Moving from Bangladesh to the UK after completing my secondary education was a major turning point for me. I had to surmount language barriers and adapt not just to a new culture but also new academic standards. I discovered ACCA while I was in the UK, and qualifying taught me discipline, adaptability and the value of structured thinking.
I was originally inspired to become an accountant by my mathematics teacher, who encouraged logical thinking over memorisation. The ACCA programme had a steep learning curve, but it built my resilience and broadened my perspective. Committing to ACCA in that unfamiliar environment taught me to stay focused on long-term goals despite challenges.
Every engagement is a chance to help clients improve while growing myself
After completing ACCA and gaining professional experience in the UK, I returned to Bangladesh. It was another leap, requiring the application of global insights in a local context and the pursuit to grow through new challenges.
I find client engagement incredibly rewarding. At PwC Bangladesh, I work on assurance engagements across diverse industries, helping clients strengthen internal controls, manage risk and improve efficiency. The impact of our advice in streamlining operations and reducing risk for clients continually reaffirms my passion for the profession. The role thrives on trust and dialogue, and for me, the best part is that every engagement is a chance to help clients improve while growing myself by learning from client and colleague feedback, which sharpens my own thinking.
I often say, ‘Feedback is a gift: open it, use it, grow from it.’ Whether it’s praise, critique or a fresh perspective, I treat feedback as a catalyst for improvement. In audit and assurance, where precision and integrity matter, feedback keeps me sharp, collaborative and evolving. It’s not just a mantra for me – it’s how I encourage my team to grow as well.
Businesses in Bangladesh face hurdles such as infrastructure limitations, complex regulations and restricted access to finance. Yet there is strong potential in sectors such as garments, IT, fintech and e-commerce. These industries are evolving rapidly, and with investment in technology and talent, they can become engines of sustainable growth for the country. For example, while regulation can be complex, fintech is emerging as a tool to simplify compliance and improve transparency.
In Bangladesh, laws that strengthen transparency, accountability and inclusive governance should be prioritised. Term limits for public officials, youth representation in policymaking and stronger anti-corruption measures should all be high on the agenda. I would also focus on enforceable rights in education and healthcare, ensuring public services are accessible and citizen-focused. If I had to choose one priority above all, I would begin with anti-corruption and service delivery reform.
Curiosity is a guiding principle in my life
AI has the potential to transform audit by automating routine tasks and enhancing risk detection. For example, anomaly detection in large datasets can reveal issues that manual testing might miss. However, artificial intelligence must be guided by human judgment and ethical oversight. Without transparency, it can introduce blind spots or biases, so maintaining a balance between technology and professional scepticism is essential.
If I hadn’t become a qualified accountant, I’d likely have pursued software engineering. I am drawn to systems that evolve through iteration and problem-solving. Writing code and then testing and refining it mirrors the structured thinking I apply in audit. Like accounting, programming requires logic, curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Outside work, I enjoy reading thought-provoking books in philosophy, psychology and technology. They offer fresh perspectives that drive both personal and professional growth. Curiosity is a guiding principle in my life, shaping how I learn, adapt and engage with the world. Above all, spending time with my two-year-old daughter brings a profound sense of purpose and reminds me daily of the value of wonder and discovery.
