RM800
Sharifah, co-founder of Syed & Kamarudin Associates, built her tax consultancy with her husband in 2015. While he oversees operations, she leads on all matters tax-related, embodying the powerful dynamic of a partnership that thrives on mutual respect and clear boundaries.
“The best business partner is your spouse,” she enthused, “but you must separate business and personal matters. You can’t mix the two.”
This professional wisdom didn’t emerge overnight. It was carved through a personal journey that began humbly—with an RM800 cheque.
“That first cheque felt huge. It was my money, my hard-earned money,” Sharifah recalled with pride. “It came from a friend who trusted me and later referred me to her network. That trust—more than the money—meant everything.”
The Long Road from Average Student to Tax Consultant
Sharifah’s academic beginnings were unremarkable by conventional standards. “In school, I was far from straight-A student.” But grades couldn’t stand between Shariah and her will to succeed.
With insufficient credits for a diploma, she enrolled in a six-month pre-commerce course at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), which paved the way for a Diploma in Business Studies. “I had zero knowledge of accounting. However, with support from a study group and a friend who tutored me, I scored an A. That gave me the confidence to believe I could do this.”
Sharifah’s interest in finance deepened over time. Still, when she applied for a degree in the subject, she was offered a place in accounting instead—an area she had not initially envisioned for herself.
“I remember my course tutor, Dr. Rohana Osman, telling my mother, ‘If she can’t cope, we’ll let her switch.’ But I stuck with it, and I ended up enjoying it—especially tax and audit. That decision not only grounded her in accounting but also paved the way for Sharifah to embrace education wholeheartedly, eventually pursuing her ACCA and going on to earn a Master’s degree.”
From Software to People: Finding Her Voice
Sharifah’s first job after graduation was as a financial consultant at a software house. Here, she worked alongside engineers to develop accounting, financial, and payment systems for large corporate clients. “I was the bridge between tech and finance. As a people person, I can explain things without using jargon. Clients appreciated that.”
Her ability to simplify complex ideas became her signature. But after completing her ACCA and later a Master’s in Forensic Accounting, Sharifah hit an unexpected wall—being overqualified.
“I couldn’t land a job. People saw me as a threat instead of an opportunity,” she said. But life had another path in store.
A friend from one of the Big Four firms asked her for help on a complex tax case. Sharifah delivered, the friend got promoted, and a seed was planted.
“She told me, ‘You should open your firm. You care deeply. You educate clients. We do it because it’s our job—you do it because you love it.'”
That conversation marked a turning point.
Building a Business on Purpose and Precision
In 2013, Sharifah dipped her toes into business through a networking platform that helped sharpen her technical and client-handling skills. “They taught me how to make things clear, even for clients with no background in finance. For example, instead of saying ‘profit and loss,’ I’d explain: You have to know how much you spend, what’s coming in, and what’s going out.”
She often uses analogies, for example – selling nasi lemak. “Let’s say your cost per packet is RM2. If you sell it for RM1.50, how do you make money? You can’t. You have to calculate everything—ikan bilis, rice, packaging—and price it properly.”
This simple, relatable storytelling approach has made Sharifah a trusted name among clients. But her true north is not just delivering tax services. It’s in her willingness to help, regardless.
Leading with Intention and Heart
Sharifah doesn’t shy away from helping those who can’t afford her services. “When someone says, ‘Puan Shifa (as she is fondly known), I don’t have the money to pay you,’ I ask: What do you need from me? If the intention is to help and you do business diligently, the money will come,” she reassured.
That intention also shapes her general view of taxation. “Many people see tax as punishment. I see it as an opportunity. Malaysian taxation offers numerous incentives. You need the right guide.”
She offers a compelling example: “Say a company wants to set up a factory in Malaysia. The location matters because different areas have different tax incentives. Then there’s the Board Member composition. The people on your board can impact your tax outcomes. Even the decision to buy land—there are incentives if you plan it right.”
However, these decisions are rarely communicated in a clear and accessible way. That’s where Sharifah comes in—with her voice, her empathy, and her insistence on unambiguousness.
“Storytelling matters. If you do proper tax planning, your invoicing will be clean, and your records will be solid. No fear, no chaos. But it has to start with understanding.”
Changing the Narrative Around Taxation
Sharifah believes that part of her mission is to shift the mindset around taxation in Malaysia. “A lot of SMEs see it as something to avoid or something to fear. But what if you saw it as a way to grow?”
She explained how most businesses misclassify expenses—like labelling entertainment as deductible when it’s not. “If you frame it as marketing, you can justify it. No marketing, no business. No business, no revenue. No revenue, no profit.”
Her consultations often feel more like coaching sessions—where clients walk away not just with solutions but with a clearer understanding of how to run their businesses.
“I want business owners to have at least basic knowledge of tax—not to escape it, but to manage it wisely. Whether you’re in Malaysia or anywhere in the world, if you earn income, you must understand tax.”
Drawing from the Same Well
Ultimately, Sharifah’s philosophy is about balance. Business is not separate from life. It’s an extension of who you are.
“The principles I use in business are the same as those I use in life. You draw from the same well,” she reflected. “That’s why trust, honesty, and diligence matter so much. If you live by these values, they’ll show up in your work, too.”
Sharifah’s journey—from average student to educator, from consultant to founder—is proof that technical knowledge, when paired with heart and clarity, can change lives. Hers. And countless others.
And that is the real story behind the numbers.
