I see myself more as an expert. I provide comprehensive accounting services, specializing in real estate, and I've built deep expertise in Emirates legislation and financial management. While I work with multiple companies and have some entrepreneurial aspects, my core identity is as a financial expert who helps businesses navigate complex regulations and optimize their operations.
I moved to Dubai in May 2023. The path wasn't straightforward – when the war started in 2022, I first relocated to Germany. I had a great position there in Customer Experience, working with German-speaking clients, and was promoted to Supervisor with my own team. The job offered incredible stability – it was practically impossible to get fired.
But after a year, I realized Germany answered my questions about comfort and financial security, but not about growth and challenge. I took a vacation to Dubai in September 2022, and the city ignited something in me. I started considering a move, but was hesitant to leave such stability.
Then life made the decision for me. My company announced they weren't extending contracts for Ukrainian employees – we had to either relocate to Moldova or return to Ukraine. I saw this as a sign and gave myself six months to prepare: building savings, improving my business English, and handling document legalization.
I had a friend here who helped initially – he works in real estate now. And I had another connection, Irina, who I'd met online in late 2021. She's a family constellation therapist – Irina Erygina – and she helped me with the psychological aspects of migration. Moving twice in such a short period was stressful, even with good conditions.
What helped most was landing at The Capital, a well-known Ukrainian real estate agency, right through a recommendation when I arrived. The Ukrainian community support in Dubai is incredible – everyone helps each other in ways I didn't experience in Germany.
The first book that comes to mind, which I read in school but really ignited my motivation for growth while staying connected to my inner self, was "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin Sharma. It taught me about pursuing success without losing touch with your feelings and values – not just chasing money blindly.
Living by inner response. When I have an emotional response to an opportunity, when something clicks inside and I think "yes, I want this," I pursue it. This approach never fails me.
Happiness for me is living in contact with myself – not betraying my body, my beliefs, my comfort. In Dubai, it's easy to get caught in the trap of chasing money, brands, and values that don't actually belong to you. When you're surrounded by people with expensive status symbols, and you don't have a strong internal foundation, you can easily start thinking you're somehow lacking.
For me, happiness is having the freedom to travel. I just returned from a trip to a new country, and I'm planning another one soon. I used to debate whether to travel based on finances, but I changed my thinking. Travel isn't a "want" – it's a necessity for maintaining my working state. I budget it as business expense, not luxury. This mindset shift changed everything.
I provide comprehensive accounting support focused on real estate companies. This includes full bookkeeping, CRM system implementation according to Emirates legislation, tax declaration filing, payroll and vacation calculations, and consultations on local financial law.
My specialization in real estate is valuable because there's specific terminology, commission structures from developers, and particular processes that are better handled by someone who understands the industry. When people hear I've worked in real estate accounting for years, it's exactly what they need.
I also work with German-speaking clients, which creates a unique niche in Dubai's diverse business environment. My experience working with Germans, combined with knowledge of Emirates law, opens doors that pure English-language accountants might not have.
Currently, I manage four companies directly and handle various one-time consulting projects through outsourcing partnerships – everything from VAT registrations to complete financial recovery.
In two and a half years, I'm proud that I have the capability to manage companies with significant turnovers. These aren't corporations – if I worked for a corporation, I'd be full-time there – but substantial businesses where I can influence company operations and help them grow.
Most importantly, everything is always on deadline. I've never had fines, delays, or missed deadlines in my career. For me, this isn't an achievement – it's the baseline requirement. This is just the standard that must be met.
I use AI regularly, but with clear boundaries. For writing emails, structuring communications, contract analysis – AI is incredibly helpful. It saves time on tasks like drafting professional correspondence or analyzing agreement details.
However, I never trust AI with numbers. While my CRM system (Zoho) has AI features that learn to categorize similar payments, I always manually review everything. AI can easily make mistakes with financial data, and ultimately, I'm responsible for the accuracy, not the AI.
I'm seeking clients for accounting cooperation – preferably smaller companies where I can provide comprehensive oversight rather than getting lost in one large corporate structure. I prefer managing several smaller businesses because it gives me broader experience and flexibility to continue developing.
I'm also expanding into organizational consulting, working with business founders ready to examine their companies from new perspectives and pursue growth and scaling. This requires entrepreneurs who are open to development and willing to invest in strategic business analysis.
While my deep expertise is in real estate accounting, I work across industries. The real estate specialization is valuable because of the specific knowledge required – developer relationships, commission structures, industry terminology. But my core accounting and financial management skills apply broadly.
The key is that I understand both the technical accounting requirements and the business operations. Whether it's real estate, consulting, or other service businesses, the fundamental need is the same: accurate financial management, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial planning.
The biggest lesson is that sometimes the greatest risk is staying safe. German stability was comfortable but limiting. Dubai demanded courage but provided the platform for real expertise development and meaningful professional growth.
I've learned to distinguish between different types of money in my budget – business money for professional development, personal money for necessities, and "child money" for pure desires. Travel, for example, isn't child money – it's business money because it's necessary for maintaining my energy and effectiveness.
The move taught me that when you're clear about your values and don't chase external validation, you can build something meaningful anywhere. The Ukrainian community in Dubai creates incredible mutual support, but ultimately, success comes from staying true to your own path while remaining open to growth and challenge.
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