Sinan Thrives in an International Environment
Sinan Al-Janabi is a State Authorized Public Accountant at Forvis Mazars, and especially enjoys working in an international environment. He is now set to spend several months working in Barcelona.
“We face a wide range of challenges” “Working with international companies brings both technical challenges and valuable insight into many different cultures,” says Sinan Al-Janabi, a State Authorized Public Accountant at Forvis Mazars. He serves clients from a variety of countries and will soon be heading to Barcelona to grow both professionally and personally. |
As a young man, Sinan dreamed of becoming a police officer, truck driver, personal trainer, and lawyer. In the end, it was his father, who is an accountant, who encouraged Sinan to follow in his footsteps.
| “I started my studies and really enjoyed them. Not just the numbers, but also the IT aspects of the field, and how the systems work together and interconnect,” he explains. |
Fun with Tax: Navigating Complex Challenges in a Global Market
At Forvis Mazars, Sinan is part of a global network of 40,000 employees across more than 100 countries, with nearly 100 colleagues based in Norway, split between Oslo and Bergen. He has his office on Majorstua in Oslo, working alongside teams in audit, accounting, legal services, tax, and financial advisory.
His clients come from countries including the Netherlands, the USA, Germany, and Sweden. They vary in size and include retail chains, IT consultants, and transportation companies.
“Some clients are foreign and need assistance with their operations in Norway, while others are Norwegian companies seeking advice on matters abroad. It’s both exciting and varied – and often challenging. Fortunately, we have a strong professional environment and support each other. Personally, I spend a lot of time working on tax returns and providing the best advice to our clients. Not everyone knows how enjoyable tax work can actually be,” Sinan says with a smile. “In addition, I work extensively with payroll, both hands-on and advisory. New questions constantly arise, and the goal is always to find the best and most profitable solutions,” he adds. |
Almost No Limits
Those who start at Forvis Mazars straight from school begin as Associates and progress to Senior Associates once they have gained sufficient experience. Sinan joined the company two and a half years ago as a Manager and is responsible for quality assuring others’ work and supporting colleagues in their daily tasks.
| “I really enjoy that responsibility. Everyone here is committed to doing their best for both clients and colleagues. We are known for being an inclusive workplace, with strong relationships to both clients and employees,” he says. |
Sinan has ambitions to advance within the company, and perhaps one day his dream of partnership will become a reality!
| “It is motivating to be able to continue developing, to take on more responsibility, greater professional challenges, and higher compensation. But it’s also about demonstrating that you are ready for it. If you are ambitious, there are almost no limits to the opportunities you can achieve,” he says. |
Moving to Barcelona
Forvis Mazars receives applications from both experienced auditors and lawyers, as well as recent graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
“To thrive here, you need to be open-minded and fearless, ready to tackle a variety of challenges. The pace can be fast and deadlines demanding, so you should also be independent, curious, and skilled at communicating — both with clients and colleagues,” says Sinan, who is also very pleased with the social environment at work.
“There’s always something happening here – Friday after-work drinks, summer parties, and Christmas dinners. We recently participated in the Holmenkollen Relay. A couple of years ago, the entire office went to Paris, and this autumn we’re heading to Geilo together with the Bergen office for both professional and social development. I’m already looking forward to it – there’s a culture here where people genuinely wish each other well.”
A New Chapter Awaits. Sinan is about to embark on a new chapter, working at Forvis Mazars’ office in Barcelona for four months. Forvis Mazars will cover his accommodation expenses during the stay.
“One of the advantages of being part of a large international company is that opportunities like this exist. I applied and was invited for an interview, where I got to share my motivation. Now, I will be working alongside skilled colleagues in Spain, assisting international clients, and collaborating with colleagues from various countries within Forvis Mazars. I’m really looking forward to it, and I believe it will be both educational and rewarding. I don’t know anyone there and don’t speak the language, so it will be a challenge—but it’s a challenge I’m excited about,” Sinan says.
Through this international assignment in Barcelona, he aims to further develop his expertise in cross-disciplinary projects and global collaboration.
We look forward to following his journey—a great example of how Forvis Mazars invests in employee growth and mobility.
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