Empowerment agenda

Since becoming a finance professional just over a decade ago, Hira Jalal has risen rapidly to the position of chief strategy officer at Accloudant Pakistan, which provides accounting, tax and other consulting services to a global clientele. She is also the only finance professional in South Asia to be included in Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting 2023.

While the global award increased her credibility and visibility as a finance consultant, Hira says that it was also a ‘good push for self’ and helped to build her self-confidence. Receiving such high-profile acknowledgement ‘creates this self-awareness that, okay, I’m doing something right, not only professionally but also on a personal level,’ she says, adding that she is driven by a desire to leave a positive legacy that inspires other women. ‘Each step I take is fuelled by the desire to show other women that they don’t have to fit into predefined roles. We’re capable of so much more, and I want to leave that message behind.’

SME backbone

At Accloudant, Hira’s role involves creating a marketing strategy and acquiring clients. Providing quality work to deadline is, she emphasises, crucial. ‘We are in the service industry, and it’s important to deliver on time,’ Hira says.

That service ethos is demonstrated by Accloudant’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s SMEs – in particular, those run by women – offering fee discounts along with free advisory and webinars. ‘Rules keep changing every day, so we try to help women-run businesses who aren’t aware of these changes,’ Hira says, ‘because SMEs are the backbone of our economy.’

Moving to Dubai in August this year was a significant change, Hira says, ‘but it has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. As a remote worker in the financial sector, I’m passionate about helping people take control of their finances. By equipping them with the right tools and knowledge, they can confidently shape their future and inspire others to do the same. Through my work, I aim to empower individuals to make informed decisions and build a secure financial foundation, no matter where life takes them.’

Hira views improved financial literacy – not only for businesses, organisations and salaried individuals, but also for children – as crucial to both personal and national growth. ‘Financial literacy empowers individuals to make informed decisions,’ she says, adding that she will shortly partner with educational institutes to run financial literacy seminars focusing on practical skills. The student programme will cover topics such as saving, budgeting, and building a solid financial foundation at an early age, while seminars for business professionals will focus on more advanced subjects including debt management, investment strategies and the importance of filing taxes. The collaboration will involve schools, colleges, and community centres, in order to ensure that financial education reaches as wide an audience as possible.

Balancing act

Alongside Hira’s commitment to improving financial literacy, she is passionate about improving opportunities for women by promoting a healthy work-life balance. This comes in part from her own experiences when she left a role in corporate banking after her son was born in 2017, finding the daily commute challenging. She knew, however, that she wanted to continue to work. ‘Motherhood is the hardest job in the world, but I realised that I need to do something more with my life, so I started freelancing,’ she says.

In that pre-pandemic world, Hira faced resistance from those around her who struggled to understand the concept of remote working, but she remained committed, taking on different online projects and becoming a consultant for local businesses. Later, she landed a role at Dixa, a Danish software company with several subsidiaries across the world, including the UK, Australia and Estonia, as an accounting consultant. ‘It gave me a lot of global exposure,’ she says.

As someone who’s juggled many roles, Hira knows first hand how remote work can cut commute time, reduce stress and increase productivity. ‘If you’ve a proper workspace at home, it’s more efficient and minimises distractions,’ she says, ‘so you can work longer periods without any interruptions.’

The downside, Hira concedes, is that many people struggle to find work-life balance, and it’s vital that they set healthy boundaries. ‘Maybe you are trying to sleep and then you are like, “Okay, let me just check my emails quickly,”’ she says.

Beyond accountancy

Speaking about her journey, Hira is quick to credit ACCA as instrumental in shaping her career, especially as a freelancer. Having gained from ACCA’s CPD programme, she believes that the organisation’s remit goes well beyond accountancy. Networking opportunities aside, ACCA has, she says, enabled her to develop as a professional, not least by providing her with a strong ethical framework. ‘If you are willing to put in the work, ACCA really transforms you as a person,’ she says.

As she strives to serve clients and empower others, Hira is clear about her goals. ‘I want to be remembered as someone who had a positive impact on others’ lives,’ she says.

Her advice to aspiring women accountants is to seek out mentors and leverage resources in order to have a competitive edge over others. ‘Be resilient, and if you put your mind to something, you can do it,’ she says. ‘Why wear a cape when financial literacy and remote work can be your superpowers?’