Abdur Rahim Ghulam Nabi , Senior Advisor to Deputy CEO, Finance & Commercial Division

Abdur Rahim Ghulam Nabi

Senior Advisor to Deputy CEO, Finance & Commercial Division

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority

Location
United Arab Emirates
Education
Diploma, Accounts Payable
Experience
28 years, 11 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :28 years, 11 months

Senior Advisor to Deputy CEO, Finance & Commercial Division at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since June 2015

•Providing high level strategic and specialist advise to the Deputy CEO on the overall direction and functions of Sales, Marketing and Finance to ensure the delivery of strategic business objectives
•Analysing and critiquing entity plans, performance levels, business case approvals and giving feedback to Deputy CEO where other departments have a lead role
•Delivering strategic and technical advice on corporate investments, finance decisions and results, commercial transactions, capital structure, cost initiatives, accounting, internal controls, risk, tax and system implementations
•Conducting research, undertaking special projects, publishing reports and maintaining an up to date knowledge of international, regional and local economic conditions, industry trends and competition, and recommending courses of action based on study findings
•Liaising and negotiating with consultants, lawyers, bankers, partners and customers to achieve business objectives
•Advisory member of steering and project committees, teams and taskforces for an assortment of corporate level initiatives
Key Achievements:
• Completed “Innovation Strategy Study” with Booz, Allen & Hamilton as Sub Lead
•Delivered advisory support for horizontal expansion study with AT Kearney as Steering Committee Member
•Provided advisory support for Service Pricing Study & Competitor Analysis with Dun and Bradsheet
•Supported the Islamic Economy Initiative with Thompson Reuters and Saudi Think Tank
•Delivered significant advice and support for Crowdsourcing Innovation Challenge in Milan 2015 Expo

Assistant Director, Accounting at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • May 2013 to June 2015

Job Responsibilities, same as Senior Manager, Accounting. Key Achievements are listed below:
•Conducted project feasibilities for AED 300M for multiple real estate developments
•Managed funds portfolio in excess of AED 750M at more than optimal returns
•Arranged debt financing at multiple occasions in excess of AED 1B
•Successfully concluded property revaluation resulting in valuation gains in excess of AED 2B
•Led cost optimization study with Jones Lang LaSalle to identify, quantify and prioritize saving opportunities, resulting in potential savings in excess of AED 4 Million
•Authored criteria for registration of audit firms which bought in improved due diligence and resulted in generating revue for more than AED 1 Million
•Rendered business support for successful completion of Application Process and Controls Review, Data Integrity Review and Segregation of Duty Review in conjunction with Deloitte Consulting
•Re-engineered the procure to pay process - resulting in 70 per cent increase in cycle efficiency
•Built profitability per building initiative including allocating cost to identify saving opportunities and derive profitability
•Team leader for E-Payment Taskforce (self-structured study and presentation to board)
•Envisaged doubtful debts profiling and created a structured approach for engaging bad debt collection agency
•Supervised encumbrance accounting project leading to absolute budgetary controls and reduced process redundancy
•Introduced multi-migration from Windows Server to Oracle Linux Platform and Oracle upgrade from 12.0.3 to 12.1.6
•Authored the budgeting, financial statement, rationalization, asset valuation, fixed asset, doubtful debts & write off, credit card usage, customer & supplier refunds and post-dated cheques policy
•Advisory support for World Free Zone Organization (Dubai Government Initiative) including formation, budgeting, funding, resourcing and operations

Senior Manager, Accounting at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • November 2009 to May 2013

•Setting and monitoring financial goals, key performance indicators, operational performance indicators, strategic initiatives, risk scenarios and business plans
•Assisting in the development of annual and long-range plans linking business strategies to operational plans and the expected range of financial results
•Supervising debt management function and organizing efficient financing strategies to ensure continued sourcing of funds at the most attractive rates, within given constraints to meet long term obligations
•Ensuring efficient allocation of cash resources by supervising activities related to placement of funds with optimal returns and leveraging funds for future growth activities
•Developing rolling forecasts for management, including cash flow forecasts, profit & loss projections, risk and return analysis, and sensitivity analysis for the short and long term
•Publishing monthly management accounts and present business results with commentary to the board
•Managing the annual budget cycle for timely deployment and facilitation of business continuity
•Liaising with external auditors and managing the audit cycle to deliver unqualified financial statements
•Strengthening controls and governance to meet multi-jurisdictional reporting requirements including those of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (parent) and various auditing parties
•Identifying talents, development needs and motivators, balances strategic perspective, delegation skills and recognition with transparent performance management to empower colleagues, and cross-trains staff to promote their development and ensure scalable resourcing
•Authoring job descriptions, business process maps, financial and non-financial authority matrix, and policies
•Conducting benchmarking visits with partners, documenting and actioning recommendations
•Active member of Appeals Committee and presenter to Corporate Performance Committee

Financial Operations Manager at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2007 to October 2009

•Responsible for the accounts receivables function, monitoring all cash inflow through efficient reporting controls and timely escalation across relevant channels
•Monitoring receivables via ageing analysis, initialising strategies and implementing process modifications to ensure targeted collections
•Managing the accounts payable function, ensuring the organisation’s vendors are paid in a timely and efficient manner in compliance with contractual terms
•Handling the payroll function including overseeing the employment of systems and controls to facilitate effective payment, monitoring, updating and cost recording
•Reviewing and approving all daily and monthly reconciliations as prepared by the payables and receivable operations
•Developing and implementing strategies to improve the accuracy of liabilities (payables), assets (receivables) and financial statements of DAFZA

Key Achievements:
•Managed an annual financial operations transactions portfolio of AED 550M
•Implemented Oracle financials inside five months; an achievement appreciated by all levels and became a stepping stone for future efforts
•Managed financial affairs of Dubai Silicon Oasis & Dubai Aerospace until migration into separate entities

Accounts Officer at Dubai Aiport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates
  • January 2006 to March 2007

Supervise Receivable, Payables and Payroll Operations
Develop accurate cash flow projections and ensure optimum cash levels
Review & approve month end liabilities & accruals
Review receivables and payables aging reports and take appropriate action
Prepare schedules for control accounts for year end finalization
Reconcile billing data received via CRM interface to Financial Package
Approve reconciliations & take corrective action
Resolve vendor and customer issues in a professional and timely manner

Accounts Payable Supervisor at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates
  • July 2004 to December 2005

Prepare, draft and participate in setting Finance sections goals, key performance indicators and action plan.
Manage the entire Accounts Payable domain
Reconcile post dated cheques and trace cross-border remittances.
Manage and follow-up a 100 assigned customers
Control & counter sign daily collection and petty cash balancing.
Prepare and Maintain Budgeting Standards
Finalize the Annual Budget and the Final Accounts for DAFZA.
Reviewing the quarterly expense Vs budget reports for all the departments.

Accountant at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
  • United Arab Emirates
  • July 2002 to June 2004

Reconciled and banked daily collection.
Raised customer invoices for rent, license and all other services.
Prepared and audited operational, staff, capital & construction payments.
Prepared petty cash vouchers, disbursed cash & reconciled petty cash float.
Forecasted and provided monthly expense provisions for reporting.
Formed and integral part of the year end finalization team.
Assisted all the departments in preparing their annual budget plan.
Bank and loan reconciliation for DAFZA.

Processing Specialist at Emirates Bank International
  • United Arab Emirates
  • January 2001 to June 2002

Custodian for Safe, Systems and Servers @ Central Back Office Operations.
Supervised & Reconciled Inward, Outward, External Clearing at Central operations (Minimum Average volume of 10000 cheques/day)
Signature verification & credit vouchers verification of financial transactions
Reconciled inter-group, branch, suspense and control accounts.
Supervised the take over of post-dated cheques from the Loan Administration Department (Approx 180, 000 PDC’s).
Key Team Member - Networked Data Processing Units Implementation
Special dividend and bulk salary projects with the Head Office.
Special signature capture and retrieval project.
Tabulated monthly statistics for all territories to the senior management.
Managed operational, branch and customer affairs with all the 30 branches of Emirates Bank International and Middle East Bank.

Operations Clerk at Emirates Bank International
  • United Arab Emirates
  • January 1996 to December 2000

Handled Inward, Outward, External Clearing & Cheque returns
Consolidated and reconciled daily position.
Encoded cheques in accordance with central bank standards.
Statistical analysis of centralized operations
Special Assignments for data processing unit
Key Team Member - MeBank Launch
Key Team Member - Study & Implementation of Branch Automation System.
Assisted supervisors in resolving queries of both external and internal customers.

Part Time Financial Consultant at HELPERS LLC
  • United Arab Emirates
  • December 1995 to December 1995

Analyzed Free & Utilized Hours for 100 manpower
Reviewed procedure and controls for petty cash, expenses and payments.
Reviewed procedure and controls for cash collection and banking.
Reviewed bank guarantees and employee records.
Reviewed systems controls and reporting standards.

Part Time Strategic and Financial Consultant at Steel Craft LLC
  • United Arab Emirates
  • November 1995 to November 1995

Initiated the formulation of vision, mission, objectives and Total Quality Approach.
Conducted a profitability analysis from the inception of operations.
Analyzed Sales Statistics and Contribution of Sales Team
Analyzed non-moving stock and created stock-movement summary.
Analyzed the cash flow position of the company
Devised a strategy for non-moving stock

Education

Diploma, Accounts Payable
  • at APM, Institute of Financial and Management, USA
  • November 2014

Completed a professional certification through the Institute of Finance and Management n USA. Earned the "Accredited Payables Manager" Certification title.

Diploma, Accounting
  • at CMA, Institute of Management Accountants, USA
  • January 2008

Completed my professional certification and became Certified Management Accountant from the Institute of Managements Accountants in USA

Diploma, Finance
  • at CFM - Institute of Management Accountants, USA
  • January 2008

Completed my professional certification and became Certified Financial Manager from the Institute of Managements Accountants in USA

Master's degree, FINANCE
  • at University of Leicester - London
  • January 2005

Dissertation Title: Can DAFZA enhance shareholder value by diversifying into Residential Real Estate Development?

Bachelor's degree, FINANCE
  • at Baker College - Michigan USA
  • August 1999

GPA = 3.97

Diploma, Accounts and Economics
  • at Univerity of London
  • June 1996

Completed my A' Levels from St Mary's Catholic High School.

High school or equivalent, Business
  • at Univerity of Cambridge
  • June 1995

Topped in the Commerce batch of IGCSE Examinations in 1995 and attained an International Certificate of Education with Distinction. Photograph in News Papers

Specialties & Skills

Accounting
Data Processing
Key Performance Indicators
Action Planning
MS Word

Languages

English
Expert
Urdu
Expert
Persian
Beginner

Memberships

Association of MBA's
  • MBA body in the UK
  • January 2005
Institute of Management Accountants - USA
  • Professional Body
  • September 2006