Accountancy can help thousands reskill post Covid-19

·         Accountancy pinpointed as a fast-track route to professional success among youngsters 

·         200,000 jobs in accountancy and finance available worldwide, as reskilling identified as short-term priority for individuals and firms

·         Delay in university and college admissions mean thousands of students are still weighing-up options

Accountancy is a global game changer for many thousands finding themselves at a career crossroads.

200,000 jobs are available on the ACCA Careers site every month as college leavers plan their next steps and career progressors continue their paths to future success. Job seekers and students are also urged to make use of ACCA Careers’ employability tools to aid them in their search.

ACCA Careers offers a free CV review and a career management session offering advice on career paths, along with virtual interview guidance and job-hunting tips. ACCA members and students are also invited to attend virtual career fairs attended by some of ACCA’s top employers such as PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG.

This support comes at a critical time for the Pakistan economy where jobseekers and students face significant challenges owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nigel Bicknell, head of ACCA Careers, underlined the important role accountants play during times of crises. He said: ‘Accountants are very much at the coalface helping businesses tackle what are hugely significant and worrying times owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘The ACCA Qualification is the future-ready career, which provides stability and flexibility. The qualification focuses on skills of the future, providing all round business acumen. When times are hard, employers are zeroing in on skills. That’s where ACCA can come into play. Our focus is on lifelong care for students – progression and evolution as an accountant is continuous.’

Thousands of students across Pakistan have recently graduated with matriculation, intermediate and O/A-Level and are currently struggling to plan their future career choices due to restrictions on international travel and delay in local college and university admissions.

Sajjeed Aslam, head of ACCA Pakistan said: ‘ACCA recognises that the university route is still popular but believes in diverse opportunities for young people to enter the accountancy profession. Professional qualifications carry greater employer trust and recognition and professionals holding designations such as FCCA and ACCA are regarded more work-ready.’

ACCA member Farah Iqbal, planning and performance manager at BP PLC said: ‘The ACCA Qualification has opened doors for me. It’s an exciting industry that’s no longer about number crunching but the path to a truly global career, with the flexibility and opportunity to specialise and work in any industry. In the future I hope to further apply my skills to focus on sustainability and environment.’

With the working world facing an uncertain future due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people, irrespective of age, should consider retraining or upskilling to change career paths.

Research from ACCA and PwC Finance Insights – Reimagined, highlights organisations focusing on the short-term reskilling of the population rather than the longer-term return on investment.

Sajjeed Aslam concluded ‘The turbulence of this Covid-19 pandemic has made many people carefully consider their future career paths. Alongside this, businesses are also reappraising the way ahead, and the they will need forward-thinking finance professionals that can solve the challenges of the future. The ACCA Qualification moves with the times, continually evolving it so it’s relevant for tomorrow’s world. And we’re reimagining accountancy for the digital age, so that the roles of the future are more interesting, more meaningful and more valuable than ever.’

The King of Midrange Smartphones HUAWEI Y9a is Just around the Corner

Everyone is looking for a smartphone that can offer super-fast charging, all-scenario AI quad camera, large storage, all at price point that doesn’t break their pockets. Well, Huawei is bringing the HUAWEI Y9a to Pakistan that has all these specifications making it an ideal midrange smartphone to have. While the pre-order starts from September 14, here are five reasons to get a HUAWEI Y9a:

1. 64MP all-scenario quad camera with wide-angle, macro lens and more

HUAWEI Y9a inherits Huawei’s photography advantages, bringing high resolution, AI Selfie, EIS for video recording, night photography with high sensitivity (ISO) and more to its smartphone camera game. HUAWEI Y9a’s quad camera is made up of a 64MP main camera, an 8MP Ultra Wide Angle Lens, 2MP Depth Lens and a 2MP Macro Lens to capture 64MP high definition, ultra-wide angle, large aperture and close-up shots. Its 120° Ultra Wide Angle lens allows you to capture panoramic views or group photos, while the macro lens helps you to take photos at a close range of 4cm to capture microscopic details, such as bees sitting on flowers. On top of this, HUAWEI Y9a uses a 1/1.7-inch large sensor to increase brightness of those night shots and, together with Night mode, the camera’s low-light shooting work perfectly for those who like experimenting with photography late at night or in darker environments.

As well as its flexibility in capturing moments anytime and anywhere, HUAWEI Y9a’s EMUI 10.1 comes with a Collage feature which puts 2-9 photos together for you in a beautiful template. This means you don’t have to download another app to arrange the images yourself and therefore makes sharing photos on Instagram or other social media platforms a breeze.

2. Say goodbye to power banks with 40W SuperCharge and generous battery capacity

Smartphones are now more powerful than ever, so the need for battery power to accommodate these functions is crucial. Battery life and fast charging have become one of the common burdens for users, especially if we forget to charge our phones or a long day out has resulted in dangerously low battery levels. Huawei has solved this problem with its HUAWEI SuperCharge tech taken from its flagship model. Offering this in the HUAWEI Y9a means that more users can enjoy the convenience of super-fast charging.

So, how fast really is the HUAWEI SuperCharge? HUAWEI Y9a’s 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge for example, charges to nearly 70% in 30 minutes meaning your smartphone can be fully powered in next to no time. In addition to this, HUAWEI Y9a is equipped with 4200mAh (typical value) battery capacity. Test results show that HUAWEI Y9a can support continuous listening to music for around 100 hours, or watching videos or gaming for around 9 hours. All you need to know is that you will never again need to worry about your smartphone running out of battery when you’re watching TikTok videos, listening to songs, chatting with friends or using WhatsApp - HUAWEI Y9a has got you covered.

3. Ultimate FullView Display for you to catch up with the latest TV episodes

Perfect for high quality gaming and entertainment, HUAWEI Y9a is housed with a 6.63-inch display (FHD+ 2400 x 1080 resolution) that can display 1.67 million colours, to bring clear and vivid content to life. What’s more, HUAWEI Y9a eliminates the notch area with an upgraded pop-up camera to achieve a massive screen-to-body ratio of 92.02%.

HUAWEI Y9a also has an eBook mode and a TUV Rheinland certified Eye Comfort mode which is great for users who are more into their literature.

In terms of storage, HUAWEI Y9a comes with a standard 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Calculated at 140M per episode, HUAWEI Y9a can store up to 900 HD episodes and also supports an additional expansion of 256GB with an NM SD Card.

4. Unique, premium flagship design with personality

HUAWEI Y9a’s design is certainly eye-catching due to its adoption of the Halo Ring design from the flagship HUAWEI Mate 30 Series. HUAWEI Y9a also features a side mounted 2-in-1 fingerprint power button so that you can unlock your phone in a quick and convenient way. Stylish and instantly recognisable, the smartphone comes in three colours of Space Silver, Sakura Pink and Midnight Black for you to choose the best way to express yourself.

5. Smart EMUI 10.1 and massive app storage

HUAWEI Y9a is equipped with EMUI 10.1 to provide an enhanced all-scenario experience with features such as kernel scheduling optimisations, so that your phone can be used smoothly at all times.

The built-in AppGallery provides a plethora of apps, you can easily download your favourite games or social media apps onto HUAWEI Y9a including WhatsApp, TikTok and more.

The new HUAWEI Y9a shall go on pre-order from September 14, 2020 and then users can enjoy super-fast charging, 64MP high resolution quad camera and more. HUAWEI Y9a truly steps up the game when it comes to fulfilling the entertainment and photography needs of smartphone users today so, with these five reasons in mind, why not get yourself HUAWEI Y9a now?

Pakistan’s GrocerApp secures $1mn seed funding from Jabbar Internet Group, former Amazon executive joins board

Popular online grocery delivery startup GrocerApp has raised $1 million in seed funding from investors that include former Amazon executives and entrepreneurs with a history of high-profile exits in the Middle East, the company has announced in a statement on Saturday.

The round was led by Dubai-based Jabbar Internet Group (www.jabbar.com), the venture capital firm led by founders of one of the Middle East’s largest e-commerce platform Souq.com that was acquired by Amazon in one of the largest transactions in the region in 2017. The GrocerApp investment is the first that Jabbar Internet has made in Pakistan.

Other investors in the round include Asif Keshodia, former Amazon executive for MENA region who has now joined GrocerApp as a board member, Middle East’s Nama Ventures, Nader Group, Karavan Ventures and 7Vals, along with participation from existing shareholders that include Pakistan-based Walled City Co, LeanBricks and Shehryar Ali of Treet Pakistan.

Jabbar founders Samih Toukan and Hussam Khoury had cofounded the aforementioned Souq.com, and had exited from another famous online portal Maktoob, a webmail service with Arabic support for emails, which was acquired by Yahoo in 2009. The latest in this series of high-profile exits is Jabbar Internet’s InstaShop, an online grocery delivery service in the UAE that was acquired by DeliveryHero in a $360 million deal only a few days ago.

Speaking about the recent round, GrocerApp CEO Ahmed Saeed said, ”GrocerApp is equipped with sophisticated technology, smart fulfilment centers and efficient logistics network that makes it the leading e-grocer in Pakistan. With our recent funding injection, we are going to invest more to make our supply chain more efficient, and expand into other cities.”

“Our success in this round is twofold. Asif, Hussam and Samih have shown confidence in GrocerApp and decided to back us, which reinforces our position as a promising e-commerce leader. Secondly, the tons of experience these investors bring will usher in a new era of growth for GrocerApp,” Ahmed said.

“We see great potential in Pakistan for technology businesses. To seize the opportunity, we have made our first investment in Pakistan in GrocerApp because of our confidence in the business and resilience of the cofounders. We are determined to see GrocerApp grow even further, now that the Pakistani market is ripe for a digital revolution,” said Samih Toukan of Jabbar Internet Group.

Commenting on the investment, Asif Keshodia, who also oversaw Souq’s acquisition by Amazon, said: “The size of grocery e-commerce in Pakistan is around $48 billion. It is a huge market with great potential for e-commerce companies to grow. GrocerApp has shown that promise and I am thrilled to become a part of an amazing team that is leading this company. Collectively, the investors bring weights of experience in e-commerce which is going to help the company soar to new heights. It is also going to develop the overall e-commerce market in Pakistan and I look forward to this exciting journey ahead.”

realme 6 with 90Hz display and Helio G90T processor is now offered at Rs. 41,999 only for 8GB+128GB variant

Want an affordable smartphone with a fast refresh rate display? Realme Pakistan is offering the realme 6 for only Rs. 41,999. With this price realme 6 is the most affordable 90Hz display smartphone in Pakistan. This price offers is for the model that comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage.

The realme 6 has pretty high end features for the price the company is asking for. Its standout feature is the 6.5 inch 2400 x 1080p 90hz display which will feel “smoother” than traditional 60hz panels. It has a healthy 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage which is plenty.

It is powered by the Mediatek Helios G90T SoC which is a high end Mediatek CPU. Additionally, it has a huge 4300mAh battery which can be charged quite fast with the 30W flash charge.

realme 6 Display and Processor: realme 6 mobile phone features a 6.50-inch capacitive touchscreen that has a resolution of 1080x2400 pixels with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone has a glass front with Gorilla Glass 3 protection, plastic back, and plastic frame. Besides, the smartphone is equipped with a 2.05GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G90T processor that lets you multitask and access different apps at the same time without any interruptions and give you a smooth experience.

realme Camera Specifications: If we talk about optics, realme 6 comes with a quad-camera setup on the rear with different features like autofocus, LED flash, HDR, and panorama. There is a 64 MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture; an 8 MP ultrawide angle lens with f/2.3 aperture, a 2 MP macro lens with f/2.4 aperture, and a 2 MP depth shooter with f/2.4 aperture.

On the front, the mobile features a 16 MP camera with f/2.0 aperture to click stunning selfies. Features on the front camera setup include HDR and panorama.

realme 6 Battery and Operating System: The smartphone from the brand runs realme UI based on Android 10. Also, it houses a decent 4300 mAh non-removable battery with a 30W flash charge support. The smartphone can be fully charged in 60 minutes.

realme 6 Connectivity Options and Sensors: Realme 6 comes with various connectivity options such as 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi 802.11, a/ac/b/g/n/n 5GHz, Mobile Hotspot, Bluetooth, GPS, FM Radio, and USB Type-C. Moreover, sensors on the smartphone include a fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass/magnetometer, accelerometer, and ambient light sensor.

Digital and data comes to the fore during Covid-19

Strong and clear leadership are key to the transformative success of digital in the workplace, says ACCA in a report that reveals the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations during the pandemic.

Data and digital transformations have increased exponentially in the workplace over the Covid-19 pandemic, with the role of and reliance on technology becoming more significant than ever before as more organisations adopt digital products and services to survive.

This has been the result of the maturing of digital applications to a level that’s made them widely usable and hyper-relevant in the current situation.

ACCA’s report Digitisation and the Global Pandemic examines the impact of this immense change due to the pandemic, and includes case studies from business leaders working for KPMG, China; SAP Asia Pacific Japan; VISA; and Golden Arches (Guangzhou) Data Processing Service Co., Ltd, offering great insights and opportunities for organisations in Pakistan.  

The report also offers practical guidance to cope with digital transformation, using ACCA’s ‘Act, Analyse and Anticipate road to recovery’ model with a focus on digital.

ACCA recommends the first step is to act to ensure operability; then analyse the situation ahead by looking for opportunities; then finally comes transformation of the organisation by establishing a digital strategy, identifying the role of technology to support the future strategic workforce plan virtually and physically, and how its presence can be sustained in the longer term.

Narayanan Vaidyanathan, the author of the report says: ‘Technology and digital have helped many organisations to continue to operate – those already thinking about digitisation adapted better, while those who had historically resisted it found their problems amplified. That’s why we think our roadmap is helpful, a practical guide to plan over the short, medium and long term to cope with digital change.

‘Many have had to accelerate their digital plans, and make huge changes to how an organisation actually works. Home working has become the norm, and for managers this has demanded a change in style and approach – the rise of digital has meant the need for even more leadership from the front, with a strong human touch.’

ACCA says the pandemic has also transformed how business is done, with a greater expectation that organisations will act with care and compassion.

Sam Ellis, chair of ACCA’s Global Technology Forum explains: ‘COVID-19 has, at least for now, reduced the tolerance for traditional hard-charging ways of doing business. Organisations are thinking more critically about what their digital footprint says about their values and respect for the community. But we are very much still in unchartered waters, and I know that the accountancy profession is working hard to navigate ahead, facing these challenges head-on and leading from the front.’

Narayanan Vaidyanathan concludes: ‘COVID-19 is a still-unfolding, and the future remains uncertain. But as the examples in this report show, the accountancy profession’s responding robustly, and informed by pragmatic risk management as well as an opportunistic embrace of change to make things better.’

New HUAWEI Phone Bringing Back the Iconic Mate 30 Design & Major Upgrades coming to Pakistan

Thinking back on some of HUAWEI’s iconic models over recent years, you certainly can’t overlook the classic HUAWEI Mate 30 series. Right from the outset, it captured the hearts of consumers and quickly became a highly sought-after device. Recently, a poster revealed one of Huawei’s upcoming new phones and, judging by the photos, the new model comes with a fashionable silver colourway and looks a lot like Huawei’s flagship Mate 30. In particular, there’s a sleek new rear camera embedded in the body of the phone which seems to be an exact replica of the memorable “four-eye headlight” design on the HUAWEI Mate 30. It has been made out to be a pretty big deal and looks set to trigger a new wave of buyer interest – all for the HUAWEI Y Series.

Coming with an Iconic New Design

As a young yet reliable product portfolio, the HUAWEI Y Series offers a wide range of models from entry-level to mid-range. For instance, the HUAWEI Y6p and Y7p released this year, and the Y9 line-up with higher configuration from last year, together can fulfil different users’ needs. With stylish-looking design and great user experience, HUAWEI Y Series devices have been well received by consumers worldwide, especially the younger generation.

Coming with HUAWEI SuperCharge

One of the most exciting rumours is the HUAWEI SuperCharge support, which is available on Huawei’s flagship series and made many users incredibly jealous. Even though details about the HUAWEI SuperCharge on the new Y smartphone are unknown yet, users who are looking for a mid-range phone are already excited about the care-free experience of getting a whole day long battery life with just a 30-minute charge.

Coming with Upgraded Camera

Another point gaining attention is the upgraded camera system. Both the HUAWEI Y8p and Y7p, launched in the first half of 2020, came loaded with a rear 48MP triple camera. Also, HUAWEI Y Series phones excel in night photography, outperforming competitors under the same price range. Based on these factors, the upcoming Y Series model is likely to have a main camera with a higher resolution, as well as greater camera capabilities than that a triple camera can offer.

Coming with Bigger Display

In terms of display, the new Y model will no doubt come with significant upgrades as well. After all, Huawei’s Y Series always stands out for its beautifully big display. The new Y Series device is going to have an even bigger display for more immersive gameplay and video viewing experience.

Coming with Large Storage

A larger RAM and storage is essential to support users’ diverse needs for smartphone use. Yes, you are right. A good amount of storage is another key feature the new model offers, allowing users to download and save more high quality audio and videos onto their phone than ever before. With constantly improved competitiveness and expanding portfolio, Huawei’s Y Series always can meet expectations from various audiences.

Furthermore, the price is likely to be very appealing, too! If you are considering replacing your phone, stay tuned for further announcements around the new Y Series coming in September. You can’t miss it!

realme looks back on two years of phenomenal growth with users and employees at second-anniversary celebration

realme, the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand, recently shared the drivers behind its explosive growth and international success in an open letter written by Sky Li, realme’s Founder and CEO to employees during the company’s second-anniversary celebrations, “the realme 828 FanFest”. Held on August 28, the two-year-old company launched a social media campaign to highlight the milestones achieved thus far.

Before the celebrations, realme collected thousands of stories from loyal fans with the headline: “Dare to be_____.”  Many fans responded with anecdotes on how they resonated with the brand values and dared to surpass themselves while facing adversity and challenges. realme has selected nine stories and made them into videos to show the “Dare to be realme” spirit of realme fans.

With an eye on the international market from the outset, realme’s international marketing division has grown to more than  61 markets. realme credits its fast growth to the hyper-localization and a deep understanding of their target consumer. They also employed various internationalization strategies that brought success, included light-asset, and short channel to face the consumers directly.

As a new entrant to many global markets, realme had to build up a reputation quickly and convert customers. Li said: “We built our teams locally from the ground up. We allowed them to use the resources they had to send our message of ‘Dare to Leap’ to the youths and young professionals. We realized this was a desire that transcended cultures and was familiar to young people everywhere.” realme’s marketing strategies involve hiring local teams to support collaboration with their fans and consumers to make content that is relevant and resonant with their audience.

realme has placed itself at an exciting niche in the market, target young consumers who enjoy high-quality and trendsetting designs but are also sensitive to prices. Li said: “realme grew extremely fast because we were true to our mission: to create products with leapfrog performance and trendsetting design, and to build a smart life for young people with Internet of things. Being consistent and original showcased our brand values, which gained us trust, which is especially important for a young company like us.”

For the young users of realme, success to them is not merely about price but also about value. Keeping in line with its target audience, realme is the popularizer of 5G technology, being one of the first smartphones to incorporate 5G capability into its products, such as the realme X50 Pro 5G.

For their next challenge, realme plans to take on the AIoT market and introduce over 100 AIoT products in 2021 for its consumers. “We have proved in two years that a new brand can also have opportunities, but this is just the beginning. There are infinite possibilities in the future. The dare-to-leap spirit will accompany us to continue to move forward”, said Li in the open letter.