Hi, I'm Sahar.
Audit Manager and home renovation enthusiast, London
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My journey so far…
I grew up in Karachi which is the biggest city in Pakistan. I had a very happy home life , surrounded by my family and friends. I was always academic and loved maths.
After finishing school, I went to sixth-form college and chose a business major, which included studying maths and statistics. While I was there, a group of chartered accountants spoke to us about careers and the opportunities in the field. I already knew I was good at accountancy because I’d joined a club, so it made sense to see if there was a career path in that area.
I completed my ACA qualifications in Karachi, while working for an accountancy firm. Although I loved my job, I felt like there would be more opportunities if I moved abroad. I gained industry experience for a year in Switzerland, before applying to Deloitte UK in 2022. I come from a developing country and I’m a practising Muslim, so I wanted to join a firm where diversity is celebrated. I felt like Deloitte would give me the chance to focus fully on my work, without having to worry about whether I’d fit in.
“Since moving to the UK, there has been an increase in climate-change related catastrophes in my home country, including volatile weather, violent storms and flooding. Finding solutions and innovations to improve sustainability is important to me, both personally and professionally.”
Work that matters
I work on the audits of securitisation firms. This is a financial product where assets are pooled and sold to a third party, which can then generate interest on those assets. I audit smaller companies, which gives me lots of opportunities to understand the ways different businesses operate.
I’ve always been interested in sustainability investment, so I’ve sought out opportunities to get involved in our climate change work. I’m now a volunteer for the WorldClimate team, where we look at initiatives and tools that can help both Deloitte and the companies we audit to reduce carbon footprints. I feed back the relevant information to my team, and enjoy being able to support our sustainability goals.
When I was growing up, we didn’t learn about climate change in the way we do now, but I was aware of my surroundings. Coming from a developing country, we were always taught that water was a precious commodity. Since moving to the UK there has been an increase in climate-change related catastrophes in my home country, including volatile weather, violent storms and flooding. Finding solutions and innovations to improve sustainability is important to me, both personally and professionally.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I kick of the week by going into the office for a team meeting. I then create a detailed plan for an upcoming audit, making sure to stick to the deadline agreed with the management of the company we are auditing. | I spend the day focusing on my professional growth by attending a training session to improve my leadership abilities. | I coordinate with volunteers to create a short video highlighting their sustainability goals for the year and the progress they have made. Later, I connect with the audit partner to finalise our audit approach for a new company. | I review the draft financial statements of the company we are auditing, carefully looking for any areas that need more explanation or investigation. After a busy day, I relax by cooking my favourite meal. | I have a feedback session with my Senior Manager to discuss my performance over the last six months and set expectations for the future, which goes well. To celebrate the end of the week, I go to see a movie with my husband. |
My weekend looks like
I love travelling and enjoy weekend getaways whenever possible. As part of my benefits package, I purchase an extra 10 days of holiday every year which means I have plenty of time to go back to Pakistan and see my friends and family. When I’m in London, I enjoy spending time with my partner, cooking together. I’m a home bird and I love interior design, which means I spend lots of time painting, redecorating and reading.
3 things I've learned
Be confident in your choices
I’ve learnt that having confidence in my choices is essential for personal and professional growth. Standing firm in my decision allows me to build a strong foundation for my career and embrace new opportunities with determination.
Stay resilient
Resilience is essential for handling challenges in life. I now try and view any obstacles I face as opportunities for growth, because approaching them with a positive mindset has helped me build lasting strength and adaptability.
Embrace work-life balance
Balancing work with your personal life is important for long-term productivity and wellbeing. I’ve learned that taking time to recharge boosts focus and leads to greater satisfaction and effectiveness in my career.
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Sahar's podcast recommendation
Overdue
Overdue is a podcast about books and as an avid reader, I highly recommend it. The conversation tends to focus on one book at a time, where the hosts compare their thoughts on a recommended read. They talk about books that aren’t recent as well, so you get to find out a lot about different genres, and it gives you an overview of what might be right for you. It’s an interesting podcast and gives you good inspiration for what to read next!
