I’ve always wanted to contribute to society. I started off as a traditional accountant, and worked for several years with charity organisations in Bangladesh including the Salvation Army, eventually rising to director for finance and administration for the Bangladesh office of Leprosy Mission International.
Feeling the need to make a greater contribution I then stepped out of my comfort zone, transferring to Leprosy Mission’s UK office for almost a year. As part of this resolve, I completed IPSAS training as well as the ACCA qualification, studying while working. It was not easy and I needed all my determination and my wife’s support to get me through the exams.
On my return to Bangladesh, I joined the United Nations Office for Project Services, where I am currently a finance specialist. UNOPS provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services for a more sustainable world, and I contribute to six UNOPS countries. Working for an NGO gives me great satisfaction, as I can see my expertise bearing fruit for organisations as well as their beneficiaries.
Your job cannot give you value, but you can add value to your job
Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. I strongly believe that God has His own plan for my life. I like this quote from the Holy Bible: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.’ I also like the saying ‘Your job cannot give you value, but you can add value to your job.’
When working in fund management, fiduciary responsibility is key. Many downstream partners are not at the same level of capability with compliance and cannot produce quality financial reports. I build capacity and provide training in financial management and internal control for these partners.
I have always carried a passion to build others up and to contribute in a meaningful way. My biggest career achievement has been developing financial and internal audit manual guidelines for NGOs. I have also developed a training module for financial management and internal control to help implement projects successfully.
Beyond my work for UNOPS, along with four friends I have formed a limited company, Musketeers Idea. Our main mission is to improve operational performance among Bangladeshi entities. We currently provide customised ERP systems and consultancy services to 79 organisations, both NGOs and corporate enterprises.
If I had law-making powers, I would allow ACCA professionals to practise audit in Bangladesh alongside other CAs. I would oversee development of a quality assurance framework and authorise ACCA-qualified professionals to contribute more broadly to finance and to audit, bringing their management expertise and ethical principles.
Outside my work, I enjoy reading, especially the Holy Bible but also books about management. In addition, I serve as a volunteer board member at three charities. I find it fulfilling to help them to develop systems to improve their professionalism, so they can run their organisations in a the most efficient manner.
