Fauzia Anjum
Senior Accountant
Georgia Bankers Association
Atlanta, GA
Q: As GBA members meet you or talk to you for the first time, what can they expect from you?
A: I work mostly behind-the-scenes providing financial accounting services. Members can expect the same excellent level of customer service that the rest of our GBA team provides, and I’m here to assist our members and answer any questions or concerns they have regarding billing.
Q: Tell us more about your career journey. How did you become an accounting professional?
A: While I was living in Pakistan, my mom developed health issues that required me to be at home with her. I had been studying information technology, but the only program available for at-home study at the time was accounting, so I switched my educational track. At first, I found it very dry and not that interesting, but as I dug deeper into my coursework, I found genuine joy in analyzing data. Now I try to implement more efficient processes so that accounting work becomes easier, and that’s where my interest in IT factors in. Migrating to electronic recordkeeping and utilizing new software to make our jobs more efficient.
Q: What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: I design and make jewelry from sterling silver wiring and semiprecious gemstone beads. It has been my hobby for the last five or six years, and I enjoy giving them to friends and family as presents. It’s very calming, a lot like knitting. When I was growing up, my mom gifted me a strand of garnets that I loved but didn’t have any earrings to match. I opened the strand, took out a few beads and crafted my first pair of earrings. (I still have them today!) I thought to myself at the time, “I want to learn this art.” A friend in New Jersey showed me how a few years ago, and I’ve been doing making my own jewelry ever since. I like to experiment with how to combine the beads and what’s trendy or looks good together. And once a piece is done, I have a strong sense of achievement. Needless to say, I don’t buy jewelry anymore.
Q: When you’re not on the job at GBA, what do you like to do?
A: I like to hike, walk and travel! I also like going to bead tradeshows for new jewelry materials, and I enjoy listening to audio books on Audible like “The Secret” and “Energy Bus.”
Q: What has been your favorite travel destination and why?
A: My favorite travel destination has been Istanbul, Turkey, because of its rich history and central location in the world. It has a lot of natural beauty and a well-preserved cultural history for us to enjoy. For this reason, I also love Europe, especially the architecture and castles. Germany is one place I really want to visit someday because my father worked for a German company in Pakistan. He used to go to there a lot and we’d get pictures and hear about what a wonderful place it is.