I loved maths at school and was picked by Deloitte when finishing university in Dubai in 2008. I liked the work, so there was no turning back. I had a stint in industry before moving back into practice, working for international firms in both Dubai and Canada, and now a smaller practice where I provide assurance and advisory services to SMEs and NPOs.
I moved to Canada from Dubai during Covid. Dubai was my home but I had always wanted to find somewhere else to build my future, and Canada was at the top of my list. I left my family, friends and life of over 25 years behind to move to a place where I knew fewer than five people. It really was challenging both personally and professionally.
Your journey doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you
My career has been an exciting one with many challenges, but plenty of opportunities too. I have learnt that there will always be another mountain to climb and that you can go at your pace. Your journey is only for you to understand, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
In challenging times, leaders at accountancy firms need to listen to their clients and help them identify potential for stability and growth. Trend analysis, data-backed projections and analysis will help. Most firms have the knowledge and experience to cope with an evolving global landscape and should be providing insight to help businesses – everything from navigating regulatory changes to providing cross-border tax support.
AI has had a huge impact on the strategies of accountancy firms. Some are just dipping their toes in, but others are fully committed. AI is enabling firms to produce work at a faster pace in areas such as developing projections or answering tax queries.
Bigger firms are making it mandatory for their leadership to incorporate AI into their day-to-day work. More investment is going into developing the technology although there may be less investment in entry-level staff as a result. The impact can be seen in smaller firms too, particularly in incorporating AI to aid research and help clients with unique scenarios or pressing issues. In my role, I use AI as a support tool to clarify and broaden my understanding while ensuring that accounting standards and tax regulations underpin any opinion or action I take.
What I enjoy most about my job is having the opportunity to mentor people and help them learn and grow. My job gives me the time and flexibility to help staff and share my experiences, which is something I’ve always wanted to do – it can be scary when you are starting your career. I enjoy having discussions about many different topics, and it’s good to see staff grow.
I think my love for food and travel would have made me successful in vlogging
If I could pass a law, I would make all schools, colleges and universities run classes on compassion and kindness. Surely the world needs more of both.
My favourite quote comes from the TV show Ted Lasso. ‘I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moments but rather by the strength we show when, and if, we’re ever given a second chance.’
If I weren’t an accountant, I’d like to be a full-time vlogger. I have a food and travel blog and some YouTube channels as well. I think my love for food and travel would have made me successful in vlogging.
In my spare time I go horse-riding, which I’ve loved since I started last year. There is something soothing about being around horses, and handling them is empowering as well. I also like boxing, biking and travelling around the world sampling different cuisines.
