UK Sectors

ACCA

ACCA’s Sectors and Communities team brings you conversations with members from across the profession, exploring career journeys, trends, and insights shaping finance today.

  1. Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Rajiv Chandra FCCA

    3 days ago

    Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Rajiv Chandra FCCA

    Rajiv shares insights from his career journey, reflecting on the experiences, challenges and opportunities that have shaped his path to senior finance leadership. He discusses the evolving role of finance, the growing importance of data and analytics in driving business value, and the skills finance professionals need to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven environment. Alongside his professional journey, Rajiv also talks about his lifelong love of cricket and how he likes to give back by coaching youth teams.  Watch the Vodcast Find out more about BDO Find out more about Sinéad Find out more about Rajiv

    33 min
  2. Inside BFSI: Navigating opportunities in financial services with Vinay Handa

    4 days ago

    Inside BFSI: Navigating opportunities in financial services with Vinay Handa

    Vinay reflects on how a planned 12-month sabbatical in Australia turned into six years of professional growth, taking him from corporate accountant to finance leader. He shares what really changes when you step into senior roles, how technology, AI and ESG are reshaping financial services, and why networking and staying curious are essential for building a long-term career in the sector. Subscribe to the series for more insights from across financial services Join the FS Community on LinkedIn Explore the ACCA FS Hub for resources, events, and opportunities to stay ahead Vinay Handa on LinkedIn Laura Reay on LinkedIn   About the Guest Vinay Handa is a senior finance leader with more than 25 years of experience across the financial services sector. An FCCA member, Vinay has built an international career, including six years working in Australia between 2006 and 2012. Alongside his professional roles, he is an active contributor to the ACCA community, serving on the ACCA UK Financial Services Sector Panel for the South East, hosting ACCA Link Up events in Surrey, and speaking at ACCA Advantage events.   About the Series - Inside BFSI Inside BFSI: voices from across the financial services sector showcases the stories, challenges, and insights of professionals shaping the future of banking, financial services, and insurance. Each episode highlights real-world experiences and emerging themes across the sector - from technology and innovation to leadership and talent development.

    17 min
  3. Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Sinéad McCormack FCCA

    16 Jun

    Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Sinéad McCormack FCCA

    Welcome to ACCA's Journey to CFO, in partnership with BDO, the podcast exploring the real stories behind finance leadership. Hosted by Rachel Shorter, each episode features candid conversations with leading CFOs and finance leaders, uncovering the successes, challenges and lessons that have shaped their careers. In this episode, Rachel is joined by Sinéad McCormack, Chief Financial Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult. A qualified accountant with more than 23 years of experience across financial services, central banking and higher education, Sinéad shares insights from her journey to CFO, including her leadership roles at Barclays, the Bank of England and the University of Manchester. She discusses the lessons she's learned throughout her career, the value of bringing together experience from both the public and private sectors, and how she is helping to drive Medicines Discovery Catapult's vision of reshaping drug discovery for patient benefit. Watch the Vodcast Find out more about BDO Find out more about Sinéad Find out more about Rachael

    34 min
  4. Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Cécile Parker FCCA

    12 Jun

    Journey to CFO in partnership with BDO: Cécile Parker FCCA

    Welcome to ACCA's Journey to CFO, in partnership with BDO, the podcast exploring the real stories behind finance leadership. Hosted by Rachel Shorter, each episode features candid conversations with leading CFOs and Finance leaders, uncovering the successes, challenges and lessons that have shaped their careers. In this episode, Rachel is joined by Cécile Parker, Group CFO at Vital Energi. With more than 25 years of global board-level experience and a two-time Industrial Engineering CFO of the Year award winner, Cécile shares insights from her journey to CFO, including leading strategic transformation, driving financial impact, and helping secure Vital Energi's landmark £175m Nordic bond raise. Watch the Vodcast Find out more about BDO Find out more about Cecile Find out more about Rachael

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

    2 Jun

    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.    Visit our ACCA Big 4 and Mid-Tier Hub for helpful resources, articles and tools to support your career journey.

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

    2 Jun

    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.

    15 min
  7. The Resilient Accountant: Leading through a determination to drive change

    8 May

    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.

    21 min
  8. Finance redefined: Risk management and controls with Jane Walde

    16 Apr

    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. To access a workshop that covers the requirements of provision 29 of the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, contact 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.

    21 min
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About

ACCA’s Sectors and Communities team brings you conversations with members from across the profession, exploring career journeys, trends, and insights shaping finance today.

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  • Creator
    ACCA
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    UK Sectors