Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Al Askari

Accomplishments:
• Head-hunted to provide on-going financial executive leadership for a Group of 8 companies. Supported exciting transformation, expansion and modernization of the Group, which is region's most recognizable, valued and market leading business.
• Administered preparation andpresentation of the annual budget to the Board of Directors.
• Member of RAC Risk Assessment Committee.
• Key Member of the firm’s Executive Leadership Team, dexterously provided financial vision consistent with the strategic plan and direction of the Group.
• Assisted the CFO in its vital role in MIS and Board Reporting. As well as driving financial excellence and improvement of financial planning and analysis capabilities.
• Successfully re-structured the corporate finance, led transformation to a more efficient working capital structure.
• Participated in ERP implementation from design to go in-live (twice).

Responsibilities:
• Commanding/ Controlling company’s finance function, ensuring company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Establishing complete corporate finance architecture, creating financial blueprint and aiding in achieving Group’s robust goals.
• Presiding overday-to-day operations of financial department/ staff. Overseeing all company accounts and investments, accounting function, evaluating and managing risk, enforcingregulatory compliance, publishing financial statements, analyzing financial data, monitoring expenditure and forecasting revenue.
• Aiding organization in maintaining positive revenue and financial growth, formulating sound financial strategies, implementing proper internal controls, project controls, achieving organizational targets, and developing financial plans that support organizational strategy.
• Streamlining accounting functions and operations. Creating monthly and annual reports to identify results, trends, and financial forecasts.
• Annual budget process owner, establishing annual financial budgets, yearly projections plan and monthly reforecast.
• Partnering with Regional GMs as well as local CPAs to ensure Company fulfillment of local statutory requirements such as Branch Financial Audits, Filing VAT returns & other Tax /Zakat matters.
• Superintending a dynamic team of finance professionals. Building human capital capability, strong talent pools and leadership teams to drive growth, innovation & continuous improvement across the Group.

Massad FMCG Company/ Food retailers/ Exclusive agents for high-end brands - KIRI, Power Horse, Holsten, Malizia ... and Raad FMCG Company, Exclusive agents for Mazola, SC. Johnson, Perrier

Accomplishments:
• Acted as a value-added business partner & challenger to the Senior Management in formulating the company's future direction and supporting tactical initiatives.
• Produced monthly management accounts packs and statistics including each department and subsidiary's financial & operational performance analysisfor CEO & CFO to support business planning, supply chain management.
• Efficaciously handled challenging responsibilities which are unique to the FMCG industry - working around maximizing the gross margin by focusing on decreasing the liquidation and co-op returns.

Responsibilities:
• Provided fiscal leadership of finance & accounting, external reporting, tax, treasury, HR & Administration, IT & MIS, and inventory management functions.
• Served as genuine peer - on all the key issues on the board agenda-planning, budgeting, reporting financial data or whether that be the game-changing implications of technology and digital innovation, scrutiny of corporate culture and leadership, investor expectations and long-term corporate performance.
• Subject Matter Expert in areas of Financial Reporting in compliance with IFRS.
• Supervised day-to-day accounting function of the company, preparedCAPEX & OPEX budgets, forecasts, latest estimates, etc.
• Ownership for preparation and review of consolidated & standalone financial statements, Balance sheets, cash flow, and changes in Owner’s Equities reports to the management.
• Championed production and delivery of the intrinsic financial business plan, including but not exclusive to, profit, KPIs, capital and financial analysis. Tracked performance of Operational units, reported to management and stakeholders, and provided advice concerning the company and future business decisions.
• Created Account Receivable Monitoring System to decrease the collection days and improve the financial cycle.
• Re-engineered warehouse System Control, thus enabled mitigating damage/shortage by monitoring the inventory turnover to decrease the inventory-days and improve company liquidity.

Accomplishments:
• Recognized for contributing to data-driven business decisions/ offering game-changing insights for resolving challenges - achieving positive operational results, and leading teams in identifying key performance indicators.
• Built automated and scalable processes, reporting and systems to drive process improvement and support Group’s strategic direction.

Responsibilities:
• Providedanalytical support to production and sales team in business/sales planning, supply chain management, and materials planning production.
• Analyzed financial information detailing assets, liabilities and capital & costs, thus provided insight into the profitability and operational efficiency of the company to assess its financial health and future prospects.
• Monitored internal control system and provided effective financial controls for the outlets in line with the internal audit of the company.
• Brains and brawn behind driving continual and sustainable improvement philosophy through consistent exhibit and initiation of Operational Excellence to reduce costs and propel productivity.
• Drove financial excellence and improvement of financial planning and analysis capabilities across Group entities. Controlled expenditures and engaged in ongoing cost reduction analyses in all areas of the company.

Accomplishments:
• Led audit engagements, protected organization assets by planning and completing audits. Improved controls by recommending changes in operational and financial policies and practices. Reported to the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:
• Established and reviewed the Business Understanding Document (BUD) and Process Analysis Documents (PAD).
• Generated audit reports for dissemination to management. Ensured continuous periodical reporting to management about non-compliance of existing system, weaknesses found and suggesting.
• Identifiedaudit issues andoffered strategic recommendations for areas of improvement, developed reports documenting findings, and followed up onrecommendations to ensure suggestions are implemented.
• Liaised with External Auditors and facilitate their job with required information.

Previous Professional Experiences:

• October 2007 - November 2008Finance Manager, Al-Awlawiya Holding (467 employments) 10 subsidiarieswww.al-awlawiya.com
• December 2005- October 2007: Finance Manager, Kefan Companies Group www.kefan-optics.com
• June 1999 - December 2005: Chief Accountant, KEFAN Optics K.S.C.C
• December 1998 - June 1999: Senior Accountant, 4GT Computer Co. W.L.L
• July 1995 - November 1998: Accountant, Ali Abu TalebReal-Estate & Contracting