In the world of professional services, success is often measured in metrics. We look at balance sheets, profit margins, and growth percentages. Yet, if you sit down with Kaka Singh, Chairman & Senior Partner at RSM Singapore, you quickly realise that true success is measured by something far more enduring: impact.

It is easy to look at a curriculum vitae as distinguished as Kaka’s and see a list of achievements. From his tenure as a senior partner at a Big Four firm to his longstanding service with RSM Singapore since 2000, his career has been defined by excellence.

We recently sat down with Kaka to uncover what drives him. What keeps a man with decades of international experience moving forward with such energy? The answer, we discovered, is a profound desire to help others take charge of change. 

 

An unexpected beginning

Leadership often begins in unlikely places. For Kaka, the path to the boardroom did not start with a burning desire to balance ledgers. In fact, his heart was originally set on the sciences.

 

"Actually, I wasn’t drawn to accounting initially," Kaka admits. "I was a science student and wanted to go into engineering, but that didn’t work out."

 

It was a teacher who nudged him towards accountancy, a suggestion that would alter the trajectory of his life. He gave it a try and found that the logic and structure of the profession clicked with him. Beyond the subject matter, the practicalities of the path appealed to his industrious nature. Unlike other courses at the time, accountancy offered flexibility to work and study simultaneously. This unique combination allowed him to apply theoretical knowledge directly to real-world scenarios, laying the groundwork for a career defined by practical, client-focused solutions.

 

The power of understanding business owners

Before joining the firm in 2000, Kaka was already a seasoned professional, having served as a senior partner at a Big 4 firm. His transition to RSM Singapore began when its founder, Chio Kian Huat, invited him to assist with what Kaka initially expected to be a short-term engagement.

 

Front Row: Second from the Right

 

"I thought it would be for a couple of years, but here I am, 25 years later." 

What transformed a short-term commitment into a 25-year legacy? For Kaka, it was the shift in perspective. Moving from a Big 4 environment to RSM allowed him to work more intimately with business owners and staff. This proximity to the decision-makers, the entrepreneurs and visionaries driving the middle market, turned work into a passion.

He found immense satisfaction in helping clients navigate complex challenges, from growth strategies and succession planning to joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. This hands-on approach exemplifies the power of being understood; by deeply engaging with clients, Kaka was able to offer insights that went far beyond standard compliance, helping them to move forward with confidence.


Driving growth and diversification

Kaka’s tenure coincides with a period of dynamic expansion for RSM Singapore. He recalls the firm’s rapid growth, driven by leadership with a clear, ambitious vision.

 

"They expanded beyond audit and tax into areas like payroll, forensic investigations, and liquidation. That made the work exciting." 

 

While his own expertise was anchored in audit, IPOs, and complex litigation support, witnessing and contributing to this diversification was invigorating. His deep experience in IPO and RTO assignments, coupled with his knowledge of corporate governance, played a crucial role in strengthening the firm's capabilities. He helped ensure that as RSM grew, it did so with a foundation of technical excellence and integrity.

 

Championing the profession

True leadership extends beyond the walls of one's own organisation. Kaka has been a vocal advocate for the accounting profession in Singapore, holding numerous key positions in various accounting bodies. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping industry standards and education.

One of his proudest achievements involves the fight for professional recognition. As a former president of CIMA and SAICSA, representing Management Accountants and Chartered Secretaries, he championed the cause for these professionals to be formally recognised in Singapore. Working closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Law, he helped secure the acknowledgement these qualifications deserved.

Furthermore, Kaka was a pioneer in emphasising the importance of ethics in leadership. He was instrumental in introducing mandatory ethics and governance courses for partners prior to practice, a significant shift that underscored the importance of integrity in the financial world.

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2010, he received the inaugural ACCA Award for his contribution to the association. He was also awarded the Silver Medal by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) for his outstanding work. These accolades reflect a career spent not just practicing accounting, but elevating it.

 

A heart for service

Beyond the boardroom, Kaka’s impact is felt deeply in the community. We believe in the importance of stewardship and giving back, and Kaka exemplifies these values through his decades of service to the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS).

Initiated through the Rotary Club, the project began with a handful of students and teachers. Today, thanks to the sustained efforts of Kaka and his peers, the DAS supports approximately 3,000 students.

 

"I’ve served on its council for 35 years." 

 

In recognition of his tireless dedication to charities, the President of the Republic of Singapore awarded him the prestigious Public Service Medal, Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM), in 2022. While he admits the recognition is a "nice feeling" that makes his family proud, his motivation remains pure: the joy of contributing and doing good for others.

 

 

The relentless pursuit of knowledge

One glance at Kaka’s credentials reveals a man who is a lifelong learner. He holds Fellowships with ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, ICSA, and CPA Australia, among others, alongside two Master of Business Administration degrees from London.

For Kaka, acquiring these qualifications was never a burden. 

 

"I enjoyed studying and didn’t find exams difficult, so I kept going." 

 

This thirst for knowledge is the advice he passes on to the next generation of leaders. He encourages young accountants to read widely, noting that broad knowledge is the key to finding better solutions for clients. In a world of change, adaptability is paramount.

 

Bridging generations

In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on nurturing young talent, a necessary investment for the future. Yet Kaka, who continues to contribute actively well into his senior years, offers an important reminder about the value seasoned professionals bring to the workplace. 

He draws a compelling analogy to family dynamics.

 

“When we think about development, we naturally think of parents, guiding, correcting, teaching children skills for the future. Grandparents may not be involved in daily instruction, yet they shape something equally important: behaviour, values, temperament, and perspective.”

 

In the same way, senior professionals shape the culture of RSM Singapore even as they give younger colleagues room to lead. The younger generation brings energy, executional strength and fresh ideas. Seasoned colleagues, however, influence the deeper character of the organisation; how pressure is managed, how clients are approached, how disagreements are resolved and how integrity is upheld. These qualities cannot be taught through manuals; they are absorbed through observation and reinforced through daily interactions.

While senior members may not always be the quickest to master emerging tools, their steadiness, accumulated wisdom and grounding values continue to serve as an anchor for the firm.

 

Embracing the future

As he looks to the future, Kaka’s message to the profession and to younger accountants is clear: adapt or be left behind. He urges accountants to keep an open mind and stay abreast of developments, particularly in technology and digitalisation.

 

"Don’t complain about how things used to be - adapt and move forward."

 

Kaka Singh’s 25-year journey with RSM Singapore is a testament to the power of persistence, adaptability, and human-centred leadership. His legacy is not just in the clients he has assisted or the policies he has shaped, but in the example, he sets for us all: to take charge of change, to serve with integrity, and to never stop learning.