Pre-eminent position

OER became the first of the media to catch up with Omar Adli Al Sharif and congratulate him on becoming a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers Oman

Adli Al Sharif has become the first Omani to become a partner in global firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In fact, he could be called the first Omani to become a qualified partner in any of the big four auditing firms in the country. Al Sharif currently holds the position of Audit Director in Assurance/Business Advisory Services leading the Energy Utilities Mining/Technology Infocomm Entertainment (EUM/TICE) groups in PricewaterhouseCoopers, Oman. He will take up his new position in January 2010.

“I am grateful to the firm for recognising my hard work and achievements, and also for the confidence they have shown in me by giving me this opportunity,” Al Sharif says. He is honoured by the promotion, the partnership process being both rigorous and challenging; and also happy for his family, who have had to make sacrifices in order to allow him to focus on this career that comes with long hours and tight deadlines.

Al Sharif is fully aware of the great onus on him when he says that as a partner you are wearing many hats. Aside from leading the firm with fellow partners, a partner must ensure the delivery of the firm’s services to its clients and that the client needs and expectations should always be a priority. Also, a partner will be signing the opinion in the financial statements on behalf of the firm and therefore he must ensure that the quality of work is of the highest standard.

From an early age, Al Sharif knew that he wanted to join an auditing firm. After completing school, he joined in one of the firms operating in Oman as an intern, and later joined PwC. While in PwC, Al Sharif went on to complete his accounting technician course (AAT) and the ACCA exam.

In Oman, PwC splits its services into Assurance, which is mainly external and internal audit; and Advisory, which includes services such as corporate finance, transaction services, people and change, risk, strategy, internal audit and tax. Al Sharif says that a part of his new responsibility would be to focus on continuing sustainable growth and cementing PwC’s position as the top assurance/advisory firm in the country. According to Al Sharif, the firm understands that their success is connected to the development of Omanis, and as a result PwC has always contributed towards the development of Omanis in several ways. Aside from hiring Omani graduates every year, staff are regularly seconded on a short-term basis of up to nine months to other regional offices. Al Sharif is also proud of the fact that PwC also organises long-term secondments for qualified local staff to overseas offices, in order to provide international exposure and help them gain practical experience. It was on one such secondment to London that Al Sharif was able to prove his mettle.

The firm also elects Omani staff members to high-flyer programmes like the Middle East Falcon Programme and provides educational support for achieving professional qualifications such as ACCA and CPA qualifications.
 


CAREER PROGRESSION
> 1991 – Graduated from Cairo American College
> 1994 – AAT certificate obtained
> 1996 – Completed ACCA exam
> 1997 – Joined PwC and seconded to London office as a Senior Associate
> 1999 – Became full ACCA member
> 2002 – Returned to Oman office as Audit Manager
> 2007 – Audit Director
 

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