The view from Mustafa Najoom ACCA

I have always had a fondness for numbers and knew from early on that I would work with them. After completing my school studies in Lahore, Pakistan, I realised that my abilities were well suited to a career in accounting, so I set off in that direction. I moved to London to study full-time for the ACCA Qualification and being the first in the family to train as an accountant I was determined to ace.

After I graduated I co-founded an equity and commodity brokerage firm, ultimately managing a client portfolio of more than US$30m. While ACCA taught me to be progressive in addition to imparting theoretical knowledge, my time at the brokerage taught me the art of accounting and finance in the practical world. We decided to close the brokerage and venture out; after which I co-founded an outsourcing company, Madera.ai. Madera was the result of seeing small businesses and startups struggle with their bookkeeping and accounting. For a small business in the early stages it can be costly to set up an accounting team or hire someone to handle the accounts. But not having an in-house accounting function does not have to deter growth. Many unicorn companies outsource their business processes.

My love for numbers is what drives me to work every day. However, being able to help small businesses grow makes me glad I made the career choices I did. I have helped to develop a client base in more than four countries with avid networking, which makes me very proud. So far, we have been able to take Madera from a traditional bookkeeping firm into the realms of fintech.

The ACCA Qualification is the foundation for my career. As well as providing me with technical knowledge, being an ACCA member has allowed me to move easily between countries, first to the UK and later to the US. The ACCA community has been my constant support system through this. The qualification also adds credibility to our company in addition to adding value to my professional credentials.

You can’t rest on your laurels, though. Hence I entertain every form of professional development. To relax, I like to arrange small community meetups and, like many accountants, I am an active golfer. I thrive in environments where I get to interact with like-minded people.