Africa’s development is reliant upon the involvement of accounting and finance professionals. Working in both private and public sectors, they play a crucial role in driving sustainable growth across the continent. Whether serving on corporate boards, as CFOs, or as business advisors, they can help tackle challenges, such as climate change impacts, energy accessibility issues, regional disparities and disconnection, economic growth, and public debt.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation (IA) are creating significant opportunities for organizations and individuals and are shaping the future of professional accountants as leaders and business partners.
Digital transformation based on intelligent automation can drive business growth and customer and employee satisfaction.
To provide in-depth insights about AI and IA and consider their impact on the work of accounting and finance professionals, IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group received a presentation from Pascal Bornet, IA pioneer and CPA, and have shared a recording and takeaways from the discussion.
IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of 180 members and associates in more than 135 jurisdictions, representing millions of professional accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.
Disrupting Business; Elevating the Work of Accounting & Finance Professionals
Professional accountants in business comprise a significant part of the profession working in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. Formed in 1977, the PAIB Advisory Group’s focus is to ensure these accountants meet the future needs of business and the public sector.
The newest PAIB Advisory Group members are:
Esther Bosch, Head of Internal Audit & Risk, Stahl Holdings (Netherlands)
Lindawati Gani, Professor in Management Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (Indonesia)
"Each member brings a unique, valuable perspective of the different roles professional accountants perform in business and finance leadership to the profession and its key stakeholders,” said Sanjay Rughani, Chair, IFAC PAIB Advisory Group. “We are honored to have these new members join us to share their diverse experiences and provide strategic input on opportunities for professional accountants to create value in their roles across the globe.”
The continuing PAIB Advisory Group members are:
Sanjay Rughani, Chair, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda (Uganda)
Nancy Sau Ling Tse, JP, Deputy Chair, Independent Non-Executive Director [Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)]
Zia-Ul-Mustafa Awan, CFO and Business Administrator, Pakistan Expo Centres Private Limited (Pakistan)
Gregory Bedard, Chief of Staff, Prudential Financial (United States)
Anastasija Boljević, Secretary General, Institute of Certified Accountants of Montenegro (Republic of Montenegro)
Ibrahim (Murat) Çağlar, Chief Financial Officer,Sanovel (Turkey)
Sharon Ditchburn, Managing Director/Founder, Capital Advantage Consultants (Australia)
Eric Freudenreich, Independent Non-Executive Director (France)
Tim Herrod, FCPA, FCA, Vice President, Global Procurement, Albemarle Corporation (Canada)
Nihar Jambusaria, Past President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (India)
Catherine Little, Non-Executive Director, Head of the Government Finance Function, and Second Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury (United Kingdom)
Margaret Muinde, Financial Controller, Kenya Roads Board (Kenya)
Stephen L. Muscat, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary, Liquigas Malta Limited (Malta)
Esteban Quiros, Director of Global Business Services, Procter and Gamble (Costa Rica)
Milton Segal, Executive Director: Standards, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (South Africa)
Ichiro Waki, Group CEO, JBA Group (Japan)
Gloria Zvaravanhu, Managing Director, Old Mutual Insurance Company (Zimbabwe)
Member expertise is drawn upon to deliver timely reports, articles, and case studies relevant to professional accountants in business across the globe. Explore their latest insights.
About IFAC IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.
About the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group
Professional accountants in business comprise a significant part of the profession working in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group focuses on ensuring these accountants meet the future needs of business and the public sector.
Organizations globally are operating in an economic environment unlike any in recent memory. Finance and business leaders face a difficult balancing act between confronting short-term realities and ensuring future pathways to resilience through investment and innovation.
IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group has compiled insights on how professional accountants are navigating uncertain global conditions and expanding their roles in both the private and public sectors in a new report, Professional Accountants as Finance and Business Leaders.
The report explores the key role of PAIBs in:
Digitalization of finance and accounting, with a case study on Procter & Gamble;
Driving sustainable value creation through an integrated mindset, with a case study on Natura & Co;
Corporate governance and oversight of sustainability and ESG;
The growing B-Corps movement; and
Sustainable financing.
Sanjay Rughani, IFAC PAIB Advisory Group Chair, said: “Even in volatility and uncertainty, there are opportunities to disrupt, reinvent, and innovate to create value for businesses and for society. Professional accountants in business and the public sector must seize new opportunities in the digital and sustainability transitions of organizations and economies.”
New IFAC report explores how professional accountants in business and the public sector are stepping up to support their organizations through chaotic times
