At the heart of this digital transformation for finance and accounting teams is the potential for information technology and open data standards to reduce lags and latencies in the operations and processes. Based on these expectations, finance and accounting teams are focused on ensuring that their own function is equipped with the tools, technologies and talent for this digital transformation.

Research from the Robert Walters Employer Sentiment & Hiring Survey highlights the top three skill shortages in the Middle East: Nationals with the correct industry experience, professionals with IT and digital skills and local market knowledge. 41 per cent of employers expect there to be a technical skills shortage in the region.

The pandemic while accelerating digital transformation, has also significantly altered the task of identifying and acquiring the skills required to manage digital transformation.

In this partnership, the NIT, a not-for-profit training institute, has joined SAP’s flagship digital skill build initiative, the Young Professional Program, as part of its aim to provide Saudi nationals with advanced and accelerated training programs to develop a “job-ready” talent pool.

Change can be daunting, not least in choosing a new career path. If the pandemic is to represent an opportunity to pursue a ’Great Reset’ of our economic and social foundations, it’s imperative that we transform how we up- and reskill.