Regional Controller GCC
Lafarge International
Total years of experience :26 years, 4 Months
2012 to Present Regional Gulf Controller for Lafarge International
Managing 5 countries UAE, KSA, Oman, Qatar & Kuwait
Reporting to Gulf CEO
Member of Gulf Excom
•Manage the accounting and finance functions of APAC countries.
•Responsible for consolidation, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, analysis and treasury functions.
•Act as a Business partner; provide business strategic planning and operational decision in alignment with company goals and strategies
•Develop, review, and establish corporate policy for efficient functioning of the department
•Lead ad hoc projects the key responsibilities of the role include: • Promoting best practice in internal controls and financial/management reporting.
• Prompting good risk management by seeking effective identification of risks and promoting effective mitigation measures.
• Ensuring optimisation of project working capital by working with the BG's and promoting measures for timely billing and cash collection.
• Coordinating with the region's credit control process providing follow up actions where necessary.
• Where required, engage in project reviews with project managers/project directors.
• Supervision and management of the Finance function throughout the region including the management of the general ledger, payroll, cash management, accounts payable and accounts receivable functions.
• Involvement in the provision of Finance functional support in new and developing countries/offices providing key interfaces with the regional Finance function.
• Adopt a critical approach to the reporting process with the recognition of early warning signs prompting proactive measures and effective use of KPI's.
• Oversee the financial management of the business planning process culminating in the effective deployment of an integrated budget model utilised by BG's and the regional management.
2008- 2012 Financial Controller for Lafarge Emirates Cement Company & ( Lafarge is the Leading Multinational French company in Cement, A&C Industry & It is around 17 Billion Euro Turnover worldwide)
• Provide BU management with control and business support information on the BU's financial / operational performance, starting with preparation of the strategy / budget until analysis of results against plan in a timely and reliable manner and in respecting Group Financial policies
• Develop active control and cost analysing on commercial activities and general administration
• Support decisions on investment projects in providing financial arguments
• Participate to the financial/ economical forecast of the Strategic Review
Notable Accomplishments
• Provide BU management with control and business support information on the BU’s financial / operational performance, starting with preparation of the strategy / budget until analysis of results against plan in a timely and reliable manner and in respecting Group Financial policies
• Develop active control and cost analysing on commercial activities and general administration
• Support decisions on investment projects in providing financial arguments
• Participate to the financial/ economical forecast of the Strategic Review
Notable Accomplishments
• Meet Loan Covenant 2008& 2009 targets although of Economic Crisis
• Enhance Rolling forecast of Cash Flow in systematic way
• Implementation of Several Modules on ERP
• Contribution to Excellence 2010 (Cost Reduction & Cash Generation) for Business Unit
2007 - 2008 CFO of Al-Islami Foods International (SSLOOTAH Group)
• Financial planning for the Company different business units & Implement finance strategy approved by the board
Notable Accomplishments.
• Turning the business to be profitable after 5 years of loss &Positive cash flow position
2006-2007 Finance Manager Pepsi Saudi Arabia.
PEPSI KSA ( AL- Jomaih Bottling Plants)
AJBP is the major Bottler and distributor for Pepsi in KSA with a turn over exceeding SR1.5 Billion per year
• Responsible for Working Capital Management to enhance the liquidity & cash flows.
Notable Accomplishments
• Implementation of Oracle Budgeting which will facilitate Budgeting process for next years
• Implementation of standard costing for all plants.
2005 - 2006 Supply Chain Business Partner & Sourcing Finance Manger in Unilever.
• Responsible for supply chain strategy as well as Sourcing business unit growth & profitability
• Performing various regional sourcing studies & competing with other Unilever companies to get sourcing contracts for example sourcing oral to Turkey which was taken by Egypt.
Notable Accomplishments
• Delivering Supply chain saving across Foods & HPC categories of 21Million in 2006
• Developing a flexible Planning module that provides complete insight for planning team
Unilever Mashreq (1998-2006)
(Mashreq includes managing 7 countries Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan & Palestine with Turn over 400M US Dollars)
2003 -2005 Factory Management Account Manager HPC category.
• Responsible for Factory Budgets preparation.
• Leading the project of Sarbanes Oxley Audit in the factories in co- operation with the audit team.
• Building Electronic MIS jointly with IT that summarizes factory performance
Notable Accomplishments
• Finalizing the Personal Product factory to get tax holiday providing a saving of 6 million LE.
• Managing amazing rest ruction program for Factory commercial with better deliveries & lower cost
2002- 2003 Assistant Financial Controller in Unilever Mashreq
• Customise Chart of Accounts implementation to be aligned with Global Unilever requirements.
• Risk Management Assessment for Unilever
Notable Accomplishments
• The projects are implemented with outstanding performance in very limited time
2002 Finance Manager for Lebanon in Unilever Mashreq.
• Responsible for Integration of Unilever Levant (Syria, Jordan & Lebanon) and Lever Egypt
• One database will include six legal entities operating with different currencies
• Managing the trade in of products done through Levant
Notable Accomplishments
• The implementation project was executed successfully with no external audit points
• Process simplification lead to trading sales growth by 50 %.
2000- 2001 Senior Financial Accountant in Unilever Mashreq (Foods Sector)
• Integration of Sales & AR Modules between Foods & Lever Egypt (ERP under Oracle),
Notable Accomplishments
• Implementation of FA Module on ERP system which enables the finance team to cut cost.
• Integration of AR & Sales, centralization & automation of process to enhance the accuracy of data.
1999 -2000 Financial Accountant in Unilever Mashreq Foods Sector.
• Responsible for Accounts payable & Fixed Assets & bank reconciliation
• AR & Sales implementation on the MFg Pro (ERP under Oracle),
1998 - 1999 Cost Accountant in Unilever Mashreq Foods Sector.
• Responsible for Lipton Tea Company blending cost management& Inventory management
• April 2006 CMA Certified Management Account from Institute of Management Accounts USA
CMA (Certified Managment Account
• 2001 MBA from Arab Academy of Science & Technology jointly with City University in USA