Ahmed Zahri

Currently I'm playing a key role in transformation of the Group, which consist of 16 branches, expanded in Middle East, North Africa, East Asia, & South Asia

NBJ Group is a Diversified Conglomerate mainly focused on manufacturing, distribution, trading, real estate, construction, and strategic investments. The Group has subsidiaries in GCC (Qatar, UAE & Oman) and Europe (France)

Responsibilities & Accomplishments:

• Financial Planning and Analysis: Create and oversee financial forecasts, plans, and budgets. Analyze financial data to offer senior management insights and suggestions for strategic planning and decision-making.
• Financial Reporting: Create and deliver financial reports that are accurate, timely, and compliant with IFRS. These reports include income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and other pertinent financial indicators.
• Risk Management: Identify and evaluate financial risks that might affect the performance of the organization and create mitigation methods. This might include credit risk, interest rate risk, and currency risk, among others.
• Cash Flow Management: Keep an eye on the company's cash flow and working capital to make sure it has enough liquid assets to cover both its operational demands and financial commitments.
• Budget & Budgetary Control: Implemented group budget and budgetary control mechanism including periodic reviews with senior management.
• Cost Control: Adopt cost-cutting techniques to reduce costs and increase revenue without sacrificing quality.
• Financial Strategy: Work together with senior leadership to create long-term financial plans that are in line with the objectives of the organization.
• Investment Analysis: Assess potential investments, mergers, and acquisitions. Evaluate proposed projects' financial feasibility and conduct financial due diligence. Coordinating with local and international financial institutions such as Citi, Julius Bar, Credit Suisse for the project funding requirements
• Compliance and Regulations: To ensure that the business complies with all applicable laws, rules, and accounting requirements, and keeps up to date on these matters.
• Team Management: Direct and guide the financial teams, offering direction and assistance in accomplishing departmental and organizational objectives.
• Performance Evaluation: Create benchmarks and key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge how well certain projects or business units are performing financially.
• Financial Systems and Controls: Establish and maintain reliable internal financial controls and financial systems to protect firm assets and guarantee accurate financial recoding.
• Auditing: Coordinate with internal and external auditors (Big Four) during financial audits and execute appropriate modifications based on audit recommendations.
• Stakeholder Communication: Inform key audiences, such as the board of directors, investors, and the senior leadership, of financial information and performance updates.
• Strategic Financial Decision Making: Work with other departments to share financial knowledge and assist organizational decision-making processes.
• Business Analysis: To find opportunities for business development and improvement, analyze financial data, market trends, and industry benchmarks.
• Digitalization: Assembled the team that oversaw the rollout of SAP Hana throughout all business sectors and group entities, as well as the transfer of data to cloud servers.

AG MELCO is a joint venture between Al Ghurair (AG) UAE & Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) Japan, which offers design, sales, installation, maintenance and modernization solutions for elevators, escalators, moving walks and dumbwaiters. Corporate Headquarters in Dubai, UAE and expanding operations in Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia, South Asia and Africa and Oceanic, with major landmark projects in all regions.

Responsibilities & Accomplishments

• Developed the financial strategy in line with Country Business Plan.
• Structured/ disciplined day to day activities related to financial & management accounting, and tax planning.
• Supported the Management with the preparation of monthly and annual financial plans and budgets.
• Supervision of functional budgets and provide insights into the actuals and analysis as to how the same could be efficiently used.
• Take initiatives on efficient treasury management and working capital management by coordinating with financial institutions, suppliers and customers

Magenta is engaged in processing and marketing a range of frozen foods in the Middle Eastern Market for last 25 years. The distribution network across Middle East has been effectively established and the brand ‘DELSEA’ is one of the major players in the Middle East Food Service Premium Segment.

Responsibilities & Accomplishments:

• Preparation, execution and supervision of the group business plan and financial strategy in line with the group vision.
• Coordination of day-to-day activities related to financial & management accounting, consolidation of financial statements (monthly, quarterly and annually) and tax planning (esp. VAT)
• Support the Management with the preparation of monthly and annual financial plans and budgets.
• Supervision of functional budgets and provide insights into the actuals and analysis as to how the same could be efficiently used.
• Participate in external audits for implementing internal controls and various process improvement initiatives
• Maintain transparency over the financial performance and position to the shareholders, management and HODs while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Take initiatives on efficient treasury management and working capital management by coordinating with financial institutions, suppliers and customers
• Maximize shareholder interest and ROCE.
• Develop a mechanism to early detect financial red flags in all functional areas and take timely corrective actions to avoid losses.

Bairaha Group is a Group of Companies comprising over 16 affiliates, and its holding company Bairaha Farms PLC is listed in Colombo Stock Exchange. Group is affiliated with Cobb Vantress Inc. USA, is a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc. USA. Group is accredited with ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP and A- & P2 Corporate Credit Rating. In 2010 Bairaha Farms PLC was awarded as ‘Best Under a Billion’ by Forbes Asia.

Accomplishments:

• Played key role in streamlining internal & external audit processes, group funding/ group insurance requirements
• Distinguished for accomplishing highest group profitability figures & market capitalization
• Rated high for expediting financial reporting process in the group, finalizing annual report and managing AGM within three months from year end
• Acquired leadership role in the IFRS convergence in 2012/2013
• Set up process improvements/ controls within the processes, monthly & quarterly budget reviews
• Developed short term & long-term financial plans in line with corporate strategy
• Significantly reduced finance and insurance cost by negotiating attractive deals with financial institutions
• Rated high for efficient working capital and treasury management during difficult market conditions
• Arranged fund by developing feasibility study reports for new projects with external consultants
• Defined IT Road Map in the group and led new system implementation (SAP)
• Acknowledged for developing the company’s social media concept and accomplishing the country’s first ever broiler export to the GCC market
• Represented President’s Business Delegation to Qatar on behalf of the company and the sector in 2017

Responsibilities:

• Spearhead team efforts related to financial & management accounting, consolidation of financial statements (monthly, quarterly and annually)
• Ensure compliance to public reporting & stock exchange regulations, corporate strategy & planning
• Participate in external (EY & KPMG) & internal (BDO) audits for implementing internal controls and various process improvement initiatives
• Coordinate activities related to budgeting, monthly review, financial planning & analysis, risk management, tax planning, working capital and treasury management
• Interact with financial institutions for maintaining adequate cash flow for fulfilling existing and forthcoming business ventures
• Manage administrative activities related to recruitment/ training of staff, procurement, IT, imports & exports, export market development, and social media marketing.
• Prepare & implement budget/ budgetary control; manage treasury & working capital
• Collaborate with tax consultants & authorities in preparing as well as implementing tax plans
• Assist the senior management & the board in evaluating and implementing business decisions
• Participate in Board Audit Committee and Related Party Transaction Review Committee Meetings
• Present financial & management reporting to the Board of Directors, Colombo Stock Exchange, Govt. Authorities and other stakeholders to enable effective decision making.

Sharaka Holdings is a Diversified Conglomerate comprising over 33 affiliates. Its business activities span over seven segments, namely, Trading, Manufacturing, Contracting, Education, Hospitality, Restaurants, Specialized Services.

Accomplishments:

• Played key role in setting up the Consolidated Group Financial Structure, expediting the Group Financial Reporting and Annual Statutory Audit
• Successfully developed Short Term and Long-Term Financial Plans aligned to Group's Business Plan
• Instrumental in negotiating deals with financial institutions and reduced finance cost and forex exposure of the Group
• Implemented budget and budgetary controls in the Group
• Streamlined operations by implementing process improvements within operation

Responsibilities:

• Coordinated day to day activities related to financial & management accounting, consolidation of financial statements (monthly, quarterly and annually)
• Participated in external (EY & KPMG) audits for implementing internal controls and various process improvement initiatives
• Managed budgeting, monthly review, financial planning & analysis, risk management, working capital and treasury management
• Developed rapport with financial institutions for maintaining adequate cash flow for fulfilling existing and forthcoming business ventures
• Prepared/ presented financial reports & statements to the senior management including business performance analysis reports for the subsidiaries and discussion with the Board of Directors to enable effective decision making
• Set up/ implemented effective financial control mechanism within the group in compliance to IFRS, IAS parameters
• Defined/ implemented annual and periodical financial plans, managed cost center, budgetary control and treasury activities
• Rendered analytical support to the top management including the board of directors pertaining to financial impact of business decisions
• Obtained group insurance coverage based on evaluated group risk exposure
• Finalized annual statutory audit with E&Y and KPMG
• Managed recruitment activities for fulfilling local and overseas finance positions
• Evaluated performance of the group finance team and organized training sessions for team members based on identified training needs
• Functioned as member of the Group IT Steering Committee, and Group Restructuring Committee
• Collaborated with the management of subsidiaries for resolving financial issues
• Streamlined group financial reporting and annual statutory audit

KPMG Sri Lanka is a member firm of KPMG International. It has a proud history of operating more than 125 years (Estab.1897) in Sri Lankan business community. It provides the services of Audit and Assurance, Information Risk management, Management Advisory & Corporate Finance, Tax & Regulatory.

Accomplishments

• Acquired significant exposure to KPMG main lines of businesses including business processes, internal controls, policies, and procedures
• Gained expertise in IFRS, IAS, preparation of financial statements including consolidated financials and annual reports

Role: Senior Auditor - Tax & Regulatory, Sep 2005 - May 2006

• Rendered consultancy to clients on tax planning, evaluating financial statements, managing tax liabilities and other tax (VAT, ESC) related matters
• Evaluated income tax computations for corporate for advising clients on quarterly payments and filing of returns
• Interacted with tax authorities for resolving tax issues with assessors, deputy commissioners pertaining to assessments and disputes

Role: Project Officer-Management Advisory Service, Mar 2005 - Aug 2005

• Evaluated existing processes of companies (manufacturing, marketing, human resource, order to payment and finance and treasury management) to identify process gaps to the management and board of directors for recommending Performance Improvement Observations (PIO) and benchmark controls
• Assessed variance reports, trend analysis of past data, working capital management
• Managed assignments on forensic and business failures (investigations)
• Implemented effective action plans based on comparison of actual costs with standard costs in variance reports
• Defined targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for companies and implemented action plans to manage deviations

Role: Business Advisor - Information Risk Management, Apr 2004 - Feb 2005

• Participated in business process analysis & system integration control reviews based on KPMG methodology, performance of application/ security reviews, IT risk & control assessment
• Implemented IT Risk Management Benchmarking (ITRMB) tool and BS7799
• Prepared Performance Improvement Observation Documents based on the IT review

Role: Senior Auditor - Audit & Assurance, Jan 2001 - Mar 2004

• Involved in planning, conducting & finalizing audits, issuing financial statements including consolidated financial statements for group of companies
• Guided other members of the audit team in conducting day to day audits, interacting with clients and managing other related issues
• Evaluated audit performance and reported on audit progress/ matters to audit partner and assisted clients in preparing annual report
• Assessed principal activities, mission, goals, objectives, strategies, markets, products & services, customers, alliances, competitors, strategic management process of the company, SWOT analysis, business control environment, strategic business risks with potentially significant financial statement effects
• Analyzed process objectives, critical success factors (CSFs) and key performance indicators (KPIs), inputs, activities, outputs, and computer information system related to the process
• Focused on process level business & financial statement risks, significant classes of transactions, potential FS effect (including assertions), business controls, and financial statement controls
• Prepared Performance Improvement Observation Documents. Performed PEST/ Porter’s five forces analysis and relevance to the client.