Back in 1993, figures fascinated Shiu Chand, whether it be at work or with community-oriented organisations.
So it came as no surprise when the 30-year-old won the Young Accountant of the Year Award for the 30-35 age category.
His prize was a $11,000 computer and software package. The award was announced at the end of a two-day conference of the Fiji Institute of Accountants at the Regent Hotel, Nadi, in 1994.
According to an article in The Fiji Times of Saturday, May 14, 1994, he began as an account audit trainee and had started immediately after finishing secondary school.
Mr Chand started working in 1981 with Vishnu Prasad & Company, a Suva-based chartered accounting firm.
He worked his way up at the company, at a number of tertiary institutions in Fiji and overseas and was promoted to the post of accounts audit intermediate.
During this time he was also involved in a correspondence course with the Trans-World Tutorial College in England aiming for a diploma in accounting, in 1983.
In 1988, he graduated from the University of the South Pacific with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
During this time, he moved through the office ranks and was soon manager of Vishnu Prasad & Company – which is a member of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, an international audit company.
In 1992, he became a partner of the firm and gained his chartered accountant certificate.
Outside of work, he served as the auditor of the Kasavu Sports and Social Club and the Sri Sath Sanatan Ram Janaki Mandali as well as a member of the Toastmasters Club.
He enjoyed tennis, soccer and swimming and was married with one son at the time the article was published.
