Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

•    I’ve spent my career in finance roles across large retail and consumer businesses.
•    My focus has consistently been on scaling financial processes, improving visibility for business leaders, and using data and technology to drive better decision-making.
•    I’ve worked across FP&A, business partnering, controllership support, reporting, and automation — which gives me a complete line of sight into how money actually moves in a retail organisation.

Q2. How do ESG reporting requirements and sustainability-linked disclosures affect accounting and control processes in retail?

•    ESG is essentially turning non-financial data into “financial-grade” data — and that shifts responsibilities toward accounting.
•    Retail is especially affected by large footprints: stores, supply chains, packaging, and vendor networks.
•    The most significant impact is the need for clear data definitions, ownership, and auditability.
•    Sustainability reporting is moving from “nice to have” to assured, regulated disclosure, so accounting teams are now building controls around carbon data just like they do for revenue and inventory.

Q3. How are emerging technologies like AI, ML, and RPA reshaping the way accounting operations manage accuracy, speed, and compliance?

•    We’re moving from “people doing transactions” to “people overseeing automated systems.”
•    Most of the value comes from automating repeatable tasks—reconciliations, invoice matching, and exception routing.
•    AI is helping make processes more predictive: spotting anomalies early, forecasting accruals better, and flagging risks before close.
•    The shift is less about cutting costs and more about speed, accuracy, and freeing teams to focus on judgment-heavy areas.

Q4. Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation within accounting operations in the next 3–5 years?

•    The biggest unlock is the near-continuous close, which reduces month-end stress and bottlenecks by automating upstream processes.
•    Embedded controls and continuous audit will change how we test, monitor, and remediate issues.
•    End-to-end ESG accounting could emerge as a new capability for finance teams.
•    And we’ll see finance systems become more modular and API-driven, making changes easier and faster than in traditional ERPs. You could also see tech teams being inducted into Accounting & Control teams to enable faster tech implementation/upgradation. 

Q5. How are external forces — like inflation, regulatory tightening, and cybersecurity risks — shaping priorities in accounting operations today?

•    Inflation and volatility mean finance needs shorter planning cycles, more scenario thinking, and tighter control around working capital. We’re living in a VUCA world. 
•    Regulatory expectations — especially around disclosures and ESG — are raising the bar for documentation and control precision.
•    Cybersecurity now directly affects finance because so much of our data flows through third parties and cloud environments. Protecting financial data is no longer just an IT topic.

Q6. Are legacy enterprise vendors managing to keep pace with newer, cloud-native accounting technology firms? What differentiates the frontrunners from the rest?

•    Cloud-native platforms generally move faster and simplify integration — something finance teams value more than ever.
•    The real differentiator isn’t legacy vs new — it’s whether a vendor offers:
i.    Open integration,
ii.    Automation and AI built in,
iii.    Strong governance
iv.    Industry-specific accelerators.
v.    Vendors who balance agility with compliance will win.

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management?

“How do you plan to deliver trusted automation at scale—meaning automation that’s accurate, explainable, and audit-ready?”