Angeline Lawrence

Business Development Associate

Angeline, a graduate of Binus University in Jakarta, began her career in 2021 as an IT Consultant at PwC. She also has two years of experience in Business Development. Angeline is skilled in identifying how changes and risks affect different stakeholders and is proficient in market research. Throughout her career, she has consulted in various industries, including state-owned companies, entertainment, and mining, building a strong network. Her expertise is in conducting market research for business development and understanding transformations, localization strategies, and risk assessment when entering new markets. With her experience in analyzing stakeholder dynamics and market trends, Angeline is well-equipped to excel in her field. She is fluent in both English and Bahasa Indonesia, and she also has a basic understanding of Hokkien.

Niki Dwi Adityas

Digital Marketing Manager

Niki is a seasoned IT and Digital Marketing professional with a decade of experience in FinTech and E-commerce. His skill set includes website design, optimization, and noteworthy contributions to Loyalty Management Systems for renowned brands such as Shiseido and Gucci. Holding a Bachelor's in E-commerce from STMIK Indonesia, Niki is certified in Microsoft Database, Business Intelligence, and MVC Programming.

He is proficient in PHP, Laravel, WordPress, JavaScript, SQL, and Python, and he combines technical prowess with digital marketing expertise. Niki has successfully collaborated and worked with companies in Indonesia and Singapore, crafting high-conversion digital marketing campaigns. His unique blend of technical and marketing skills positions him as a valuable asset capable of driving success across diverse projects and industries.

Winnie Hoh

Accounts & HR Executive

Winnie's expertise lies in providing highly customized solutions tailored to the unique needs of each client. She excels in guiding SMEs and multinational companies through intricate accounting regulations, ensuring compliance and efficiency. A pivotal team member, Winnie adeptly manages clients' accounting, tax, administrative, and outsourcing needs. Her rich background as an Accounts Assistant Manager spans Malaysia and Singapore, showcasing her expertise in registering businesses, managing transactions, and navigating complex corporate landscapes.

Christy Eugenia

Social Media Manager

Graduating from the Bali Tourism Institute in Indonesia, Christy embarked on her career as a social media specialist in 2017. With over 4 years of experience in the Singapore market and 3 years in the Indonesian market, Christy possesses extensive expertise in developing effective business strategies, digital marketing strategies and managing social media campaigns across various platforms. She has also worked closely with numerous Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and influencers from both Indonesia and other countries. With her knowledge and skills as a business consultant, Christy can provide valuable assistance in establishing a strong digital marketing presence in new markets.

El-Given Christy

Chief Designer

El-Given Christy graduated from Maranatha Christian University Bandung and is an experienced branding consultant with over 6 years of experience in Indonesia and 2 years of experience in the Singapore market. She specializes in branding, social media design, and brand localization consultancy.

Throughout her career, El-Given has gained experience providing consultancy for various industries including jewellery retail, food and beverage, hospitality, and more. She is passionate about creating visually appealing designs that help businesses stand out in their respective markets.

Janice Koh

Loans & Partnership Manager

Janice holds a degree in Business Administration Management from PSB Academy. With her background in business administration and 11 year of experience in the financial sector, she was with AMEX before joining Bizsquare in 2021.

Janice is well-equipped to provide strategic insights and recommendations to businesses aiming to enter new markets. Her proficiency in market research, data analysis, and risk assessment ensures that clients receive thorough and reliable assessments to make informed market entry decisions.

She is in charge of business loan analysis, processing, report writing, and business partnerships with funders and our finance clients. With a total of more than 10 years of combined experience in the finance industry, she is a valuable asset to our team and successfully solved many loan-related issues for our clients.

Adela Shienny

Business Development Director

Shienny is an accomplished business development professional with a finance degree from New York University and holding a CFA level 1. She has an extensive experience in marketing and corporate finance, specializing in market research and localization strategies. She is a native Indonesian who has spent over a decade of her academic and professional life in Singapore and the United States, thus possessing a multicultural background and profound comprehension of the cultural intricacies in both Singapore and Indonesia. This unique perspective enables her to provide valuable support to her Singaporean clients in adapting and succeeding in the Indonesian markets.

As a member of the Stellar Women community with international property experience, Shienny has an extensive network in Singapore and Indonesia. Her connections span diverse industries like media, event organizers, food and beverage, investors, and entrepreneurs, making her an excellent business connector.

Additionally, her fluency in English, Chinese, and Bahasa Indonesia gives her a unique advantage in bridging the language gap for international companies, facilitating effective communication between foreign businesses and their Indonesian counterparts.

Jamie Tan

General Manager & Creative Director

Jamie is a creative growth achiever with over 16 years of experience in business management, branding, marketing, and design. Jamie is the Lead Consultant leading the business marketing team as the Creative Director and General Manager of Bizsquare.

As the executive management, she has vast experience in developing and implementing constructive business and marketing strategies for clients across all channels and works closely with the finance department on business budgeting and forecasting.

Jamie has helped many firms in market entry feasibility studies, business matching, consultancy, strategic branding and marketing consultancy, and many more. She is the brain behind the success of many big brands and companies, such as Uncle Ringo, Renee's, Chopstix, and Rice, and many more brands.

She used to be a co-founder and creative director, running her own children's fashion brand for 8 years prior to joining Bizsquare. We believe her all-rounded capabilities will help Bizsquare and our clients strive for better success.

Melvin Ho

Founder & CEO

Melvin Ho, a Practising Management Consultant (PMC), is the CEO of Bizsquare, specializing in Cash Flow Structuring and Business Brand Strategy for SMEs. He holds an MBA from Arcadia University, USA and a Bachelor of Commerce from Murdoch University, Australia.

Melvin founded Bizsquare in 2013 to address the underserved demand for SMEs financial management advice. Over the years, Melvin has provided management consultation to MNCs and government-related bodies. He has since then expanded his services to include branding and marketing, accounting, and business strategy development, offering comprehensive solutions for SMEs. Melvin has built a robust network of business owners across the globe, particularly in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

With over 14 years of experience, Melvin's expertise, excellent business acumen and recognition in the industry has driven Bizsquare's customer success in building strong networks internationally. Many Singapore businesses have benefitted from his network. He has a strong team in Indonesia which has helped many Singapore businesses establish networks and partnerships there.

Alongside him is a team of experts dedicated to their respective areas of expertise, providing a comprehensive one-stop solution to clients worldwide.

Biz Content
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CPF

What You Should Know On The Increase in CPF Contribution Rates

Hello Business Owners!

In the Budget 2022 speech, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced an increase in the CPF contribution rate for senior workers aged 55 to 70 years old in order to increase their retirement incomes and improve retirement adequacy. The first increase in CPF contribution rates for older workers was already implemented earlier this year, on 1st January 2022, and the second increase will be applied on 1st January 2023.

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Here is a summary of the changes in the CPF contribution rates that you MUST know:

  1. The adjustments to the CPF contribution rates that will occur on 1st January 2023 will only apply to employees aged 55 to 70, while all other age groups will remain unchanged. You can refer to the graphic below for a more detailed description of the changes.
  2. Employees earning more than $500 to $750 per month will continue to contribute to their CPF at the same rate as before.
  3. For Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) in their first and second year, the graduated contribution rates will stay unchanged.
     
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How does the revised CPF contribution rates for senior workers affect you as a business owner?

The increment of CPF contribution rates, which is intended to enhance senior workers’ retirement income, also implies that you have to contribute more to your employees’ CPF. Simply put, the adjustment in CPF contribution rates actually raises your labour costs.

However, as with this year, a one-year CPF Transition Offset (CTO) will be automatically supplemented for the 2023 increments to cover half of the increase in employer CPF contribution rates. You will not be required to apply for it. For more information on the CTO, you can visit here.

Despite the government offset, hiring senior workers aged 55 to 70 will cost you more than it did previously. While employing senior employees can help diversify the workforce, it is apparent that if you continue to recruit senior workers in the future, your operating costs will rise, making your business less profitable.

As illustrated, the cost benefits of hiring senior workers provided previously have been reduced. With the cost increase, you should reconsider recruiting senior workers. As compared to the seniors, a younger employee is more likely to possess up-to-date skill sets and knowledge, as well as be more in sync with current market sentiments. Therefore, it will be cheaper and more advantageous to hire a younger employee as you will not have to train them from the ground up.

Having said that, many seniors are constantly undergoing training classes and upgrading themselves in various areas in order to remain relevant with the current market and trends. Hence, if a senior person can deliver the same value as a younger employee, you should definitely consider hiring them. More importantly, this will also be less costly for you.

All in all, we hope that you’ve gained a clearer understanding of the updated CPF contribution rates that will be taking effect in the coming year and how it will affect you as a business owner. For further details on the increase in CPF contribution rates, please visit the CPF website or here.

Bizsquare is a one-stop business consultancy firm providing Loan Consultancy Services, Accounting and Corporate Secretarial Services, Branding and Marketing Consultancy, Strategy Management and Start-up Mentorship.