Ahmad Darwish FCCA enjoys living life in the fast lane. As an accomplished finance professional, he oversees accounting and financial reporting for DP World GCC, which includes Dubai’s Jebel Ali, one of the biggest ports in the world, while also leading the UAE professional body as its chief executive. In his interview, he talks about getting things done – at pace and scale – from developing the profession in the UAE, ensuring sound financial management of a vast logistics organisation and, in his spare time, competing on the amateur race track at Dubai Autodrome.
Staying in the UAE, we look at the economic impact of food waste, where high figures of excess highlight the need for better management and environmental awareness. We look at why food loss is such an issue in the region and what measures are being taken to address it.
Elsewhere, we find out about impact accounting and how going beyond environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting is gaining traction among organisations. Recognising that performance and long-term resilience is not just about profit but also natural, social, human and produced capital, businesses are challenging conventional notions of accountability. There’s also a CPD article on why Bangladesh’s Gen Z are showing an interest in impact-oriented investments as sustainable finance grows in the country.
Family offices are on the rise in the Gulf, propelling the UAE into the top tier of international hubs. This heralds opportunities for accountants who can offer a broader set of skills working as strategic partners with clients on wealth management, philanthropy and succession planning.
The outlook for the job market in the Middle East and South Asia this year is essential reading if you are considering a workplace move now or in the future. Topping up digital skills and building your commercial strengths will have some traction among hirers. And our careers CPD article this month looks at the shortfalls of relying entirely on willpower for success. What tactics do you need to accomplish your professional goals?
Finally, a reminder that if you are looking for more CPD articles, you might like to browse our extensive collection. You can also earn more than 21 units of free CPD by watching on demand ACCA’s annual Accounting for the Future conference.
