Ali Abbas

Position :  Director

Profile:

An internal audit & risk executive with 20 years of operational, financial, strategic, and compliance auditing experience, including more than 10 years in leadership role.

Ali has worked with a number of clients’ top management to develop tools and techniques to strengthen risk management and internal controls.

With his extensive experience, Ali has proven results in establishing, organizing and managing client internal audit departments while successfully meeting deadlines, quality standards, budgets and maintaining effective relationships with Senior Management and Board Audit Committees.

He has a track record of identifying financial, operational, strategic and compliance related control weaknesses and formulating recommendations to improve the clients’ control environment. 

He has strong technical knowledge of the Institute of Internal Auditors' International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and Code of Ethics. 

Experience :

Ali has led a number of regulatory compliance and assurance engagements for clients that are regulated by the CBK and CMA and has in-depth knowledge of local regulatory requirements.

Ali has led a number of quality assessment reviews of large internal audit functions against IIA standards and leading practices considering if the function is fit for purpose, appropriate for the size and complexity of the organisation and adds value to all stakeholders, including clients’ Board Audit Committee and Executive Management.

Ali has led a number of enterprise risk management (ERM) engagements focusing on the areas of greatest risks, importance and value to the organization and assisting clients in minimizing exposure to existing and emerging risks.

Ali has presented a number of internal audit and risk presentations to clients’ board audit and risk committees communicating internal audit findings and risk recommendations highlighting value addition for organizations in implementing risk mitigating recommendations.

Prior to joining KPMG, Ali has worked as an internal auditor for one of the largest diversified business groups in Kuwait and as a Financial & Management Accountant for one of the largest banks and industrial groups in Kuwait. His areas of expertise include financial planning and budgeting, external financial reporting, management reporting, analysis of financial and operational data and recommending various business units’ enhancement in product and service performance.

Sector Experience:

Extensive experience in banking, automotive, hospitality, FMCG, F&B, investment management, leasing and financing, brokerage, real estate, insurance, manufacturing, trading, oil & gas and education sectors.