Akhter Ahmed Siddiqi, Group Finance Director

Akhter Ahmed Siddiqi

Group Finance Director

Al Yasra

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Education
Bachelor's degree, Finance and Accounting
Experience
31 years, 6 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :31 years, 6 Months

Group Finance Director at Al Yasra
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since August 2017

As Head of Department, provide financial management and analysis services and financial information (abiding by the company’s financial information disclosure policy) to all stakeholders.

 Oversee month-end closing process of 5 entities, driving an annual revenue above $150m in retail and wholesale sales.
 Issue the annual comprehensive budget guidelines and annual budget calendar so that each department will prepare its annual comprehensive budget in a timely manner and present it to the relevant authority for final approval.
 Closely working with CFO on optimization of company capital and ensure cash flow managed efficiently.
 Negotiates and reviews the banking facilities, terms, and interest rates for new/renewal loans to obtain funds at competitive rates.
 Control the pricing/rates and agreements in major customer RFQ’s and contracts to ensure that financial arrangements are in line with country and corporate strategies and profitability of key customer accounts is maintained.
 Financial advisor for cross-functional projects to support appropriate investment and financial analyses.
 Proactively participate in cost benchmarking studies with Supply Chain / Procurement and Operations on sourcing efficiencies.
 Evaluates profitability by Business Unit monthly, analyze variance to budget / forecast and report the same with corrective action plans to the Leadership Team and during Business Unit Review meetings to assist the team to ensure that the budget is achieved.
 Maintain an effective control environment, ensuring compliance to Group Financial Controls Policies and Group Accounting Policies.
 Legislative compliance and Tax implication follow up closure of on time filing.
 Mentors and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, and monitor and evaluate results.

Financial Controller at Baskin Robbins KSA
  • Saudi Arabia - Khobar
  • July 2013 to October 2016

Over 750+ stores across KSA with annual revenue of above $250m, Lead the finance department as a member of the Management team to the overall development of Finance, to ensure that capital expenditures are reviewed and forecasts are prepared to ensure regional and corporate strategies in short, medium, and long-term goals and objectives are established, communicated, and achieved to optimize business results and returns to shareholders.
 Maintains proper accounting records to reflect the transactions of the company as per the accounting standards.
 Conduct/review financial feasibility studies of new projects to assure that those projects are in line with company’s investment/business strategy with appropriate ROI’s.
 Control of receivables and payables and initiate corrective actions for timely settlements to ensure effective management of working capital and maintain DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) and DPO (Days Payables Outstanding) within agreed levels.
 Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all financial reporting including the coordination and completeness of annual audit reviews and ensuring compliance with all legal and statutory requirements.
 Nurtures talent within the organization by providing ongoing feedback, coaching and development opportunities to individuals to enable achievement of their defined goals.

Financial Controller at The Sultan Center
  • Kuwait - Al Kuwait
  • February 1992 to June 2013

A listed company in Kuwait Stock Exchange with annual revenue of above $1B, presence in 5 Middle East countries with multiple business concepts, lead the financial department to provide financial management and analysis services.
 Maintains proper accounting records to reflect the transactions of the company as per the accounting standards.
 Monitors the overall financial performance to ensure awareness of anticipated costs / revenues, excesses / deficits, areas of unsatisfactory performance and potential performance improvement opportunities.
 Serves as the principal contact with internal and external auditors and ensures that they are provided close cooperation and assistance in the discharge of their responsibilities, including all financial statements and reports.
 Accounts receivable activities including issuance of accounts receivable invoices, accounts receivable reconciliations and ageing, accurate recording of collections and accrued revenue.
 Accounts payable activities including processing of accounts payable Invoices, preparation of accounts payable entries, accounts payable reconciliation and aging.
 Inventory recording and monitoring of received and issued items.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Finance and Accounting
  • at University of Karachi
  • December 1998

Major in Finance and Business

Specialties & Skills

ERP Management
Project Management
Due Diligence
Performance Management
Risk Management
Annual Budgets
Auditing
Team Management
Treasury Management
Analysis
Accounting
Planning
BUSINESS CONCEPTS
FORECASTING
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
BUDGETING
MANAGEMENT
MFG/PRO (ERP)
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
CLOSING (SALES)
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FINANCIAL PLANNING

Social Profiles

Personal Website
Personal Website

URL removed due to policy violation. Please contact support for further information.

Languages

English
Expert

Training and Certifications

PMP (Training)
Training Institute:
Al Yasra In House
Date Attended:
February 2022
Duration:
16 hours

Hobbies

  • Reading