Sabeeh Farooqui, Director, Financial & Administrative Services

Sabeeh Farooqui

Director, Financial & Administrative Services

Government of Alberta - Alberta Education

Location
Canada
Education
Diploma, Chartered Accountant
Experience
19 years, 6 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :19 years, 6 months

Director, Financial & Administrative Services at Government of Alberta - Alberta Education
  • Canada
  • My current job since July 2012

The Director is responsible for leading a range of diverse functions within a branch that serves the ministry: Financial Services (which includes contract management, accounts processing, revenue administration) and Administrative Services (which includes records management, accommodations and facilities management). Across these functions, the Director seeks opportunities for enhancements, efficiencies and develops and implements policies, protocols, processes and standards to promote consistency in service.

The position anticipates and mitigates issues that could impede or impact on the ministry’s effective financial and administrative services. The position proactively scans trends across the Government of Alberta for their impact on the ministry, identifies, and as appropriate, initiates strategies and solutions that better meet the vision and goals of the ministry and needs of client groups, and provides advice and direction to senior and executive management on how these components can best meet Ministry and government objectives.

The Director establishes and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders within the ministry and across the GoA in order to ensure that ministry requirements and interests are represented, that established processes are followed, and that projects progress in a timely manner. This position serves as liaison with Service Alberta on service delivery issues and the Office of the Auditor General and Corporate Internal Audit Service on matters relating to financial and administration internal controls.

The position also represents the ministry on ongoing cross-government committees to ensure the ministry’s interests are represented and incorporated into GoA initiatives. These committees set processes and standards that are applied across government.

Manager, Financial Services at Government of Alberta - Alberta Education
  • Canada
  • October 2011 to July 2012

The Manager, Financial Services, is responsible for leading financial services for the entire ministry. This includes overseeing the functions of compliance review, revenue and payables processing and contract processing.

The Manager resolves complex financial issues, develops operational policies and procedures, generates and validates reports, and provides advice and recommendations to executive leaders on financial issues so that the ministry’s finances are managed in a timely and accurate manner. The position is accountable for ensuring compliance with ministry financial reporting deadlines.

The Manager is accountable for the results produced by two financial services teams, and is jointly accountable for the achievement of branch operational and business plan goals.

Senior Financial Consultant at City of Edmonton
  • Canada
  • April 2008 to October 2011

 In-depth project management experience includes business process reviews, policy/procedure documents, environmental scans, tangible capital asset review, environmental contaminated sites, surplus policies, public-private partnerships guideline development, and contract-bid evaluations.
 Significant experience establishing corporate relationships. This involved concerted and focused efforts on breaking barriers in communicating with management and staff at all levels.
 Researched and updated corporate policies and implemented controls around Employee Business Expenses. This included developing and delivering training programs delivered Corporate wide.
 Detailed work within business planning tools, budget overviews, and development of corporate and departmental performance measures.
 Provided support for Corporate Accounting & Reporting as part of year end review processes.

Senior Accountant at KPMG LLP
  • Canada
  • September 2005 to January 2008

 Performed audits and reviews of financial statements including preparing financial statements and notes, financial and systems analysis, corporate and personal tax returns, leadership of field engagement teams, and developing/maintaining relationships with clients.
 Completed Planning, Execution, Completion phases of audits/reviews from a variety of industries including investment sector, manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, non-profit and enterprise owner-managed businesses.
 Completed all internal KPMG Audit/Tax Training updates (Senior, New In Charge, Audit Fundamentals) including SOX documentation requirements. Continuous learning including all CICA relevant handbook/policy updates.
 Gained significant responsibilities as a senior in managing, and assigning duties to staff accountants. Managed, prioritized, and balanced work with multiple clients, meeting all deadlines and identifying areas of additional service.
 Strong working knowledge of CAAT’s, IT perspectives and controls testing, utilizing these methods frequently within audit work.
 Considerable audit experience with Northern (NWT, Nunavut) clients which included training clients on day to day accounting procedures, coordinating inventory count/control processes, and utilizing professional judgment in resolving considerable audit issues.

Staff Auditor (Intern) at Auditor General of Alberta
  • Canada
  • January 2004 to September 2004

 Learned and adapted to the financial auditing process working on AFSC, BSE assistance programs, and completing the majority of the department of Seniors financial and claims audits.
 Gained invaluable experience and management responsibility in planning, executing, and supervising an audit team for the Ministry of Agriculture performance measures audit.
 Managed to successfully complete and effectively balance CASB Module 1 requirements along with multiple office responsibilities.

Internship at Workers Compensation Board Alberta
  • Canada
  • May 2003 to September 2003

Internship position developing skills in budgets, financial analysis, and project management.

Education

Diploma, Chartered Accountant
  • at Chartered Accountant of Canada
  • November 2008

Certified and Practising Chartered Accountant (CA) in Canada after successfully passing all 6 modules and the Uniform Final Examination Board exam.

Bachelor's degree, Accounting
  • at University of Alberta
  • April 2005

Bachelors of Commerce Co-operative Education Degree (BCOMM Co-op) with major in Accounting and minor in Organizational Analysis.

Specialties & Skills

Accounting
Financial Administration
Policy 2FProcedure Development
Team Management
Management

Languages

English
Expert
Urdu
Intermediate

Memberships

Markaz Ul Islam
  • Board of Directors
  • February 2010
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
  • C.A professional
  • November 2008
Institute of Public Administration Canada
  • Member
  • July 2012