Participant – Audit
Dr. Imad Kutum is a Senior Advisor and Tax Consultant at Farahat & Co., with more than 20 years of experience in business management consulting, accounting, risk advisory, and finance transformation. His work across Canada, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UK has given him a strong international perspective on financial governance, risk prioritization, and executive decision-making.
Registrations & roles
Regulated appointments
Audit & Assurance – UAE and Canada
Background
Professional overview
He holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Stirling in Scotland, an MBA from Emporia State University in the United States, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois, USA. In addition to advisory work, he has a strong academic and research background, including service as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Jordan and publication of peer-reviewed research on business risk audit methodology and financial stability.
His work focuses on helping boards and executive teams strengthen internal controls, improve governance structures, and implement effective remediation frameworks. His approach emphasizes clarity, measurable outcomes, and financial reporting that can withstand high levels of professional and regulatory scrutiny.
With broad experience across multiple jurisdictions, Dr. Imad Kutum has advised boards, senior executives, and business owners on risk management, governance, tax planning, and finance transformation. His work supports organizations that need stronger internal controls, better policy alignment, and more effective financial oversight in changing regulatory and commercial environments.
He has also worked on research-led and practice-based engagements involving business risk audit, financial stability, stakeholder reporting, and remediation planning. His work is valued for combining technical expertise, academic depth, and practical advisory insight.
Credentials
Qualifications & certifications
- PhD in Accounting – University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
- MBA – Emporia State University, Kansas, USA
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Illinois, USA
- Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) – AICPA, USA
- Fellow – Arab Society of Certified Accountants
What they do
Areas of expertise
01Risk Advisory and Internal Controls
Dr. Imad Kutum works with boards and executive teams to identify organizational risks and design enterprise risk and control frameworks that support long-term stability. His work includes governance improvement, policy development, and internal standard alignment with international best practices.
He also advises on finance transformation initiatives that help organizations improve system performance, strengthen reporting quality, and maintain compliance in increasingly demanding environments.
02Audit and Special Investigations
He has experience managing special-purpose reviews and investigations where focused analysis is required to address regulatory, operational, or stakeholder concerns. His work includes inventory audit, business risk audit methodology, and analytical review across medium and large organizations.
His reporting supports senior stakeholders by presenting technical findings in a clear manner that can assist with strategic and operational decision-making.
03Tax and Management Consulting
Dr. Imad Kutum provides tax consultancy support to both corporate and individual clients across multiple jurisdictions. His work helps clients navigate tax planning, compliance, and reporting requirements while aligning financial strategy with broader business objectives.
He also advises business owners and companies on planning, forecasting, market entry, and expansion, particularly in relation to Canada and the Middle East. His experience also includes controllership support and training services aimed at improving the financial leadership capabilities of internal teams.
Track record
Key experience
Board-level enterprise risk advisory and control design
Governance frameworks and policy remediation programs
Special-purpose reviews and regulatory investigations
Inventory audit and business risk audit methodology
Multi-jurisdiction corporate and personal tax consulting
Business planning, forecasting, and market expansion advisory
Finance transformation and stakeholder reporting improvement
Controllership support and internal team training
Case study
Governance Gap Reduction Through Business Risk Audit
In a research-supported engagement, a group of non-Big-4 companies needed a practical way to bridge the gap between traditional audit practices and modern business risk audit approaches. A significant weakness existed in how voluntary risk disclosures were identified and reported, particularly in the banking sector, creating concern over long-term viability and profitability.
Drawing on his PhD research in business risk audit methodology, Dr. Imad Kutum developed a practical framework for identifying and evaluating voluntary risk disclosures. The methodology incorporated board-related factors such as board size, independence, and expertise, and linked them to firm performance and financial reporting quality. Remediation measures were then designed to address credit risk exposure and improve consistency in financial ratio reporting.
The result was a scalable governance model that strengthened the participating firms’ ability to anticipate financial distress and improve credit risk management. Risk disclosure became more effectively integrated into financial reporting, supporting stronger board accountability, better indicators of financial soundness, and a more efficient management model without compromising regulatory discipline.
How they work
Professional approach
Dr. Imad Kutum’s professional approach is built on clarity, measurable improvement, and strong governance discipline. His work focuses on helping organizations strengthen internal controls, improve risk visibility, and implement practical frameworks that support decision-making at board and executive level.
Whether the engagement involves risk advisory, governance enhancement, tax planning, or finance transformation, the objective remains to provide structured insight and practical solutions that improve accountability, performance, and long-term resilience.
At a glance
Summary
| Area of focus | Scope | Key service |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Advisory | Board-Level | Enterprise Risk and Control Frameworks |
| Governance | Global Standards | Policy Design and Remediation |
| Tax Consultancy | Multi-Jurisdiction | Corporate and Personal Tax Planning |
| Finance Transformation | Executive | Stakeholder Reporting and Assurance |
Profile details
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