Salman Sajid
- director of finance – Emaar Properties PJSC, Dubai
- ACCA fellow since March 2005
With accountancy in the family – Salman’s father is a chartered accountant – and an interest in number-crunching, Salman was always destined to become a finance professional. But he claims he has another motive: ‘My ambition has always been to reach the top and I think that the finance department of any company forms the nerve centre of the business. It gives you a unique opportunity to understand and drive the whole organisation. With that in mind, I chose to work in the accounting and finance profession, which will empower me to achieve my goal of being a CEO of a leading multinational company.’ He is on the right track.
A training contract with Big Four firm KPMG gave him exposure to a variety of industries and countries, including Pakistan and Singapore. A career in industry swiftly followed at Pacific Internet Limited in Singapore, where he was hired in 2005 as enterprise risk manager looking after Sarbox and internal controls compliance. Within three months he took over as head of corporate reporting and controls.
In 2007, he moved to Dubai to join Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world’s largest real-estate development companies which is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and recorded a record growth of 35% in annual profits in FY2006. Emaar is responsible for developing Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building and free-standing structure, and the Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destinations. Salman took up the position of director of finance in March and heads a team of 60 in Emaar Dubai’s finance department. Working in a bustling metropolis, which is constantly evolving and attracting the interest of international business, is a huge draw. ‘Dubai is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and real-estate development plays a major part in this growth. I joined Emaar because I was very impressed with its track record and its development in such a short span of time; I get an opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of the company. The dynamic real-estate environment is an exciting one in which to work.’
Although in a respected financial leadership role, Salman still has his eye on a chief executive position, but he recognises that time and experience will bring him closer to the ultimate prize. ‘I believe that whereas my hard work and perseverance have greatly paved the way for where I am today, I still have a long way to go before I really reach the top. I still have a lot to achieve.’