Waqar Ali

Director - Sydney

Waqar Ali is a Director in our Corporate Finance Division in Sydney.

Waqar has worked on a range of complex and high-value transactions that highlight his depth of expertise in financial due diligence. In the logistics sector, he supported a leading global logistics business in its planned acquisition of an Australian operator by helping the client assess key risks, including staff cost assumptions, contractor versus full-time employee classifications, fleet ageing, capital expenditure requirements, and GST considerations on intercompany transactions.

His work ultimately informed the impact on adjusted earnings and net debt, and he provided support on the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). In the engineering and environmental services sector, he assisted a global client with an acquisition by identifying onerous contracts, analysing the adjusted net working capital profile, assessing contract assets and liabilities, and evaluating project-related provisions.

He also reviewed completion margins for ongoing projects, assessed historical loss-making projects, and analysed forecast pipelines by reviewing tender success rates and comparing target versus actual margins, while also providing SPA support and reviewing completion accounts.

Waqar works with a broad range of clients, including large corporate entities, middle market SMEs, regional SMEs, and high net worth individuals. In fast-paced M&A environments, he helps clients challenge their assumptions around deal pricing, understand both downside risks and upside opportunities, and develop strategies to protect and preserve value throughout the transaction lifecycle.

SOLUTIONS Waqar PROVIDES

Transaction Support & Due Diligence
Sale and Purchase Agreement Advisory
Capital Markets and IPO Support Transaction Support & Due Diligence
Sale and Purchase Agreement Advisory
Capital Markets and IPO Support

He brings extensive international experience to his role, having worked in corporate finance across Pakistan, the Middle East, and Australia. In the Middle East he held a senior leadership position as Head of Finance for a private equity-backed industrials business, where he played a key role in preparing the business for an initial public offering (IPO). This diverse background enables him to approach transactions with both a technical and commercial perspective.

Waqar has made a tangible difference in client outcomes through his analytical approach and attention to detail. In one engagement, he identified a material unrecorded expense by reconciling operational reports maintained outside the accounting system with the management accounts. This discovery significantly reshaped the earnings profile of the target business, led to a reassessment of the transaction, and ultimately resulted in the process being placed on hold, preventing his client from overpaying.

He enjoys the dynamic nature of his role, which sits at the intersection of problem solving, commercial decision-making, and rigorous financial analysis. He finds it particularly rewarding to see the direct impact of his work on transactions, influencing negotiations between buyers and sellers and informing post-deal planning. Above all, he values the people aspect of his role, including supporting his team’s development, building trust with clients, and helping make inherently stressful processes more manageable through clear communication and steady guidance.

Waqar is motivated by the unique nature of each engagement, recognising that even businesses within the same industry can present very different challenges. He is particularly driven by the process of identifying the key value drivers in a transaction and translating complex insights into clear, practical messages for clients. He takes a collaborative approach, often working closely with his team to develop hypotheses, test analysis, and refine conclusions to achieve the best possible outcomes. He also embraces the growing role of technology and AI in enhancing the depth and efficiency of financial due diligence.

Outside of work, Waqar enjoys playing snooker on weekends, which allows him to stay competitive while also providing a mental reset and an opportunity to focus on something entirely different.