ACCA organises business forum for accountants

Experts discuss risks, talent management and technologies.

LAHORE: With an aim to surface the challenges faced by different businesses in Pakistan, particularly in the accountancy profession, ACCA Pakistan organised “Accountants for Business Forum Pakistan 2011” on Thursday. 

The forum was a mix of three discussions on “Risk and Reward–shared perspectives”, “Maximising People Power–effective talent management in finance matters” and “The E-Professional–embracing learning technologies”.

Head of ACCA Pakistan, Arif Masud Mirza said that businesses should monitor their impact on climate change and also mitigate the risks the organisations faced as a result. He said that there is a need of commitment from companies to identify and manage all material risks which they faced, both in short and long term.

These risks, he said, must be seen to include risks of an environmental and reputational nature. This needs to be followed up by effective disclosure regulations and enforcement of those regulations by the authorities, he added.

He said that organisations have to get ready for the next generation. Employers have to keep up with changing technological advancements in order to attract talent from generation C (born after 1990s), he said.

Tourism Promotion Services (Pakistan) Ltd Director internal audit, Muhammad Uzair said that investment culture in Pakistan should change. Investors should make more informed decisions taking into account the various environmental, social and governance risks faced by businesses.

Engro Corporation Ltd Vice President human resource and public affairs, Tahir Jawaid said that there is a gap in the perceived importance versus the perceived success of talent management programmes.  He said that majority of professionals consider access to talent management programmes important while organisations do not.

Commencing the discussion on the e-professional-embracing learning technologies, P@SHA President Jehan Ara recommended that learning technologies should be a part of a wider, integrated approach to learning and assessment. Companies should invest sufficient resources in planning and design, she said. Moreover, technology must be user-friendly and intuitive,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th,  2011.