I believe you should try to influence your environment and make your workplace happier. I enjoy the new challenges my job brings as working on frequently changing assignments helps me to enhance my growth. What I really enjoy is that I am part of a community of solvers bringing workable solutions, and I always try my best to make every day a novel day.
In an increasingly competitive world, it is critical for Mauritius to develop its high-end services to achieve sustainable growth. The country has relied heavily on its human capital to develop sectors such as agriculture, tourism and financial services, which have played a pivotal role in its progress towards being a high-income country. However, our nation is at a crossroads where it needs to reshape its workforce. Mauritius is losing its people due to lack of opportunities, and a rethinking of the different sectors is key to retaining those talents and attracting highly skilled professionals from other backgrounds.
It takes effort and commitment to develop the leaders of tomorrow
Developing future leaders is also an area that needs work. While this will not be a quick fix, effort and commitment from all the stakeholders will help develop the leaders of tomorrow.
After enjoying accountancy studies at school, becoming an accountant seemed a natural choice for me. The taxation elements of the ACCA qualification inspired me to pursue a career with the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
There were times when I doubted whether my decision was the right one
Growth is about constantly getting out of your comfort zone and challenging the status quo. Moving from the tax authority to PwC was a significant step in my career, and there were times when I doubted whether my decision was the right one. I knew moving to a completely different environment after spending 19 years in a comfort zone would be a big challenge, but I am convinced I made the right choice.
Careerwise, my biggest achievement was being promoted to tax partner in 2017 and subsequently tax leader in 2019. When I joined the firm, I realised that I could quickly climb the ladder, and this motivated me to drive the tax business exponentially. I have had an enriching career both at the Mauritius Revenue Authority and PwC, and played a part in major landmark wins at the Mauritius Supreme Court and Privy Council in cases that have shaped the tax landscape in Mauritius.
My favourite saying is ‘What goes around comes around’, or alternatively ‘We reap what we sow’. We should always remember that how we behave as people and professionals matters.
If I had law-making powers, I would reform the education system to channel more youngsters into taking more entrepreneurial roles in society.
More should be done to safeguard the independence of regulatory institutions
Good governance is key to the success of a country, so more should be done to safeguard the independence of regulatory institutions. This will help provide the necessary environment for economic growth and social stability.
If I wasn’t in finance, I would have loved to have been a surgeon. Caring for people should be one of our human values – helping other living beings is so important. In my spare time I like travelling and shopping, and sometimes reading about taxation issues, I must admit.
My family life has been the backbone of my successful career, alongside my ACCA qualification. As well as being happily married to a fellow ACCA member, I am the proud father of a son aged 24 who is studying to be an accountant, and a 20-year-old daughter whose career direction is yet to be decided.
