Ministry of Manpower
Feature | Organisation

Keeping Employees Engaged

An engineering graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) tells us how the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has ensured her professional and personal growth for six years (and counting)!
ministry of manpower

Keeping Employees Engaged

An engineering graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) tells us how the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has ensured her professional and personal growth for six years (and counting)!
ministry of manpower

MOM’s vision of building a Great Workforce and a Great Workplace is not limited to the general public – it extends throughout the organisation as well. As a people-centred organisation, MOM seeks to groom its officers, regardless of which career stage they are at.

Whether a fresh graduate or mid-career professional, MOM believes in drawing on and developing your unique skills. Take Ivy Chee for example. After graduating from NP with a Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering, Ivy began her career as an engineer in the private sector.

Ivy had always been interested to work in the public sector. When she saw a job opening for a Finance Executive at MOM, she did not hesitate to send in her application. Since joining MOM, Ivy has undergone plenty of on-the-job and structured training. She is now thriving in her role as a Manager in Finance Consulting.

Ivy shares more about her career at MOM.

Tell us more about what you do as a Manager in Finance Consulting.

Ivy Chee: As Finance Consultant, I work with departments on financial management to ensure accurate and timely reports on the department’s budget position. I also assist in resource allocation and utilisation decisions; providing advice to departments on day-to-day execution of finance duties to ensure compliance with guidelines and regulations.

What do you enjoy most about working at MOM?

Ivy: At MOM, people are at the core of our work. As such, there are work-life harmony initiatives available for our staff, such as Flexible Work Arrangements. I find this extremely important as it allows me to be able to spend more time with my loved ones.

Ivy Chee

Ivy Chee
Manager, Finance Consulting

“As a civil servant, you must be committed and have the passion to serve the public.”

What are some challenges you face at work?

Ivy: There are quite a number of challenges we face at work. For example, departments may not be familiar with the Budget Framework, financial guidelines and circulars. To overcome this, I make a conscious effort to find out more about the framework and guidelines and conduct sharing sessions with departments to address their queries.

Name some career highlights.

Ivy: There were times when I was able to help departments plan and allocate resources to achieve their desired outcomes, especially when there are changes to business decisions.

The fact that I was able to minimise the financial impact and achieve the department’s objectives is a self-fulfilling achievement to me. Apart from that, one of the most memorable moments is my promotion to a higher grade several years ago. The feeling of being rewarded and appreciated is gratifying!

How has MOM ensured your continued development?

Ivy: The recent implementation of the Extended Management Executive Scheme allows both graduates and non-graduates recruited at different entry levels to progress within the same career scheme. This allows officers to progress based on merit rather than paper qualifications.

Within MOM, there are also various internal and external courses to help officers develop and equip themselves with the necessary skill sets as they take on added responsibilities.

Describe the culture within your team.

Ivy: Within my team, we have regular lunch outings where we share and talk about latest news and topics, such as new food places! We even discuss financial best practices and guidelines which we encounter while working on an issue.

What qualities should MOM officers possess and why are they important?

Ivy: As a civil servant, you must be committed and have the passion to serve the public. You should also be compassionate and caring towards our society. This ensures that the public sustains its trust in the Government.

What advice can you give to fresh graduates who would like to join MOM?

Ivy: Those who wish to join MOM must possess a positive work attitude! I also think it is important to accept challenges with an open mind and cultivate enthusiasm to work with people from all walks of life.