Our interview this month is with Saad Siddiqui, CFO of ethical fashion and retail brand The Giving Movement (TGM). After 15 years in advisory in Big Four firms in the UK and Europe, at the start of the decade he moved to the UAE and the fast-moving world of retail. He talks about the importance of agility in achieving sustainable growth in the sector and how technology, data and ESG criteria are being woven into TGM’s financial strategy and decision-making.
On the practice side, we meet Samy Habib FCCA, audit and assurance partner at Deloitte Egypt, who has built a stellar career at the Big Four Firm. He explains how Egypt’s economic growth and the shift from public towards private investments is influencing the professional services companies are looking for – and providing career opportunities for young professionals.
Elsewhere, we have an article on the increasing flow of investment from Gulf Cooperation Council countries into Africa – especially from the UAE, which is now the fourth largest investor in the continent. While the Middle East’s importance as a source of investment is hard to overstate, investors are themselves betting on the continent’s long-term potential.
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’. Another article explores how outsourcing service companies in South Asia are moving into the field of ESG, helping small and midsize businesses to meet their sustainability reporting obligations.
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.
