Five minutes with Hanan Rihani

Tell us about yourself

I am Hanan Rihani, and I joined Baker Tilly Jordan as an accounting specialist in 2020. From a young age, I have had a passion for accounting, and I always knew that it was a field that I wanted to explore and excel in. Despite many barriers, I managed to graduate with an accounting degree and begin my journey with Baker Tilly.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy?

Further to my accounting aspirations, I have a passion for cooking. I grew up in a large family, which being a daughter in the Arab culture, brought additional responsibilities for lending a hand to my mum in house chores. I learned how to cook when I was 10 years old, which I still greatly enjoy. If it were not for pursuing an accounting career, I would have become a professional chef! I have my own cooking account on Instagram and post-cooking videos and recipes to inspire other people.

I am a great believer that to succeed in any business, you should know your numbers.

What made you begin your career in accounting?

Accounting is undeniably an important function that is required at all companies. I am a great believer that to succeed in any business, you should know your numbers. I understood that early on and have always worked towards becoming a trusted advisor to companies and to share my knowledge and expertise to benefit women in business. It was refreshing to find a reputable advisory firm like Baker Tilly Jordan whose partners share the same vision.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

The best advice that anyone in the accounting field has given me was from the Managing Partner of Baker Tilly Jordan, Rasheed Rafidi. I remember meeting him during the orientation week and he said something that stuck with me. He said that I do not have to be perfect and its ok to make mistakes. What is important is that I learn from those mistakes to grow personally and professionally. He also said that if I am not 110% confident of a calculation, an assumption, or a financial matter to always research and consult with my colleagues as this is always encouraged in the firm as a way of life.

How do you think the pandemic has changed the way we work?

The pandemic has certainly changed our work habits. I saw first-hand the resilience of Baker Tilly and how quickly we moved from an office-based work environment to a fully digital and cloud structure. We had to adapt to new ways of working to ensure we continue to, not only support our clients but also to keep a work-life balance, which became challenging working from home.

Looking ahead to 2030, where do you see yourself?

After joining Baker Tilly I realised that there are considerable areas for growth. I am currently enjoying the opportunities to learn and to grow professionally. I fully understand the path to a partnership role in Baker Tilly. I aim to be admitted as partner by the year 2030. I understand that this will only become a reality as I continue to grow my technical abilities, continue to be an inspiration to the next generation, and continue to be loyal to the firm and the accounting field.

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Rodolfo Resende		Tracy Hickman