In this issue, we celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March) by acknowledging the huge impact that female professionals have on business, and the need for more to be done to support female empowerment. First, we shine the spotlight on six inspiring ACCA women members from the Middle East and South Asia regions featured in AB over the past year. Their achievements are testament not only to their capabilities and determination but also to the power of the ACCA qualification. Read their stories and advice for young professionals looking to get ahead.
In our practice section, we talk to Vera Doljenkova FCCA, a young Uzbekh member who recently set up her own practice in Dubai. Having left her home country a decade ago to develop her career in the UAE financial services sector, she explains how her work with business founders led her to become an entrepreneur herself.
On the public sector front, we look at how governments need to recognise the important role of gender-responsive budgeting – the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies and programmes. A new report from ACCA looks at the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting across Eastern Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East, stressing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Find out what the report says.
Elsewhere we hear how practitioners in Sri Lanka are countering a lack of financial literacy among female entrepreneurs. Fortunately, accounting practitioners are on hand to assist with training and support, demystifying financial concepts and empowering women to succeed and grow their businesses.
Beyond gender, we have an article for the technically minded, outlining the main changes in the updated IFRS for SMEs. And finally, if you find yourself constantly putting off tasks, you are not alone. Find out how to beat procrastination by learning new habits – while also making time to do nothing.
