Hikmet Abdella is the current CEO of Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Ethiopia and a prominent leader in Ethiopia’s accountancy and auditing sector. She previously served as the Director General of the Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE) from 2019, where she championed the advancement of the accounting profession. A trailblazer in her field, Hikmet founded the Association of Certified and Chartered Accountants (ACCA) in Ethiopia, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the profession’s foundations and fostering its growth nationwide.
From 2004 to 2012, Hikmet served as ACCA’s Country Director, demonstrating her deep commitment to Ethiopia’s financial sector while extending her influence across Eastern Africa, including operational oversight in Ethiopia and Sudan. During this time, she made significant contributions to ACCA’s strategic direction, elevating the standards and reach of professional accountancy in the region.
Earlier in her career, Hikmet drove progress in infrastructure development as General Manager of Attco, a family-owned business. In this role, she expanded operations across Ethiopia and other African countries, representing manufacturers and contributing to sectoral growth and diversification.
Under her leadership, the Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE) focused on safeguarding public interest by regulating the profession, issuing nationally and internationally recognized accountancy qualifications, setting auditing standards, and enforcing financial reporting laws.
