In 1945, Ali joined the British government and became first Indian to have appointed as Finance adviser to Secretary of State for War Percy James Grigg.
Government of India: P. J. Grigg, Sir Nripendra Nath Sircar, J. W. Bhore, Harry Graham Haig, Sir Frank Noyce, P Raghavendra Rau, Lancelot Graham, Girija Shankar Bajpai, G. R. F. Tottenham, H. A. F. Metcalfe, S. P. Varma, K. Sanjiva Row, T. Rayan, A. G. Clow, C. W. Gwynne, J. C. Nixon, Tin Tut, N. R. Pillai, J. W. L. Megaw, S. N. Roy, T. Sloan, A. F. R. Lumby, A. J. Raisman, E. W. Perry, W. L. Scott
P. J. Grigg | Simon Grigg | Stevan Eldred-Grigg | Edward Grigg | Arthur Grigg |