Hikmet is a prominent figure in Ethiopia’s accountancy and auditing sector, currently serving as the Director General of the Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE) since 2019.

Hikmet Abdella is a prominent figure in Ethiopia’s accountancy and auditing sector, currently serving as the Director General of the Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE) since 2019. With a robust career dedicated to the advancement of the accounting profession, she founded the Association of Certified and Chartered Accountants (ACCA) in Ethiopia, fostering the profession’s growth and establishing a solid foundation for professional accountancy in the country.

Her tenure with ACCA as country director from 2004 to 2012 not only underscored her commitment to Ethiopia’s financial sector but also expanded her influence to Eastern African countries, including operational responsibilities in Ethiopia and Sudan. This period was marked by significant contributions to the ACCA’s strategy, enhancing the professional landscape of accountancy across the region.

Before her substantial impact in the accountancy profession, Hikmet played a pivotal role in the infrastructure development sector as the general manager of Attco, a family-owned business. Her efforts in this capacity extended across Ethiopia and other African countries, representing manufacturers and contributing to the sector’s expansion and diversity.

The Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia, under Hikmet’s leadership, operates with the primary aim of protecting the public interest. It is tasked with regulating the profession, issuing nationally and internationally recognized professional accountancy qualifications, setting accounting and auditing standards, and enforcing financial reporting laws.