Our interviewee this month, Felix Biga FCCA, is chief operating officer at pan-African research organisation Afrobarometer, whose data is used extensively by governments, civil society organisations and the African Union, as well as donors including the EU and the World Bank. Having played a key role in the birth of the organisation, he is proud to have built ‘a dynamic institution that stands as a beacon of excellence and good governance’.
Elsewhere, we have an article on the increasing flow of investment from GCC countries into Africa – especially from the UAE, which is now the fourth largest investor in the continent. As economic ties between the two regions deepen, a growing number of financial institutions and investors are betting on Africa’s long-term potential. Find out more.
Also on the topic of investment, our columnist Okey Umeano FCCA looks at the recent surge in mergers and acquisitions across Africa. Cutting across sectors including telecoms, fintech, logistics, agriculture and especially energy, the upswing is fuelling jobs for finance professionals, not just within the companies involved but also at Africa’s growing number of private equity firms.
ACCA’s Global Talent Trends Survey is the largest annual talent survey of accountancy professionals across the world, and sheds some insight into what staff want from their jobs and what they hope to achieve in their careers. In our article on the latest survey, we delve into some of the key findings and ask what leaders need to focus on.
We have more on the survey in our careers section, where we find out about the skills needed to fuel ambition. And there’s also a CPD article on how to become a true business partner and successful influencer.
In recognition of World MSME (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) Day, we look at the practitioners providing services to entrepreneurial SME clients – and how ‘it takes one to know one’.
Finally, we hear from ACCA president Ayla Majid on the future of accountancy in a fast-changing world as ACCA announces its new and forward-thinking qualification. Read what she has to say about advancing accountancy education and redefining the role of professional accountants in society.
Further information
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