I have always been interested in the analysis of numbers, data analytics and information interpretation. It is no surprise I ended up pursuing studies in accountancy, economics and mathematics at university, gaining my ACCA qualification when I joined EY.
There is a big link between my two roles of partner and university lecturer. My work experiences allow me to bring practical examples into the class, especially in business strategy and competition analysis. I can quickly translate a principle being discussed to an actual case, and I think students appreciate these examples.
One of my proudest achievements has been to convince local CEOs to join an alliance focused on ESG values
Timing can be an issue. I often end up in a situation where the meeting that I have been chasing for some time ends up being organised exactly during a weekly lecture. I like to think I prioritise both lecturing and my job, by planning in advance and communicating early when there are time clashes, which are unfortunately inevitable.
Malta is a small Mediterranean island within the EU, bringing challenges related to diseconomies of scale, market size and being a technology taker. However, working in a small market presents great opportunities. There is the ease of networking, the exposure to all aspects of the economy and the opportunity to bring in know-how, given the island’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment.
An accountant working in an international firm while operating in such a market has a great role to play. They understand the local context and constraints, while also bringing the aspirations of larger and more developed economies to the table.
One of my proudest achievements has been to convince, together with my colleagues, the CEOs of top local companies to join an alliance focused on championing environmental, social and governance business values. The idea was for these leaders to feel stronger together and prove that businesses can take the lead, and not wait for government or regulators to mandate certain behaviour. There were challenges in bringing such forces together, but the experience has been enriching and I’ve managed to make some great friends in the process.
AI can help us do better research, find trends faster and join dots we weren’t seeing before
I work in the advisory service line at EY, leading a number of diverse projects for both private and public sector clients. The beauty of my job is that it is very dynamic, presenting frequent opportunities to learn and providing challenges that push me outside my comfort zone to try to find solutions for clients, team members and the firm.
I feel artificial intelligence (AI) will be impactful when it can help us focus our limited time on more value-adding activities. AI can help us do better research, find trends faster and join dots we weren’t seeing before. This applies to most fields, including advisory and accountancy. A lot of investment is being done in this field, and I’ve seen a few applications at EY that are promising and exciting.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I would probably be either an engineer or, given the opportunity, something to do with sports. I would have loved to be involved in football coaching, match analysis or performance improvement. Maybe it’s never too late, as it involves working with teams and information, so is similar to what I do at the moment!
In my spare time I enjoy sports and have been involved with football, cycling, futsal and now running as I train for half-marathons; I’ve done around 20 to date. We are blessed with a Mediterranean climate, facilitating outdoor sports including in winter. I also like watching movies, preferring the action, drama and mystery genres.
