It is always a risk moving from one country to another – even more so when that journey takes you across three continents. But not content with that, Adnan Charania FCCA decided it would also be a good idea to quit his well-paid job to set up his own accountancy firm. And then, he chose to do so during the pandemic. Now, as his Atlanta-based firm goes from strength to strength, he takes time out to tell AB about his journey from Pakistan, and what he has learned along the way. Read his full story.
Speaking of start-ups, Kağan Sirdar ACCA gives us a fascinating insight into angel investments in Turkey. Sirdar is not only an adviser to the entrepreneurial community in the country; he is also prepared to put his money where his mouth is. And he urges other finance professionals to do so, too. Read about the advantages of angel investments.
Staying in Europe, under new proposals sanctions evaders will now face criminal prosecution and jail terms throughout the EU if they break the rules. The law will have a significant impact, given that sanction evasion is today often a civil offence across the EU. Find out what accountants and their clients need to know.
In other EU news, we look at the impact of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. In December 2023 the European Parliament and Council reached agreement on a text that forms a major turning point in the way that artificial intelligence will be regulated and viewed by organisations across the private and public sectors. The legislation was approved on 13 March 2024 and will be fully applicable 24 months after entry into force.
Back in the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission is facing a barrage of lawsuits after it decided to stay its new environmental disclosure requirements for listed companies. But while the various parties thrash it out in the courtroom, accountants are advising their clients to continue to prepare and report under the new regulations, as pressure continues from customers and suppliers.
Finally, stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic have been reaching new heights in recent months. While waiting for the bubble to burst (or not), we take a look at the impact of the increase in notional wealth for individual investors, and what this might mean for corporates in America and Europe.
