Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Grant Thornton, a leading professional services firm, announced a series of partner appointments and promotions as it continues to accelerate its growth and expansion in the UAE.
The firm has appointed Imran Jaffer as the Restructuring Advisory Partner, tasking him with leading the company’s Financial Restructuring Advisory practice from its flagship Abu Dhabi office.
Faizan Ahmed has joined the Dubai Head Office as a partner in the Audit and Assurance practice, leveraging his auditing and financial proficiency to enhance Grant Thornton’s services in real estate, hospitality, and government-related entities.
Accumulating over 15 years of experience in Advisory and Corporate Finance, Neha Julka has earned a promotion to Advisory Partner, where she will continue to bolster the broader Financial Advisory practice of the firm.
Mohamed ElKhashab, promoted to Audit Partner, brings over 17 years of industry experience, playing an instrumental role in delivering audit services to organizations operating in the Middle East and internationally.
All four industry leaders bring a wealth of sectorial knowledge and expertise to Grant Thornton and support its strong performance trajectory in the country.
Driving Innovation and Excellence: Welcoming New Leadership at Grant Thornton UAE
Being the core members of the leadership team, they will also be at the forefront of driving innovation, and excellence in client servicing while augmenting the firm’s current standing as a trusted partner of choice and value in the industry.
Hisham Farouk, CEO, Grant Thornton UAE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Imran Jaffer and Faizan Ahmed to the Grant Thornton team and look forward to benefiting from the diverse perspectives they bring that will also enrich our capacity to positively drive progress for our clients and the firm.
As an organisation committed to the development and career progression of our talent force, we are also happy to celebrate the promotion of Neha Julka and Mohamed ElKhashab who, in their new roles, will continue to deliver quality and value to the integrated services our clients require.”
Bringing Extensive Expertise to Grant Thornton: Imran Jaffer’s Background in Banking and Advisory
Previously Director of Business Restructuring Services (Deals Advisory) at PwC, Imran Jaffer brings diverse experience in banking, credit fund management, and advisory to Grant Thornton.
He will work with listed and unlisted corporates; credit and distressed funds; as well as sovereign wealth and private equity.
Audit and Assurance Expertise: Faizan Ahmed Joins Grant Thornton
Faizan Ahmed, who joins Grant Thornton from Deloitte, has 18 years of industry experience in providing audit and assurance services for key sectors including real estate, hospitality, government-related entities as well as public rest entities and large family conglomerates. His expertise also spans guiding clients through IPOs and debt-raising processes.
Financial Advisor with a Proven Track Record: Neha Julka
Neha Julka, a results-oriented professional, has honed her financial advisory acumen, delivering quality analysis to regulators, government-backed entities, conglomerates, and SMEs.
Her expertise includes conducting valuations, financial modeling, and M&A mandates across various industries like financial services, hospitality, and logistics.
Leading with Expertise: Mohamed ElKhashab’s Impact on Financial Standards
Mohamed ElKhashab possesses extensive knowledge and understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), COSO compliance, Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICFR), and financial due diligence. He is credited with having built Grant Thornton’s public sector presence and profile in Abu Dhabi.
Continuing its legacy of over 55 years in the country, Grant Thornton UAE recently inaugurated a flagship office in Abu Dhabi, catering to the growing needs of its clientele in the capital, and contributing to its consistent double-digit year-on-year growth over the last five years.
The firm currently maintains four offices in the UAE and has a dedicated team of over 700 professionals.
