In our main interview we meet Samuel Munzele Maimbo FCCA, a VP at the World Bank. Having spent nearly two decades criss-crossing four continents as a World Bank finance specialist, he now ensures the bank’s US$5bn budget is spent as effectively as possible. He says: ‘The numbers that excite and get me out of bed every morning are those related to the work the World Bank does around the world in response to the deeply intertwined challenges of poverty, pandemics, climate change, debt, conflict, food insecurity and fragility.’ Read his story.
In celebration of World Earth Day on 22 April, we look at how to value what makes life possible. While natural capital assets such as land have always been recognised on balance sheets using traditional accounting concepts, the emergence of new ecosystem services makes valuation of assets as well as liabilities more challenging. And as extreme weather events become more frequent, we look at why organisations need to embed climate risk management into their business continuity planning.
Meanwhile, our columnist Okey Umeano FCCA is encouraged to see Kenya and Nigeria begin implementing IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. He welcomes the action by governments and outlines the part accountants can play within their organisations.
On auditors’ minds are issues around recruitment and retention. African countries are facing a talent squeeze, but the audit profession in particular is grappling with how to make careers more attractive. A report from ACCA and CA ANZ reveals that work-life balance (not remuneration) is the biggest single concern for audit professionals. Find out more.
Anyone looking for a new career challenge would be well advised to understand how AI is being used in the recruitment process. One trend fast gaining ground is skills-based hiring, with recruiters focusing on candidates’ specific skills rather than education and experience. This used to be a time-consuming task, with candidate skills manually mapped against job descriptions – not any more, as AI can do the matching in a flash. Find out in what other ways the technology is changing the hiring process.
Last but not least, we have advice for businesses in east Africa grappling with a complex and changing tax environment.
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