Group Financial Controller
Qaiwan Group
Total years of experience :22 years, 5 Months
Reporting to the Director Finance (based in Dubai) and CEO (based in Kurdistan)
Managing the complete finance function while leading a team of more than 20 finance/ accounting professionals in following Group operations:
- Oil trading - Significant local and export sales
- Oil Refinery - Capacity 40, 000BBL/day
- Power Plant - 750MW Combined Cycle
- Real estate - Several multi-million dollar projects
- Shipping - 6 owned vessels
- Retail - Sole distributors for Hitachi and Hisense
- Hospitality, Health care and Education
As Financial Controller at OPPL (formerly BHP), I was looking after the financial accounting, tax and statutory compliance matters of Pakistan operations. My major responsibilities include the following:
• Closure of pending tax assessments and collection of all outstanding tax refunds from the Government of Pakistan;
• Preparation of tax forecasts and presenting suggestions on reducing tax costs;
• Appointment of and liaison with legal advisors to represent the company before the courts;
• Monitoring of fiscal developments in the country and suggesting improvements in procedures;
• Ensuring 100% ongoing compliance with corporate and tax statute requirements applicable to OPPL in Pakistan;
• Preparation of branch financial statements, coordination of statutory audits with KPMG and review and filing of income tax returns;
• Compliance with local laws, Sarbanes Oxley Act and internal controls;
• Coordinating and performing monthly, quarterly and annual group reporting tasks; and
• Coordinating with operational staff and providing a financial perspective on business.
BHP Billiton is the world’s leading global natural resources company. On January 01, 2016 the effective control of Pakistan operations of BHP was transferred to OPPL consequent to a shares sale transaction.
As Financial Controller at BHP, I was looking after the financial accounting, tax and statutory compliance matters of Pakistan operations. My major responsibilities include the following:
• Closure of pending tax assessments and collection of all outstanding tax refunds from the Government of Pakistan;
• Preparation of tax forecasts and presenting suggestions on reducing tax costs;
• Appointment of and liaison with legal advisors to represent the company before the courts;
• Monitoring of fiscal developments in the country and suggesting improvements in procedures;
• Ensuring 100% ongoing compliance with corporate and tax statute requirements applicable to OPPL in Pakistan;
• Preparation of branch financial statements, coordination of statutory audits with KPMG and review and filing of income tax returns;
• Compliance with local laws, Sarbanes Oxley Act and internal controls;
• Coordinating and performing monthly, quarterly and annual group reporting tasks; and
• Coordinating with operational staff and providing a financial perspective on business.
Schlumberger is the world’s no. 1 oilfield services company. Based in Schlumberger Financial Hub, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I was leading a team of upto 8 accountants looking after the accounting, tax and statutory compliance matters of several countries (including: India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Yemen). Major responsibilities included:
• Innovating and introducing fresh tax planning; leveraging on the international legal structure of the corporation and utilizing international tax conventions and treaties;
• Ensuring adequate documentation for tax positions held, including transfer pricing documentation, and suggesting and assisting the various countries in relation to tax audits;
• Implementing process improvements to ensure efficiency and accuracy in the delivery of services to the business;
• Supervising the preparation of financial statements per applicable GAAPs, including IFRS, and the relevant statutory audits by various big 4 audit firms;
• Ensuring timely and accurate tax and statutory compliance (GST/ VAT/ FED/ CD);
• Supervising the process of monthly income tax provisioning and ensuring final results at time of filing of CIT returns are in line with provisions maintained;
• Ensuring adherence to all internal control requirements and suggesting improvements thereon;
• Supervising the monthly, quarterly and annual group reporting tasks;
• Reviewing bid proposals/ contracts to comment on finance and tax related clauses and any other exposure;
• Training the relatively new accountants in the fields of tax, corporate compliance, accounting and financial reporting; and
• Ensuring a motivated team, resulting in minimum attrition and excellent results.
Worked at progressive positions in the Audit and Business Assurance Services (ABAS) department at PwC. Last position held was as Senior Associate. At PwC I attained knowledge and invaluable experience by supervising and performing the following activities at various clients in telecommunication, oil & gas, manufacturing, power generation and social welfare and development sectors:
Planning, execution and completion of various audit assignments;
Review of internal control procedures to ensure adherence to management policies and to suggest improvements thereon; and
Review of corporate matters and ensuring compliance thereon in the light of Code of Corporate Governance issued by Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
Did six months on job training with the audit department in S.M. Masood & Co., Chartered Accountants (a member firm of Nexia International).
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