Meet Sarah Palmer, CEO of IAB Group, who has spent the last 20 years gaining extensive experience in business finance, ranging from payroll and bookkeeping to accountancy and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, she has strived to stay ahead of the competition and embrace emerging technologies.
Now, as the CEO of IAB Group, Sarah is focused on empowering finance professionals to adapt to technological advancements. She recognizes the significance of staying ahead of AI and smart apps, which pose challenges to the finance industry. Sarah’s goal is to support thousands of finance professionals in navigating these changes and remaining competitive in the evolving landscape.
Sarah understands that technological advancements impact businesses of all sizes, from micro SMEs to large corporations. To stay competitive, organizations must rethink their approaches to learning, communication, and data processing. This passion for innovation drives Sarah’s leadership both within her own business and at the IAB Group.
A Comprehensive Approach
Formed in 1973 by the Council of the Institute of Administrative Accountants (IAA), the International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB) initially aimed to provide basic qualifications in Bookkeeping at three levels: Preliminary, Intermediate, and Final. These qualifications, akin to an A Level at the final stage, reflected the organization’s roots dating back to 1916. In September 2022, recognizing the diversity of its membership and qualification offerings, the association rebranded as the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers (IAB). Celebrating its 50th year in 2023, the IAB marked the formation of the IAB Group, consolidating IAB, IAAP, PDI, and LCCI with the objective of delivering accessible education at scale. As business practices evolve, the IAB acknowledges the value of collaboration in expanding and adapting. Leveraging the strengths and reach of its member organizations, the group aims to provide comprehensive finance and business support, education, and advisory services.
At the forefront stands the IAB, a distinguished brand offering regulated qualifications and unwavering support to finance professionals. Complementing this is the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), renowned for its industry-aligned qualifications, providing a clear pathway to advanced finance expertise. Notably, the group includes two organizations offering regulated qualifications, ensuring consistent standards across all educational offerings. The International Association of Accounting Professionals (IAAP) accredits professionals and offers non-regulated qualifications reflecting industry trends. PDI, with a focus on corporate and banking education in the MENA region, will become the hub for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) within the group, serving affiliated brands and external entities across various sectors.
Finding Joy Beyond the Boardroom
Sarah’s entrepreneurial ventures extend beyond her role as CEO of IAB Group. She also founded and leads Women Who Count (WWC), an award-winning financial practice that supports business owners globally. Celebrating its 15th year, WWC has evolved from a solo endeavor to a well-established international team serving a diverse clientele.
Additionally, Sarah played a pivotal role in bringing Pure Bookkeeping (PB) to the UK as its head in 2012, marking PB’s first overseas expansion. While the UK franchise achieved remarkable success, Sarah made the strategic decision to close it in 2017 to focus on PB’s growth in Canada and the US. However, with the advancements in cloud accounting software driving progress in the UK market, Sarah hints at a potential comeback for PB in the near future.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah’s core qualities of resilience, determination, and empathy shape her interactions both in and out of work. These traits are evident in her passion for horses, where she finds solace and joy as an accomplished rider and owner. As an avid racegoer, Sarah thrives on the excitement and thrill of the racing world.
A Journey of Personal Growth
Sarah’s commitment to personal growth is evident in her annual challenges, which she sets for herself. These challenges, such as participating in marathons, climbing mountains like Kilimanjaro, or riding in charity horse races, are intentionally significant and initially feel impossible. Sarah embraces these challenges as opportunities for personal development, growth, and learning new skills.
By pushing herself outside her comfort zone and overcoming these challenges, Sarah aims to become a better version of herself. She believes that personal development is crucial for a leader to maintain success, as an organization cannot outgrow the thinking of its leader. Therefore, Sarah’s dedication to continuous improvement not only benefits her personally but also positively impacts her leadership abilities and the organizations she leads.
The Power of Teamwork
Sarah’s resilience and determination are evident in her approach to challenges. Instead of accepting “no” as a final answer, she sees it as an opportunity to find alternative solutions. Sarah’s ability to monetize knowledge and apply it to meet market needs sets her apart. She possesses a keen instinct for understanding market demands and finding ways to fulfill them effectively.
In addition to her individual strengths, Sarah recognizes the importance of teamwork. As a leader, she values empathy and clarity, which enables her to guide her team effectively. Sarah maintains a zero-tolerance policy for low-value or unethical behavior, understanding that such conduct can be detrimental to both individuals and the organization as a whole.
The Joy of Travel
Sarah clearly thrives in her role, finding joy in various aspects of her work. She values the diversity of tasks, the opportunities for travel, and the process of developing new products and services. Witnessing both individuals and the organization as a whole grow brings her satisfaction and fulfillment.
Sarah’s perspective on individual heroics underscores the importance of balance. While she acknowledges and celebrates instances where individuals go above and beyond, she also recognizes the potential risks of unchecked individualism within the organization. Maintaining a positive attitude, integrity, good energy, willingness to learn, and being a team player are qualities Sarah prioritizes in her team members. She believes that while job-specific skills can be acquired, a person’s character is fundamental and should align with the organization’s values.
Commitment to Empowering Women
Sarah’s greatest professional risk involved making significant life changes, including a divorce and leaving a well-paid job to start Women Who Count (WWC) with two young children. This decision required a leap of faith, as she had to commit fully to making her new venture successful.
Looking ahead five years, Sarah sees herself continuing to pursue her passion for bringing microfinance opportunities to women in areas of hardship. Through her work with the IAB Group and her own company, she aims to develop the necessary contacts and market insights to implement this vision. Her concept involves connecting corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies and funding to address grassroots-level needs, such as providing women in war-torn areas like Syria with access to finance to rebuild their lives and families. Sarah draws inspiration from leaders like Jacqueline Novogratz at Acumen, who have made significant strides in this area.
Advice for First-Time Leaders
Sarah advises individuals stepping into a leadership position for the first time to embrace the experience and manage their energy effectively, as leadership requires holding space for many people. She emphasizes the importance of creating and effectively communicating a vision to all stakeholders, noting that the more ambitious the vision, the more challenging this task may be. Additionally, Sarah highlights the necessity of recognizing that true success in leadership cannot be achieved alone; it requires bringing the team along and prioritizing their well-being above all else.
译文：
Sarah Palmer：以金融行业的领导地位倡导变革
会计师和簿记师协会
来看看IAB集团的首席执行官Sarah Palmer吧，她在过去的20年里在商业金融方面获得了丰富的经验，从工资和簿记到会计和反洗钱（AML）法规。在她的创业生涯中，她一直在努力在竞争中保持领先地位，并拥抱新兴技术。
现在，作为IAB集团的首席执行官，Sarah专注于授权金融专业人士适应技术进步。她认识到保持领先于人工智能和智能应用程序的重要性，这给金融业带来了挑战。Sarah的目标是支持成千上万的金融专业人士应对这些变化，并在不断发展的环境中保持竞争力。
Sarah明白，技术进步影响着各种规模的企业，从小型中小企业到大企业。为了保持竞争力，组织必须重新考虑他们的学习、沟通和数据处理的方法。这种对创新的热情推动了Sarah在她自己的企业和IAB集团的领导地位。
综合办法
国际簿记员协会（IAB）由行政会计协会（IAA）理事会于1973年成立，最初的目标是提供三个级别的簿记基本资格：初级、中级和最终资格。这些资格，类似于最后阶段的A级，反映了该组织的根源可以追溯到1916年。2022年9月，认识到其会员资格和资格服务的多样性，该协会更名为会计师和簿记师协会（IAB）。2023年，为了庆祝成立50周年，IAB标志着IAB集团的成立，合并了IAB、IAAP、PDI和LCCI，目标是提供大规模的无障碍教育。随着商业实践的发展，IAB承认协作在扩大和适应方面的价值。利用其成员组织的优势和影响力，该集团旨在提供全面的财务和业务支持、教育和咨询服务。
首当其冲的是会计师和簿记师协会,这是一个杰出的品牌,提供规范的资格和坚定不移的支持金融专业人员。伦敦工商会(LCCI)是这方面的补充,它以其行业资格与行业资格挂钩而闻名,为先进金融专业提供了一条明确的途径。值得注意的是,该小组包括两个提供规范资格的组织,确保所有教育课程的标准一致。国际专业会计师协会（IAAP）对专业人员进行认证,并提供反映行业趋势的不受监管的资格。PDI以中东和北非地区的公司和银行教育为重点的专业发展倡议将成为该集团内持续专业发展的中心,为各部门的附属品牌和外部实体提供服务。
在会议室之外寻找快乐
Sarah的创业冒险已经超出了她担任IAB集团首席执行官的角色。她还创立并领导了“女性统计组织”（WWC），这是一家屡获殊荣的金融实践机构，支持全球各地的企业主。为了庆祝它的成立15周年，WWC已经从一个单独的努力发展成为一个为多元化的客户提供服务的成熟的国际团队。
此外，Sarah在2012年将纯记账公司（PB）引入英国方面发挥了关键作用，这标志着PB的首次海外扩张。虽然英国的特许经营取得了显著的成功，但Sarah在2017年做出了关闭它的战略决定，专注于PB在加拿大和美国的增长。然而，随着云会计软件的进步推动了英国市场的进步，Sarah暗示了PB可能在不久的将来回归。
除了她的职业成就之外，莎拉的韧性、决心和同理心的核心品质塑造了她在工作中和场外的互动。这些特征在她对马的热情中很明显，作为一个熟练的骑手和主人，她找到了安慰和快乐。作为一个狂热的赛马爱好者，她在赛车世界的兴奋和刺激中茁壮成长。
个人成长之旅
Sarah对个人成长的承诺,在她为自己准备的年度挑战中是很明显的。这些挑战,比如参加马拉松,攀登像基尔力马扎罗山,或者骑马参加慈善赛马会,都是有意的重大挑战,最初感觉是不可能的。萨拉将这些挑战视为个人发展、成长和学习新技能的机会。
通过把自己推出舒适区，克服这些挑战，Sarah的目标是成为一个更好的自己。她认为，个人发展对于领导者保持成功至关重要，因为一个组织无法超越其领导者的思维。因此，Sarah对持续改进的奉献不仅对她个人有利，而且对她的领导能力和她所领导的组织也有积极的影响。
团队合作的力量
Sarah的韧性和决心在她应对挑战的方法中很明显。她没有接受“不”作为最终答案，而是认为这是一个找到替代解决方案的机会。萨拉将知识货币化并将其应用于满足市场需求的能力使她与众不同。她有理解市场需求并寻找有效满足需求的敏锐本能。
除了她个人的优势，Sarah还认识到团队合作的重要性。作为一名领导者，她重视同理心和清晰度，这使她能够有效地指导她的团队。萨拉对低价值或不道德的行为实行零容忍政策，她理解这种行为可能对个人和整个组织都有害。
旅行的乐趣
Sarah显然在她的角色中蓬勃成长，在她工作的各个方面找到了快乐。她重视任务的多样性、旅行的机会以及开发新产品和服务的过程。见证个人和组织的成长给她带来满足和满足。
Sarah对个人英雄主义的观点强调了平衡的重要性。虽然她承认并庆祝个人超越他人的例子，但她也认识到组织内部不受限制的个人主义的潜在风险。保持积极的态度、正直、良好的精力、学习的意愿，以及成为一名团队成员，这些都是Sarah在团队成员中优先考虑的品质。她认为，虽然可以获得特定工作的技能，但一个人的性格是基本的，应该与组织的价值观相一致。
承诺增强妇女权能
Sarah最大的职业风险是改变生活,包括离婚,留下一份收入丰厚的工作,让有两个年幼子女的妇女开始工作。这一决定需要信念的飞跃,因为她必须全力以赴,使她的新事业获得成功。
展望未来五年，Sarah认为自己将继续追求她的热情，为困难地区的妇女带来小额信贷机会。通过她与IAB集团和她自己的公司的工作，她的目标是发展必要的联系和市场见解，以实现这一愿景。她的理念包括将企业ESG（环境、社会和治理）政策和资金联系起来，以满足基层需求，比如为叙利亚等饱受战争蹂躏地区的妇女提供资金，以重建她们的生活和家庭。萨拉从Acumen公司的杰奎琳·诺沃格拉茨等领导那里获得了灵感，他们在这一领域取得了重大进步。
为首次领导人提供咨询
Sarah建议个人第一次进入领导力职位，拥抱体验并有效地管理他们的精力，因为领导力需要为很多人保留空间。她强调了创建并有效地与所有利益相关者传达一个愿景的重要性，并指出该愿景越雄心勃勃，这项任务可能就越具挑战性。此外，Sarah强调必须认识到领导能力的真正成功；这需要把团队带起来，把他们的福祉放在一切之上。
