A three-decade tenure at Shenzhen Stock Exchange has given Zou Xiong FCCA vast insight into what makes China’s securities market tick. He has been instrumental in some of SZSE’s successes, overseeing departments that have launched initiatives such as the Shenzhen 50 Index. In his interview with AB, he talks about how SZSE has evolved and why digital transformation is key to making markets more transparent and trustworthy.
Elsewhere, we find out how the approach to materiality has evolved for ESG-related disclosures as Asian organisations turn to accountants for advice on how to improve their sustainability reporting to appeal to a wider range of stakeholders. And, if you are thinking of a career pivot, read our ‘Specialise in..’ article on what is like to work as an ESG assurance professional.
We also look at why emerging and developing economies lack the capacity to mobilise and deploy sustainable finance despite plenty of investment being available globally. While initiatives are being launched to narrow the climate investment gap, how will countries benefit and what can they do to advance sustainable development?
Developing an interconnected professional community in Hong Kong SAR is one of the ambitions of HKICPA president Edward Au FCCA. In his interview, he talks about the collaboration between HKICPA and ACCA Hong Kong as the two bodies renew a mutual recognition agreement. Ensuring the profession has a pipeline of talent and the technical as well as digital skills to support business growth are high on his agenda.
In our practice section, we get advice from an internal audit expert on what soft skills are essential for successful audits, resulting in recommendations that can be turned into practical safeguards for business.
Finally, we start a series of articles on the myriad topics up for discussion at ACCA Hong Kong’s flagship annual conference. Look out for articles in the ACCA section of the magazine, including one on taking ownership of your professional development and skillset.
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