adjusting to business models you haven\u2019t encountered before, the broader scope of responsibility that comes with working at a fast-growing company compared with a large corporation, the freedom to choose how you approach problems, and the speed at which decisions are made. But as you work through each day, you\u2019ll quickly get used to the environment and naturally begin to keep pace. There\u2019s no need to rush.<\/p>\n

Trust the experience you\u2019ve built throughout your career and take things one step at a time. And when there\u2019s something you don\u2019t know, the people around you\u2014including your manager\u2014will be there to support you. So don\u2019t be afraid to take on new challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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