I am Palestinian, but grew up abroad and started my career in Saudi Arabia, working in audit with Crowe, PKF and EY, across various industries. I later moved to accounting advisory services with KPMG, where I worked closely with public sector entities and went on to specialise in providing International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) advisory services. I then joined the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Copenhagen, where I focus on IPSAS implementation and financial reporting.
What inspired me to pursue a career in finance was the ability to communicate with different stakeholders, develop both hard and soft skills, and gain insight into the bigger picture. I’ve always enjoyed that no two clients or engagements are the same, and the work often involves transformational changes.
UNOPS works in some of the most challenging environments in the world. The organisation delivers projects that support peace, humanitarian and development efforts. We help build infrastructure, manage procurement, and ensure operational excellence for both UN and non-UN partners.
Starting my career in audit taught me that the public interest should always come first
I believe one of the biggest advantages of working with the UN is being part of a community that provides support to people in need. It gives me a real sense of purpose because I know my work contributes to something greater. However, starting my career in audit was the right choice. It taught me the importance of having a good work ethic and that the public interest should always come first. My switch to the public sector allowed me to put that foundation to good use.
My favourite quote is: ‘You never fail until you stop trying.’ This resonates with me because at every stage of my life, despite facing many obstacles, both personal and professional, I always kept going. If I had stopped trying, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I believe real failure is giving up. When you finally succeed, most people see the result, not the journey, so only you will remember the challenges you had to overcome.
Lasting peace starts with restoring dignity and fairness to people everywhere
If I had law-making powers, I’d see legislation that truly supports peace by ending all forms of occupation and making sure those responsible are held accountable. No one should live under injustice, and I believe lasting peace starts with restoring dignity and fairness to people everywhere. I’d also make it a priority to ensure that access to food and clean water is treated as a basic human right, guaranteed to everyone, without discrimination.
What I enjoy most about my job is being able to see the big picture while still providing detailed analysis and critical thinking. I especially like finding solutions for newly introduced accounting standards and how to comply with them.
One of my proudest achievements was qualifying as an ACCA member. It required a lot of dedication, patience and sacrifices along the way, so becoming a member was a moment of real fulfilment. It is also satisfying to make an impact by building capacity, transferring knowledge and implementing standards. However, I’ve reached a point where I believe the biggest achievement in life is finding happiness and satisfaction. We humans are always striving to achieve something, but being content and fulfilled is what truly matters.
I’ve always been passionate about standing up for people in need
If I wasn’t an accountant, I think I would have become a lawyer or worked in international relations. I’ve always been passionate about solving problems and standing up for people in need. I like the idea of defending others, addressing complex issues and making a real difference.
In my spare time I like going travelling, swimming and playing padel tennis. However, what I enjoy the most is connecting with people – after all, what is heaven without good company?
