CFE Commands Respect While Generating Fraud Awareness

MEMBER PROFILE

Davis Kallukaran, CFE, Founder and Managing Partner
Horwath Mak Ghazali
Sultanate of Oman

Having founded Horwath Mak Ghazali, one of the top five auditing and business advisory firms in the Sultanate of Oman, Davis Kallukaran, CFE, has worked hard to command respect and receive recognition for his hard work. He says “everything depends upon how you package yourself, like any other product – it is personal branding that is crucial for the profession.” Kallukaran shares how being involved in professional organizations locally and internationally helps to develop his personal brand and adds credibility to his organization’s name.

Where were you born and raised?  
I was born in India, in the state of Kerala. I had my early education in my home town of Trissur.

How did you become involved with the ACFE?  
In 1995, I founded the firm Ghazali Mak and Associates in the Sultanate of Oman in association with Mak and Associates from Dubai and Muna Al Ghazali, an Omani National. The firm evolved over the years, and since 2008 it has been a member-firm of Crowe Horwath, a top 10 global accounting network. Horwath Mak Ghazali was continuously engaged by the courts as expert auditors in various cases. These developments aroused my enthusiasm to look into the activities of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. I was awarded the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential in 2006. Due to the inadequate numbers of qualified CFEs in Oman our attempt to establish a chapter did not materialize until this year. The chapter was established on June 7, 2015, and I am proud to be one of the board members.

What are the best opportunities for someone entering into your career? 
I should say that the sky is the limit for people entering into the accounting and auditing professions. Apart from the regular audit, tax and risk advisory services, forensic accounting, corporate finance, management consultancy practices and corporate governance are opening up a plethora of opportunities for professionals. Courts are very much dependent upon forensic professionals to provide expert opinions and accountants are required in every field of business.

What do you wish you had known (but didn’t) when you first contemplated founding the firm?  In my earlier days of practice I never understood the value of international associations. Prior to setting up the firm in Oman, I never ever imagined that a brand value can be strategically developed. A brand is not going to give you any mileage unless you create brand awareness in your local market. The same goes with your qualifications. A highly qualified person will not be effective unless he engages his qualifications effectively and thereby creates value. The local chapters have a great responsibility to create awareness about the contributions that CFEs can bring to any organization.

When you are not working, what types of things do you enjoy doing?  
When I am not working I like to spend time with my wife, Elizabeth, and our children. God willing, we will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary next year. The three boys are all grown up now. I also like reading inspirational books and listening to Hindi Music.

Read Davis' full profile in the Career Center on ACFE.com.