KPMG → Saudi Arabia → CFO of Gaming Company | ft. Abdullah Noor, ACCA, CFA

From ACCA and CFA to KPMG, Saudi Arabia, Corporate Finance & Deal Advisory, and now becoming the CFO of a gaming and app development company, Terafort Lahore… M. Abdullah Noor, ACCA has built a career across some very interesting areas of finance. In this episode, I sit down with M. Abdullah Noor, ACCA, to talk about his career journey, from his early days and ACCA journey to working at KPMG, moving into Corporate Finance & Deal Advisory in Saudi Arabia, and eventually becoming the CFO of Terafort, a gaming and app development company. We discuss: • His childhood, education and early career • His ACCA, CFA and Applied Accounting journey • How he managed professional qualifications alongside his studies • His experience working at KPMG for more than 3.5 years • Moving from audit into Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory • His experience working in Saudi Arabia • Valuation and financial modelling • What investors look for before investing in a company • How a CFO decides which games and apps to invest in • How gaming companies manage money and investment decisions • What founders often misunderstand about company valuation • The future of the gaming and mobile app industry • His advice for CA, ACCA and finance students If you’re a CA or ACCA student, finance professional, aspiring CFO, or simply interested in business, valuation, investment and the gaming industry, this conversation has a lot to offer. Timestamps: (0:00) introduction (0:11) Please tell us about your childhood, background, and why you chose ACCA? (0:45) How long did it take you to qualify as an ACCA member? (1:03) How did you get that job as a security specialist in the UK, and could you share that experience? (1:28) How did you go to the UK? (1:51) What changes do you notice in your mindset after living and working outside Pakistan? (3:23) How much role does the Oxford Brookes University degree play, and how does it help in going abroad? (3:55) These degrees are often considered distance learning, which causes visa processing issues; what should students do? (5:27) Is ACCA enough, or should we top it up with CPA or CFA? (5:58) What is the eligibility criteria for CFA? (6:52) How did you get inducted into KPMG, and was there any reference? (7:13) If someone does not have a reference, how can they get in? (7:53) What does a business analyst do, and what did you learn in that sector? (9:34) What was your work as a business analyst? (10:22) What difference did you find between the Pakistani and Saudi Arabian markets? (12:02) How is raising finance for a gaming/ app development company different from traditional businesses? (12:52) What is the reason for the difficulty in fundraising for the IT sector? (13:24) As an investor in a gaming or app company, what should I look for besides financial statements? (13:58) How does a business owner value their business, and what are the methods for valuation? (14:52) Who are the people in your team, and do you have CA trainees? (15:20) How much time does it take to build an app, and what investment is required? (15:57) How many famous games or apps has Terafort produced? (16:28) How much money do these gaming companies make on a daily basis? (16:40) What financial mistakes are commonly seen during mergers and acquisitions? (17:31) Don't you think there is a gap for Pakistan-made apps to compete with games like PUBG or Free Fire? (18:24) Don't you think Al will replace all these jobs? (19:05) Are you considering Al a risk or an opportunity for employment? (19:57) What is the scope of the gaming sector in the next 5-10 years? (20:46) What is your monthly income as a CFO? (21:35) What is your message for CA and ACCA students? (22:24) Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? (22:38) What traits have you observed in professionals within this industry? (24:25) Rapid fire: Who would you prefer, ACCA or CFA? (24:41) In which role did you learn more: KPMG or as a CFO? (24:48) Which country gave you more exposure: Pakistan or Saudi Arabia? (24:52) What would you choose: Big Four employment or your own startup? (25:44) What is the most memorable moment in your career? (26:20) If you had the chance to choose your career again, would you choose ACCA, CA, or something like BS IT/CS? (26:38) What is the most essential skill for a successful CFO? (27:08) Where would you prefer to work: gaming or the traditional corporate sector? (27:24) One skill that every CA/ACCA student must develop? (27:30) What is your biggest professional regret? #CA #acca #KPMG #CFO #castudents #accajobs #SaudiArabia #ACCACareer #Finance #cfa