Personal bio
Abbas is the Managing Partner of Awael Public Accountants and Business Consultants (Kreston Bahrain) a member firm of Kreston Global and Awael Al Bahrain Management Consultants (Andersen Bahrain) a member firm of Andersen Global.
He is a former Partner and Deputy Chairman of BDO Public Accountants (Bahrain, Qatar and Oman) and an Ex-partner PWC (Bahrain and Qatar). Abbas has more than 40 years of experience in auditing major public and private sector organizations including some of the largest organizations in Bahrain. Abbas has also gained significant experience working in various parts of the GCC and internationally (including the USA and the UK). Specific fields of experience and expertise include:
• Significant experience auditing and advising clients in the financial services sector.
• Extensive experience working with and advising clients in the Government Sector in Bahrain. A strong knowledge of the accounting systems used within the government sector in Bahrain.
• Significant experience working with organizations in Bahrain including trading houses, large businesses and government institutions.
• Serving as the Risk Management Partner on a number of high-profile audits in order to ensure that a robust and high-quality audit is delivered.
• Expertise in current International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Corporate Governance best practices including the Bahrain Corporate Governance Code.
• Managing the audits of financial institutions, quasi-governmental organisations and local trading companies.
• Current Internal Audit best practices.
• Corporate Finance including the flotation of public share holding companies.
• Company registration and the optimisation of corporate structures.
• Trademark registration and the protection of intellectual property.
• Expertise in forensic auditing and fraud protection/detection.
• Alternative dispute resolution.
• Working as an expert in court cases involving financial disputes.
Over the past 15 years, Abbas has lead assignments with numerous government organisations including the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Information, SIO, the Pension Fund Commission, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Municipalities, the Electricity and Water Authority, the agency of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
Abbas has also lead audits and assignments in the energy sector including working with BAPCO, BANAGAS and NOGA Holdings.
Through his development and business activities, Abbas has registered a number of new international companies in Bahrain and the Gulf and has attracted a number of new businesses to Bahrain.
Abbas also continues to play a key role in the development of the accounting and auditing profession in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He is a member of several institutions and sits on the board of several of these. Abbas played a leading role in contributing to the Corporate Governance Code of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Abbas has degrees up to master’s level and holds several professional certifications and memberships. He has also maintained and enhanced his skills through attending regular courses in various relevant topics