At the 4 Front: Breaking barriers, taking risks and leading with purpose with Bano Sheikh FCCA

At the 4 Front: Breaking barriers, taking risks and leading with purpose with Bano Sheikh FCCA

In this episode, Bano candidly speaks about her inspiring journey through the accounting profession and the lessons she has learned along the way.   She reflects on discovering ACCA in Lahore, at a time when very few women were studying ACCA or working in the Big Four outside of administrative roles, and how she made the decision to challenge expectations and help open the door for others.   Bano shares how mentorship from her father helped navigate risk, self doubt and major career decisions, as well as the importance of curiosity, embracing opportunities and staying aligned to your personal values. As one of the first few Muslim partners at KPMG and leader of the KPMG Muslim Network, she offers powerful insights into what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice and why having a voice at the table matters.   Whether you're starting your ACCA journey, building your career in professional services, or stepping into leadership, this episode offers honest reflections and practical advice on confidence, resilience and owning your success.   Catch up on all episodes of At the 4 Front: ACCA Voices from the Big 4 [https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/member/sectors/big4-and-large-firms/at-the-4front.html].    Visit our ACCA Big 4 and Mid-Tier Hub [https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/member/sectors/big4-and-large-firms.html] for helpful resources, articles and tools to support your career journey.

The Resilient Accountant: Veena Patel FCCA - resilience born from a desire to seize opportunities

Donna Beddis FCCA speaks to Veena Patel FCCA, Director of Finance at the UK’s leading accident prevention charity RoSPA. Veena shares her journey across sectors to arrive at a place that feels like home, with a clear mission and people working together to bring in around 10 million in grants and membership, training, and consultancy, combining commercial thinking with real purpose.

The Resilient Accountant: Leading through a determination to drive change

Hear Owen Davies FCCA, Head of Finance at Transport for Wales and secondee at Pullman Rail, talk to Donna Beddis FCCA about finding resilience in leading through a determination to drive change. As well as being an advocate for the public sector, Owen is also a crusader for being brave and embracing the commercial sector, hunting out value in commercial opportunities to improve the value proposition for the people of Wales. Hear about his determination to extend the remit of Transport for Wales - a course of action which has given him opportunities to create new ideas and procedures - all whilst earning the trust of the Welsh Government and the wellbeing of his teams to deliver the changes.

Finance redefined: Risk management and controls with Jane Walde

Are your finance and business decisions fully protected against the risks quietly building in your organisation? In this episode, we show how finance teams can work smarter with risk and audit functions to stay ahead. We break down what an effective controls framework really looks like, with practical examples of proportionate controls and insights into the common risks that often slip under the radar. From strengthening risk awareness to discovering tools and techniques that make controls more effective, this episode equips accountants in business with actionable strategies they can implement immediately. If you’re looking to move beyond compliance and play a central role in safeguarding your organisation’s success, this conversation is essential listening. Jane is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and is a member of ACCA's Global Forum for Governance, Risk and Performance. She is an Associate of Satarla and specialises in Enterprise Risk Management. Find her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-walde-44181a58/]. To access a workshop that covers the requirements of provision 29 of the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, contact [https://satarla.com/] and enquire about the Effective Risk Governance and Material Controls Workshop. There is also free guidance on how to do a bow-tie risk assessment on the Satarla site.

The Resilient Accountant: Making space for the future even though the present is busy

Donna Bedis interviews Veer Parmar, the 2025 UK Public Sector Advocate of the Year, about his work in the NHS. Veer, a finance business partner at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, has been instrumental in promoting innovation, particularly in AI in healthcare, and developing a finance graduate scheme across nine NHS Trusts. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, collaboration, and integrity in his work. Balancing ambition and empathy is key. People are stretched, change can feel overwhelming, the best approach is to listen, understand concerns and move at a pace that feels safe. Veer discusses the challenges of balancing immediate pressures with long-term transformation and the significance of small steps in driving change – “making space for the future even though the present is busy”. He also highlights the role of financial insight in improving patient and staff outcomes and advocates for using one's experience to support colleagues and the community.   Since this podcast was recorded, Veer has become the Chair of the Health Sector Panel and is working on leading AI-based activities for the network.   Connect with Veer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/veer-parmar-fcca-04bb2a3a/]