Since 2020 I have been working in my own practice in Lahore, helping startups and entrepreneurs to solve their finance, accounting and compliance-related problems. I chose to set up my own firm because I wanted to explore my abilities as an entrepreneur, self-starter and team builder and I’m proud to say my venture has been a success. The thing that I like about practice is that it keeps you engaged and up-to-date with the latest developments. The work is never monotonous, either.
As a managing partner you are free to choose your own schedule and travel plans and customise your work-life balance. I enjoy this freedom, which is generally missing in many high-end corporate jobs.
That said, the high turnover of human resources is a source of anxiety for me and causes us disruption in the office. For businesses to grow and expand, having a good and reliable team is a requirement and a blessing.
Customising your work-life balance is a freedom generally missing in high-end corporate jobs
It was obvious from my earliest school years that accountancy was the career for me as I’ve always enjoyed solving numerical problems. I was further inspired by my father who built a successful career in the same field.
ACCA provided me with the foundation to start my professional career. After qualifying in 2010, I started out with AF Ferguson & Co, part of the PwC network, beginning as an associate and eventually being promoted to manager. It equipped me with a diverse set of experiences, ranging from audits of multinational clients, business and advisory services, and the resolution of complex taxation matters.
Pakistan is facing a lot of challenges. The most important is the ongoing political and economic crisis. Consistency and continuity of government policies are required to restore the confidence of businesses in the current circumstances. However, Pakistan has great resources and the majority of the population is youthful. We also have great weather, spectacular scenery and cultural riches.
In the current economic circumstances, export businesses are thriving due to beneficial exchange rates. The recent census showed Pakistan has around 225 million people, which means consumable goods businesses have lots of opportunities for fulfilling the needs of this huge population.
The war in Ukraine has caused major disruptions to the global ecosystem and supply-chains, particularly in energy and food supply. Pakistan was already facing political and economic turmoil, and this instability has worsened the problems facing its population due to exorbitant food and energy prices.
Finance is going through a dynamic period due to emerging data sciences, process automation and AI
If I had law-making powers, I would change the infrastructure of our educational sector. I would develop it on the lines of modern and universally acceptable educational standards. Equipping the population with a relevant knowledge base would eventually solve most of our current problems.
If I wasn’t in finance, I would be an IT professional. Finance is going through a dynamic period due to emerging data sciences, process automation and artificial intelligence-assisted algorithms such as Chat-GPT. I think our profession resonates with the IT function.
In my free time I read history and current affairs books. I enjoy travelling, and being with my friends and family. I also actively follow topics and articles related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and other technologies.
