Naveed Akhter

Naveed Akhter is a senior audit leader and Fellow Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience specialising in complex financial institution audits across the UK and the Middle East. Having spent nearly a decade at KPMG London, he has led the audits of global banking groups, investment firms, and financial institutions with sophisticated operations, high regulatory scrutiny, and complex financial reporting challenges. He has worked closely with regulators throughout his career — including leading audits subject to inspection, and contributing to the design of audit methodologies that have undergone formal regulatory review.

Technical Expertise & Thought Leadership

Naveed brings deep technical expertise in IFRS, with particular focus on IFRS 9 (Financial Instruments) and IFRS 13 (Fair Value Measurement). He has advised clients on the design, implementation, and validation of expected credit loss models, including Probability of Default (PD), Loss Given Default (LGD), and Exposure at Default (EAD). His work frequently intersects with stress testing, scenario modelling, ICAAP overlays, and going concern assessments — particularly in the context of credit risk provisioning and capital adequacy. He is also experienced in reviewing complex valuation models, including mark-to-model pricing techniques, model risk assessments, and fair value level classification. His broader IFRS expertise covers fair value hierarchies, classification and measurement complexities, and the evolving challenges of financial reporting in regulated sectors.

Methodology & Professional Influence

In addition to his audit leadership, Naveed plays an instrumental role in shaping audit methodology and quality processes. He has designed and implemented audit approaches tailored to financial services entities, and regularly delivers high-impact technical training — including to senior partners and board-level professionals. He is also a frequent speaker at technical forums and knowledge-sharing events, where he brings clarity to complex accounting and regulatory topics.

Culture, People & Purpose

Naveed is deeply passionate about the human side of audit — the culture, the growth, and the everyday experience of the people delivering quality work. He believes that great audits are built not just on standards and systems, but on thriving teams. A natural coach and mentor, he actively invests in junior talent and creates space for learning, curiosity, and challenge. He encourages open, upward feedback and promotes a culture where voices are heard, potential is unlocked, and no one is left behind. His leadership philosophy centres around lifting the whole team — driving performance through empathy, trust, and collective purpose. Whether through thoughtful wellbeing initiatives or rethinking how audits are delivered to reduce unnecessary stress, Naveed is committed to creating an environment where people genuinely feel proud of their work — and proud of how they got there.
Currently serving as Audit Director at Baker Tilly UAE, Naveed continues to drive audit quality, mentor future leaders, and contribute to the evolution of the audit profession in the region.

Membership

Fellow Chartered Accountant