Dubai-based finance leader reflects on how Chartered Accountancy builds resilient professionals, stronger businesses and more responsible societies
DUBAI: Dubai-based finance and transformation leader Asma Jan Muhammad has been recognised by the UAE Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan at its Annual General Meeting and Members’ Recognition Ceremony in Dubai.
Asma received the memento from Mr. Ali Zeb Khan, Trade and Investment Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE, and Mr. Jehanzeb Amin, Vice President of ICAP.
She was among 72 Pakistani Chartered Accountants recognised for reaching significant professional milestones. The ceremony brought together more than 175 ICAP members and finance-sector leaders, highlighting the growing contribution of Pakistani professionals to the UAE’s corporate and financial landscape.
Members were recognised across three categories: Gold for 50 years, Silver for 25 years and Bronze for 15 years. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Shafqat Ali Khan, attended as chief guest.
A dual-qualified Chartered Accountant with credentials from ICAP and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Asma has built a career spanning more than two decades across finance leadership, transformation, governance and strategic advisory roles.
Reflecting on the recognition, she said Chartered Accountancy is one of the most demanding professional paths, requiring years of rigorous study, practical training, discipline and personal sacrifice.
“Chartered Accountancy tests far more than technical knowledge,” Asma said. “The journey develops resilience, professional scepticism, judgement and the courage to stand by what is right. These qualities remain with you long after the examinations are over and influence how you approach decisions throughout your life.”
She added that earning the qualification is only the beginning. Building and sustaining a career in finance requires continuous learning as regulations, technology, business models and stakeholder expectations evolve. For women, the journey can be particularly challenging as professional advancement is often pursued alongside family responsibilities, career interruptions and limited representation at senior decision-making levels.
“The real achievement is not simply entering the profession,” she said. “It is continuing to grow, remain relevant and accept greater responsibility despite the different demands that emerge at every stage of life.”
According to Asma, the contribution of a Chartered Accountant or CFO extends far beyond preparing accounts, managing budgets or reporting profits.
Within companies, finance leaders help determine where capital should be invested, which risks can responsibly be undertaken and whether reported growth is creating genuine economic value. They protect assets, strengthen governance, improve transparency and ensure that important decisions are supported by reliable information.
“A strong CFO does not merely explain what happened last month,” she said. “The role is to help the organisation understand what may happen next, identify the risks hidden behind the numbers and determine what must be done today to protect its future.”
The impact also extends beyond the company. Financially responsible organisations are better positioned to protect employment, pay employees and suppliers on time, meet their tax obligations, attract investment and continue contributing to the economy.
Chartered Accountants also help preserve public trust by challenging weak controls, misleading reporting, unethical practices and decisions that may create short-term profits at the expense of long-term sustainability.
“When finance professionals uphold integrity, the benefit does not stop at the balance sheet,” Asma said. “It reaches employees whose livelihoods depend on the organisation, investors who have entrusted it with their capital, governments that rely on fair taxation and communities that need responsible businesses to prosper.”
She believes the lasting value of Chartered Accountancy lies in how deeply it shapes the individual.
“The profession trains you to examine evidence, question what does not make sense and understand the substance behind a transaction,” she said. “Over time, it becomes more than a qualification. It changes how you think, how you respond under pressure and how seriously you treat the trust placed in you.”
Asma currently provides fractional CFO and Finance Director leadership to businesses across the Middle East and international markets. Alongside her corporate career, she is an award-winning author, Gulf News contributor and speaker on leadership, ethics and behavioural finance. She has also been recognised among the UAE’s Top 10 Women CFOs.
She described the ICAP recognition as both a personal milestone and a reminder of the responsibility experienced professionals carry towards those entering the profession.
“Twenty years of membership is not simply a measure of time,” Asma said. “It is a reminder to use what we have learned to build stronger organisations, protect trust and create opportunities for those who come after us. That is where the profession makes its most meaningful contribution.”
rafiq@biztoday.news
