Hasan Khalid
2015 Accounting and Finance BSc graduate Hasan is Manager Internal Audit and SOX at IHS Towers in Dubai, UAE.
About Hasan
Nationality: Pakistani
Current role: Manager - Internal Audit and SOX at IHS Towers
Current location: Dubai, UAE
Studied: Accounting and Finance BSc
Graduation year: 2015
Interview
Since graduating, what have you gone on to do?
I was a Senior Associate and member of the ICAEW with three years of experience in the London Top Tier (LTT) division within Assurance at PwC. During this time, I have worked with global clients in both the private sector i.e. pharmaceutical, retail and telecommunications industries, as well as the public sector i.e. not for profit and housing associations, to provide external audit services including audit of statutory accounts under both UK GAAP and IFRS. I also had the opportunity to work on SOX controls audit, Internal audit, Risk assurance and Compliance assurance during my time in LTT Assurance. After gaining three years of audit experience, starting September 2018, I was on a secondment with PwC’s Tax - Accounting and Compliance Services department.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
Professional qualification exemptions and the balance of the course, including ease of choosing modules.
Did you complete a placement year/study abroad/summer internship during your time at Newcastle?
Yes, I completed a summer internship after my second year at university. I did an internship with Deloitte in Dubai, UAE where I was an intern in the Business Process Outsouricng Team.
What extra-curricular activities or societies were you involved with during your time here?
Yes, I was the co-founder and President of Newcastle University Pakistan Society from September 2013 to June 2014. From September 2014 to July 2015 I was the Vice President of the Paksitan Society.
How do you see future technologies or new ways of working (future of work) affecting your sector?
Technology will definitely impact the Accounting/Finance sector, it's just about keeping pace with the change and acknowledging the change, to develop on your knowledge/skills.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
I'm always confused on how to answer this, no one knows what the future is going to be like, but I would like to be at a Senior Manager level within a Finance department of a firm.
Study hard, but do take the time out to utilise the facilities provided by the University to engage in extra-curricular activities. Ask your seniors for help as they were in your shoes once!