How the Emirates Association for Accountants and Auditors Implemented the Strategic Planning Toolkit to Benefit Operations

His Excellency Saif Mohammed bin Abed Al Muhairi

Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Association of Accountants and Auditors

His Excellency Saif bin Abed Al Muhairi has strategically repositioned the Emirates Association of Accountants and Auditors (EAAA) as a pivotal force in the evolution of the accounting and auditing profession in the UAE.

Under his leadership, EAAA has been instrumental in spreading financial knowledge and building competence in emerging areas of the UAE financial sector, such as tax implementation and public-private partnerships (PPP). Al Muhairi’s efforts were key in launching the UAE Chartered Accountant (UAECA) certification, which aligns with prestigious international qualifications like ACCA, enhancing both local and global recognition.

His strategic vision also led to EAAA’s full membership in the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), broadening its global influence and facilitating valuable partnerships with key global players, including the World Bank and significant regional entities.

Additionally, Al Muhairi has championed initiatives to attract and develop local Emirati talent in the profession. Programs such as the “Emiratis in Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Management” and the “100 Emirati Chartered Accountants Initiative” have successfully elevated the profession and bolstered the UAE’s economic development. These initiatives underscore EAAA’s role as a catalyst for innovation and excellence, fostering the growth of Emirati professionals and advancing the UAE’s financial sector.”

Muhammad Zarif Ludin

Head of Institutional Partnerships

Zarif Ludin is the Head of Institutional Partnership at ACCA and leads and develops strategic partnerships with regional and global accountancy organizations, donors and development agencies, and represents ACCA in external forums and consistently promotes ACCA’s global contribution to public value. Zarif Ludin serves ACCA’s Category “A” observer at the IFAC board and PAODAG as a Technical Assistant and is a member of the Ethics working group at CAPA.

Zarif Ludin was the Chief Executive of CPA Afghanistan at the Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan, since June 2013, being responsible for the enactment of accountancy law, the establishment of the executive office, board and related technical committees and the capacity building of accountants and auditors. Zarif Ludin focused on quality education, well-defined regulations and CPA Afghanistan’s recognition on national, regional and international platforms. He played a significant role in obtaining South Asia Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and Confederation of Asia and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) associate memberships for CPA Afghanistan. He initiated the idea of Strategic Partnership and revenue sharing for CPA Afghanistan jointly with ACCA.

In addition, he has experience of more than 12 years of working with different Organizations like USAID and US embassy-funded programs, Financial Institutions and Banks, NGOs and Universities as a Finance Manager, Program Coordinator and part-time Lecturer. Zarif holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Graduate Institute of Geneva.

Olga Akimova

Managing Partner, Lynceus Management Consulting

Olga Akimova is the Managing Partner of Lynceus Management Consulting, a consultancy practice based in the United Arab Emirates, leading the firm’s work with the public sector, professional accountancy organizations and education institutions.

Olga has over a decade of experience with a Big4 accountancy firm in Eurasia working in external audit and governance, internal audit, risk and compliance services with a focus on developing and implementing international best practice and tailored governance frameworks. She has also worked as Head of Education and Policy with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) leading initiatives in developing the finance profession in Eurasia through accountancy education and collaboration with regulators and professional accountancy organizations on establishing sound legal frameworks and infrastructure for professional accountancy education.