DR. OUSSAMA TABBARA, DBA, CPA

Dr. Oussama Tabbara is the Founder and Chairman & Managing Director, and Precedent Partner of UTC International (“UTCINTL”) network of practicing firms of auditors, business advisors, and consultants, which has a proud history of more than half a century.

The UTCINTL network of firms operates from 17 modern offices in 14 principal cities of the Middle East Region and has more than 500 qualified and experienced professionals in employment.

Since the founding of his practice more than half a century ago in Beirut, Lebanon, (at present 3 offices), Dr. Oussama has demonstrated an unrivalled knowledge of the legal, economic, and business environment of the Middle East Region. He holds the Chartered Accountant - Registration No. 1, in Saudi Arabia. With his vision, insights, and innovative ideas, the UTCINTL network of professional practice firms, since that time, had been operationalized progressively in other territories, and presently functions in Saudi Arabia (4 offices), United Arab Emirates (3 offices), Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Syria (3 offices), and Yemen. UTCINTL’s practice firms are legally independent members of UTC International [www.utcintl.com]

Dr. Oussama is a pioneer and visionary in accounting and investment finance consulting in the Middle East Region. His innovative ideas and business acumen have made him one of the most knowledgeable and widely sought after management and financial consultants in the Region. His professional competency was acquired not just through his advisory role, but also by the meticulousness of his implementation strategies evident from his long and successful track record. Through his professional association with international standard setters [World Standard Setters and International Forum of Accounting Standard Setters (IFASS) previously known as the National Standard Setters (NSS)] and the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting [ISAR] he continues to interact and exchange ideas with his counterparts in the international arena with respect to the development of the profession.

Dr. Oussama regularly contributes articles of technical interest to professional journals and the financial press. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker at public seminars and conferences, and is often invited to moderate the interactive sessions of these events.

• PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION, ACCREDITATIONS, & APPRECIATION

  Dr. Oussama has been accorded recognition, accreditations, and appreciation from Governments, public institutions, and professional bodies for UTCINTL's professional work and his contribution to professional practice performance.

  
  • Lebanon: The Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants [LACPA], the sole organization representing the CPA profession in Lebanon, honoured Dr. Oussama by presenting him with the LACPA Shield of Appreciation in recognition of his professional contribution in Lebanon;
  • Saudi Arabia: UTCINTL accredited by the Commercial Banks as Category A Auditors;
  • United Arab Emirates: The Deputy Minister of Economy invited Dr. Oussama, because of his highly prestigious status and credibility in the profession, to submit a report with his advice and recommendations with respect to all international professional accounting bodies whose certificates ought to be accredited at the Ministry for the purpose of registration and licensing of accountants in public practice in the United Arab Emirates. His recommendations were adopted and implemented by the Ministry of Economy;
  • United Arab Emirates: At the request of the UAE Accountants and Auditors Association [UAEAAA], pursuant to its Board of Directors decision, Dr. Oussama submitted his diagnostic study report containing recommendations for enhancing the professional standing of the UAEAAA professional body to be as good as the leading professional accounting bodies in the developed economies, in the short- and medium-terms, and for monitoring UAEAAA’s progress towards its desired results;
  • United Arab Emirates: The UAE Accountants and Auditors Association [UAEAAA] has awarded Dr. Oussama Tabbara with a Shield of Honor for his professional contribution.
  • Jordan: Dr. Oussama was presented with Shield of Appreciation of the Arab Society of Certified Accountants [ASCA], the institution administering globally recognized educational and examination qualification programs, for his contribution to the accountancy profession in the Arab World.
  • The Arab League [Cairo, Egypt]: The Union of the Arab Accountants and Auditors [AAA] which represents 22 Arab countries, forming the Arab League, by decision of its Board of Directors, elected Dr. Oussama, a Life Honorary Member, in recognition of his being amongst the prominent and intellectual persons who have contributed tremendously and having a high profile in the field of professional public accounting services in the Arab world. The AAA’s Shield of Appreciation was presented to him to commemorate that recognition.

• AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  [a] Audit and Continuous Assurance Services; [b] Taxation Services; [c] Management Consulting; [d] Consulting - Financial Advisory; [e] Consulting - Business Advisory.

• INDUSTRY SPECIALIZATIONS

  [a] Manufacturing; [b] Trading & Retail; [c] Property Development & Real Estate; [d] Information and Communications Technology; [e] Public utilities; [f] Airline Operations & Management, and Travel Agencies; [g] Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure sectors; [h] Healthcare; [i] Agriculture - Fresh Fruit sector; [j] Financial Services & Insurance; [k] Holding Investments and brokerage; [l] High net worth entities and family owned businesses; [m] Free Trade Zones - ‘One-stop’ Shop Professional Services; [n] Professional Education and Training.

• QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  
  • Master’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut [AUB];
  • Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the International University, Vienna, Austria;
  • Member/Former Vice President of the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants [LACPA] (www.lacpa.org.lb);
  • Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, and Fellow of the Arab Society of Certified Accountants [ASCA] (www.ascasociety.org);
  • Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee of ASCA for Lebanon;
  • Co-founder and Life Honorary Member of the Union of Arab Accountants and Auditors;
  • Member of the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants [SOCPA] (www.socpa.org.sa);
  • Member of the Saudi Accounting Association [SAA];
  • Member of the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] Commercial Arbitration Centre nominated by the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (www.gcac.biz);
  • Recognized Expert in Accounting in the GCC;
  • Expert to the Lebanese Courts in Accounting;
  • Active member of the World Standard-Setters [WSS] of the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB] (www.iasb.org);
  • Active member of the International Forum Accounting Standard Setters (IFASS) previously known as the National Standard Setters (NSS) [in cooperation with the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB];
  • Representative of the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting [ISAR] (www.unctad.org/isar);
  • One of the four co-founders of the Arab Coalition of Services Industries (ACSI) at the Global Services Forum, a pre-event to UNCTAD XIII held in Doha, Qatar, on April 19, 2012. ACSI is an organisation aimed at fostering cooperation on service sector policy in the Arab Region.
  • Former Member of the Board of Directors of Nexia International and Former Chairman of Nexia Middle East and Africa [Nexia MEA] for more than 22 years, (www.nexia.com);
  • Board member, Vice President, and Co-founder of the Gulf Venture Capital Association [GVCA] (www.gulfvca.org);
  • Board member, Vice President, and Co-founder of the Arabian Knowledge Economy Association [AKEA] (www.akea-me.com);
  • Member of the Board of Directors of Licensing Executives Society - Arab Countries (www.lesarab.org);
  • Past Executive President of the Lebanese International Business Council [LIBC] (www.libc.net).

• LANGUAGE FLUENCY
  Dr. Oussama speaks fluently Arabic [native], English, and French.
• CONTACT DETAILS
  Position in UTCINTL Team: Precedent Partner/Chief Executive Officer.
  Email: otabbara@utcintl.com