We recently had the privilege of interviewing Fazal Careem, Founder of AJAB Solutions, a trusted firm for remote accounting and bookkeeping services. Bringing over four decades of experience across sectors globally, Fazal’s expertise in driving financial planning, controls, and strategy is unmatched. Built with a vision to make accounting and financial management accessible and affordable for all, AJAB Solutions, under Fazal Careem’s leadership, is empowering businesses at every stage of growth.
Spark Behind the Journey
We started the interview by asking, “What inspired you to start or lead this business, and how has the journey surprised you?”
Fazal shared, “The post-pandemic shift toward remote work revealed a massive gap: SMEs needed high-level financial oversight but couldn’t afford a full-time CFO. I launched AJAB to bridge that gap. Not that this surprised me, but I recognised in real time the complexities and challenges of running a business as opposed to being an employee.”
We further asked, “What does AJAB offer that is different?”
“Our services are remote and online and cater to companies in jurisdictions outside of the UAE. Remote accounting services can be just as effective—if not more so—than an in-house accountant because they combine flexibility, expertise, and efficiency. By working remotely, you gain access to experienced professionals without the overhead costs of full-time staff, while benefiting from advanced cloud-based systems that provide real-time financial visibility and secure data access. Remote teams often bring broader industry exposure, best practices, and scalable support, ensuring your financial processes stay accurate, compliant, and efficient—no matter where your business operates.”
Advice to Younger Self
We then asked, “If you could go back to the first years of your career, what advice would you give yourself?”
“Early on, I learned that financial complexity quietly chokes growth. My advice to my younger self: partner across the business to build systems that convert complexity into clarity, brace for the long haul, accept what you can’t control—and treat every challenge as a stepping stone to future success.” Fazal reflected.
Navigating through Setbacks
Every business has its set of challenges. To learn more, we asked Fazal Careem, “How do you approach solving problems that don’t have clear solutions?”
He mentioned, “Success starts with a team trained for a solutions-first mindset. When facing complex problems, my team and I audit every potential path against three pillars:
- Sustainability: Is this a long-term fix?
- Root-Cause: Does it solve the core issue or just a symptom?
- ROI: Is it the most cost-effective use of resources?
In accounting, a ‘fix’ is only successful if it protects the bottom line and mitigates future risk.”
Embracing Lessons for a Lifetime
We were interested to learn more about the events that shaped Fazal Careem’s leadership approach. So, we asked, “Can you share a unique experience that shaped the way you run your business?”
“In all honesty, there is no one single unique experience that shaped the way I run my business. However, throughout my 35-year career, across a wide spectrum of industries in several geographical regions, I’ve witnessed how often the ‘human factor’ is sidelined in favour of short-term metrics. I realized early on that this is a strategic error: high staff turnover and disengagement are actually massive, hidden liabilities on a balance sheet.
One specific experience involved turning around a struggling department by refocusing on Accountable Inclusivity. By investing in the team’s technical growth and involving them in root-cause analysis, we didn’t just improve morale; we eliminated costly operational errors and accelerated our reporting cycles.
At AJAB Solutions, I run the business on the principle that people are a company’s premier appreciating asset. I mentor my team to have a ‘solutions-first’ mindset because I know that a happy, highly-skilled team delivers the precision and integrity that our clients’ bottom lines depend on,” he explained.
We further asked, “If you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be, and why?”
Fazal added,
“Inclusive leadership, which isn’t just a style—it’s a strength. No one has all the answers, and no one succeeds alone. The best leaders recognize the power of collaboration, drawing on diverse perspectives to make smarter decisions. When teams are built on trust, open dialogue, and mutual respect, ideas flourish and results follow. True leadership isn’t about having a monopoly on knowledge—it’s about bringing the right minds together to create something stronger.”
From Challenges to Success
Intrigued to learn more, we asked Fazal Careem to share the challenges he faced in his journey and how these challenges were met.
He explained, “The greatest challenge I faced was the industry-wide gap between static record-keeping and strategic decision-making. Many businesses treat accounting as a backward-looking compliance task, leaving them ‘blind’ to their current financial health.
I met this challenge by developing a Real-Time Financial Intelligence framework at AJAB Solutions. We moved beyond simple bookkeeping by:
- Standardizing Remote Workflows: Implementing rigorous digital systems that ensure accuracy across different time zones.
- Training for Insight: Mentoring my team to not just enter data, but to analyze it for ‘red flags’ and opportunities.
- Fractional Oversight: Providing businesses with the same high-level strategic controls usually reserved for multi-national corporations, but at an accessible scale.
By transforming a ‘passive’ back-office function into an ‘active’ growth tool, we’ve turned financial data into a competitive advantage for our clients.”
A Wave of Transformation
We further asked, “If you could change one thing about the industry you work in, what would it be?”
Fazal Careem added “Don’t let the relentless pursuit of profit become your only measure of success. Yes—drive performance and maximise returns, but not at the expense of people. The most successful businesses understand that sustainable growth comes from balancing results with wellbeing, creating an environment where people feel valued, motivated, and genuinely happy. Profit matters—but so does the human impact behind it. As a senior finance executive, I often turn to what Bob Shanks, CFO at Ford said, “Operating a global business in a fast-changing world, you have to be grounded real-time in the external environment, have complete transparency, be fact-based and work with a great, collaborative team.”
What is in store for AJAB Solutions? We further asked.
“Building on two years of cross-industry, multi-jurisdictional financial recordkeeping, AJAB is launching Fractional Financial Control — a high-impact, cost-efficient CFO-level service tailored for mature, capital-intensive businesses”, he said.
What is Fractional Financial Control in a nutshell?
“Think of it as retainer-based access to a seasoned financial leader — full strategic and oversight expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire.”
How do you see the market accepting this new trend?
“It may not be a new trend—but it’s a bold shift from the traditional financial controller model. When done right, it’s a true win-win: businesses gain top-tier financial expertise at a fraction of the cost, while controllers have the flexibility to work across multiple clients and industries. The result? Greater efficiency, broader insight, and real value on both sides. But make no mistake—this model demands discipline, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure. It’s rewarding, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.”
Connect with Fazal Careem on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
Find AJAB Solutions on LinkedIn and visit their website to learn more.
Email Faza Careem at aj@ajabsolutions.com for more info.
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