From Auditor to Funeral Director: Why Success Isn’t Limited to Doctors, Lawyers or Accountants

For many students in Singapore, success follows a familiar formula: study hard, earn a degree from a reputable university, secure a stable corporate job, and climb the career ladder.

Harmony Tee followed that path.

After graduating from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, she joined one of the world’s largest accounting firms, Ernst & Young (EY), as an auditor. Like many fresh graduates, she envisioned a long corporate career, with aspirations of eventually becoming a partner.

On paper, everything was going according to plan.

But life had a different calling.

When Family Comes Before Career

About a year into her career, Harmony’s father was diagnosed with kidney failure. At the same time, the family’s third-generation coffin wholesale business, founded by her grandfather over 60 years ago, faced an uncertain future as there was no clear successor.

Her father repeatedly encouraged her to consider joining the family business—not because he wanted her to abandon her education, but because he hoped the legacy built by his own father would continue serving Singaporean families.

It wasn’t an easy decision.

Leaving a prestigious career in one of the Big Four accounting firms for the funeral industry seemed almost unthinkable. Friends questioned her choice, and even her family had reservations. Before making the leap, Harmony took time to reflect, eventually deciding to give herself just one year in the funeral profession.

That one year changed her life forever.

Building Harmony Funeral Care

After entering the profession, Harmony realised that funeral directing was far more than organising wakes and coordinating logistics.

It required empathy.

It required leadership.

It required problem-solving under immense emotional pressure.

Every family was different. Every funeral was unique. Every day presented new challenges.

Seeing an opportunity to modernise the industry while preserving traditional values, she founded Harmony Funeral Care, combining compassionate service with transparent pricing, clear communication, and professional standards. Today, the company serves families from all walks of life, arranging Christian, Catholic, Taoist, Freethinker and Buddhist funeral services in Singapore, while also educating the public about death, grief and funeral planning.

A Degree Doesn’t Dictate Your Destination

Many people believe that studying at university determines the rest of your life.

Harmony’s story proves otherwise.

Her business education did not go to waste simply because she became a funeral director.

In fact, she applies what she learnt at NUS every day.

Accounting helps her manage finances. Marketing enables her to educate the public about funeral planning.

Operations management ensures every funeral runs smoothly. Leadership allows her to build and train a growing team.

Negotiation, communication and strategic thinking—all skills developed during university—are essential in supporting grieving families and running a successful business.

Education provides transferable skills. Your degree equips you with tools, not a fixed destination.

What Does a Funeral Director Actually Do?

When people hear the words “funeral director”, they often imagine someone dressed in black conducting a funeral procession.

The reality is much broader.

A funeral director in Singapore is responsible for guiding families through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. This includes:

* Arranging funeral services according to religious and cultural traditions.

* Coordinating with hospitals, hospices and government agencies.

* Planning Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Catholic and Freethinker funerals.

* Managing logistics, documentation and funeral operations.

* Supporting families emotionally while ensuring every detail is handled professionally.

For a Buddhist funeral in Singapore, a funeral director may also coordinate chanting sessions with monks, prepare ritual offerings, arrange memorial tablets, advise families on Buddhist funeral customs, and ensure ceremonies are conducted respectfully according to the family’s traditions.

It is a profession that combines operational excellence with genuine compassion.

Author of Echoes of Farewell

Drawing from years of experience in the funeral profession, Harmony later authored Echoes of Farewell, a book that offers readers an honest look behind the scenes of Singapore’s funeral industry.

Rather than focusing only on death, the book explores life lessons, grief, leadership, resilience and the privilege of serving families during their most vulnerable moments. It also sheds light on misconceptions surrounding the funeral profession and encourages more open conversations about mortality.

Redefining Success

Society often celebrates careers in medicine, law and finance. These are admirable professions.

But meaningful work exists in many forms.

A funeral director may never appear on lists of the most glamorous careers, yet every day they help families find closure, preserve dignity and honour lives well lived.

Success should not be measured solely by salary or job title.

It can also be measured by the lives we touch, the problems we solve and the difference we make in our communities. Harmony Tee’s journey from auditor to funeral director reminds us that sometimes the most fulfilling careers are the ones we never planned for.

Whether someone chooses to become a doctor, engineer, teacher, entrepreneur—or a funeral director serving families through Singapore funeral services—the greatest success lies in finding work that aligns with both purpose and compassion.