For me, as for many of my fellow professionals, accounting was a favourite subject at school, so I decided to pursue accounting and finance as a career. The mobility and flexibility accountants enjoy in their work was persuasive, as was the fact that they are always in demand because every industry needs finance professionals. And as ACCA is globally recognised and respected, that opens up opportunities to work all over the world.
After completing my ACCA exams, I was fortunate to get an opportunity to work for KPMG. During my time with the firm I learnt so much, working in various capacities with clients from different industries and alongside other professionals. I gained invaluable experience in all aspects of auditing, of listed financial institutions in particular, and other industries in general.
I was part of a team decommissioning the core banking system of a major listed bank
After that, the opportunity of a lifetime came my way when I joined the finance team of a major listed bank. I was part of a team responsible for a project to decommission the core banking system in preparation for a new system. The exposure was huge, as I had to completely understand the existing architecture before we migrated to the proposed architecture.
I am now working in Riyadh as head of reporting for an award-winning financial services company, Al Rajhi Capital, a subsidiary of the world’s largest Islamic bank. I am responsible for all financial reporting requirements of the company, including but not limited to preparation of financial statements, forecasts, budgets, performance analysis, policies and procedures.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sets out an ambitious economic development roadmap that seeks to develop the kingdom into a global investment powerhouse. We are five years into the project, and despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vision 2030 is delivering an economic surge that is creating exciting opportunities for companies and investors in almost every area of the economy.
The Neom smart city project is set to transform Saudi Arabia into a leading global innovation and trade hub. It is a massive, long-term undertaking, but the plan is that it will include towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centres, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. When completed, it is expected to be the home and workplace for more than a million people from around the world. We believe that Neom will appeal to investors and business owners across the globe.
If I had law-making powers, I would make teachers among the highest paid of all professionals. I would also make a minimum educational requirement mandatory for everyone. Education is one of the most important elements needed for a successful nation.
I enjoy analysing huge data, and making models to automate recurring tasks
We are in a dynamic environment, where businesses generate more and more financial and qualitative data. This demands crucial skills and a strong analytical mindset to translate the relevant data into meaningful information for management to use. This is what I enjoy most about my job: analysing huge data, and making models to automate recurring tasks.
As my career has progressed I’ve accrued a lot of achievements. One of the best was to qualify with ACCA and to get started on my professional journey, as that is the make-or-break point of anyone’s career.
Playing cricket is my passion. I am the founder and captain of a cricket team that plays at domestic level in Riyadh. I would have become a professional cricket player if I had not been a professional accountant.
When I’m not at work, I try to spend most of my time with my family. We enjoy watching TV series, travelling, eating out and shopping. I also enjoy reading about religion and current affairs.
