This month, we meet Barnabas Ayalew FCCA, head of internal audit at the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa. Formerly the organisation’s external auditor, he says being on the inside brings an entirely different viewpoint. He also has a passion for audit quality, which has seen him assist in the development and delivery of audit quality reviews in Ethiopia on behalf of the local regulator. 'Raising standards is fundamental for Ethiopia's future development and we need to build our capacity in this area,' he says.
Continuing this theme, we ask what does it mean to be an auditor today? And how might that role change in the future? We find out what audit firms need to consider when hiring and developing talent who will become the next generation of leaders.
Elsewhere, our columnist Okey Umeano FCCA explains why expanding the capital base of Africa’s banks is the right thing to do, despite the potential for negative economic and social impacts in the short to medium term.
In our CPD article, we ask how AI could change some of the tasks that accountants undertake, such as accounts preparation, and the risks as well as opportunities that this might offer. We also delve into a new report from ACCA and CA ANZ on why accountants have everything to gain from the AI revolution and what measures finance functions need to take to remain responsive and relevant.
Meanwhile, our latest podcast series with business psychologist Jess Baker offers advice on how to build resilience and deal with pressure in the workplace.
Finally, this month sees the launch of ACCA’s annual conference, Accounting for the Future. With the theme of ‘Embracing the disruption’, the three-day event looks at trends and developments affecting professional accountants globally, including opportunities around new technology, imperatives for sustainability and the new skills needed in this fast-moving landscape. Register to attend live on 26-28 November or on demand.
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