From India to the UAE: CA Chandra Sen Hada’s 30-Year Career

From India to the UAE: CA Chandra Sen Hada’s leadership journey, lessons, and the future of finance

What happens when a chartered accountant takes a leap of faith—leaving comfort behind for a new life abroad—and builds a legacy across real estate, investment banking, education, and government?

This is the story of CA Chandra Sen Hada, whose 30-year career across continents not only charts bold decisions but also reveals frameworks for building leadership, strong organizations, and a future-ready financial mindset.

Early passion and choosing a career in accounting

Chandra Sen Hada’s journey began with a genuine liking for accounting back in class 11, a time when career choices felt limited and career counseling wasn’t available. After completing BCom, he wasn’t sure what path to follow. Trusting his instincts, he chose the chartered accountancy route—a leap of faith that would set the foundation for everything to come. Support and guidance from mentors in Kolkata shaped this crucial career choice.

Expanding professional credentials: CMA and CFM

While starting out at Al-Mas Group in the UAE, Hada decided to add to his qualifications:

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Certified Financial Manager (CFM)

Encouraged by his mentor, Sanjay Kakaria, he managed evening study alongside work. Notably, he ranked among the top eight CMA performers worldwide—a proud highlight in his professional growth.

Taking the leap: Moving to UAE without a job

After a brief stint practicing in India, Sen Hada moved to Abu Dhabi without a job offer in hand—a true test of courage and serendipity. Stories of respect for accountants in the Gulf, paired with ambition and curiosity, pushed him to take this bold step, leaving a steady partnership role behind.

Career growth in UAE: Diverse industry experience

Sen Hada’s UAE career saw steady progress through family businesses, real estate, investment banking, higher education, and government roles. Starting in finance, he later took up CEO, COO, and CFO positions, showing how financial responsibility opens doors to broader business leadership.

Why finance professionals make great leaders

Finance roles put professionals close to both numbers and people. Sen Hada often had to work with stakeholders across every part of an organization. This unique business insight positions finance leaders to understand every challenge, making it a natural transition into broader leadership roles.

Key turning points that defined the career

Three moments shaped Sen Hada’s remarkable journey:

1. Choosing chartered accountancy as a profession, despite the odds.
2. Moving to the Gulf with no guarantee, guided by ambition and opportunity.
3. Joining Cert, the commercial arm of Higher College of Technology, which broadened his perspective and allowed for innovation and risk-taking.

Supportive mentors and organizations willing to dream big often made all the difference.

Building startups and leading transformation

Sen Hada’s career involved building and scaling startups with tight resources. Whether at Cert or Gulf Islamic Investments, he learned to constantly prioritize, allocate resources wisely, and keep governance at the heart of the operation.

Leading transformation meant building a strong organization with patient leadership, commitment from the top, and ongoing engagement across all levels. This is where he introduced the GPS framework—Governance, People, Processes, Systems—as the backbone of any successful transformation.

The GPS framework for organizational excellence

• Governance: Clear policies and transparency support strong decision-making.
• People: Hiring and nurturing skilled talent makes the real difference.
• Processes: Reliable, repeatable steps guide operations and improvement.
• Systems: Technology aligns the organization, tying together people, processes, and governance.

This framework helps finance teams create order and support strategy from the ground up.

Aligning financial systems with organizational vision

Sen Hada believes financial systems should do more than just record transactions. Policies, processes, and systems need to match the business’s direction, making sure financial data supports decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Leadership’s role in driving transformation

At the core of organizational change is leadership. True leaders inspire, delegate, and give feedback when it matters most. For Sen Hada, to create more leaders is a key test of success—helping others rise by trusting, supporting, and guiding them.

CFOs' top priorities for sustainable success

According to Sen Hada, CFOs should focus on:

• Transparency and open communication
• Strong ethical values and a service-first attitude
• Data-driven, objective decision-making, free from bias

The CFO acts as a business partner, helping drive both strategy and growth, not just keeping the books.

Advice to entrepreneurs: Build strong financial foundations early

Entrepreneurs often overlook governance, processes, and systems before scaling. Sen Hada urges founders to invest in solid financial tools—such as Zoho—for workflow automation and policy structure. This strong foundation supports growth and makes future funding easier.

The power of team building over solo brilliance

One powerful lesson: committed teams outperform even the smartest lone performers. Sen Hada believes success comes from vision alignment, collaboration, and growing together, not just solo talent.

The future of accounting: AI, blockchain, and innovation

AI and blockchain are reshaping accounting with unmatched speed. Routine tasks will become automated. Finance professionals must focus on innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking to stay relevant and add value in the coming years.

Conclusion

Chandra Sen Hada’s story shows how curiosity, a willingness to take risks, and a commitment to robust frameworks can help professionals and entrepreneurs build lasting careers. By focusing on governance, strong teams, clear vision, and an openness to technology, anyone can thrive in the fast-changing world of finance and leadership.