Senior Manager
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Total years of experience :43 years, 1 Months
During my 30+ years of experience in the audit profession, I worked with Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SMEs) clients in diverse industries (ranging from trading to contracting, retail, manufacturing, NGO's, education, governmental, services companies, etc.). I have reviewed hundreds of financial reports (compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards) and was responsible for normal audit assignments, special purpose audits and Agreed-Upon-Procedures assignments. Additionally, for part of my career (from 2003 to 2007), I worked in Tax. In this capacity, I gained considerable experience in the tax laws in Lebanon.
Examples and highlights from relatively big assignments I worked at:
1. Managed an intermediary role in an asset sale and purchase agreement between the buyer and the seller for a big supermarket chain. This involved understanding the contract and designing specific procedures for inventory and fixed asset counts and releasing of escrow accounts.
2. Managed a Smart Close exercise for a big construction company outside Lebanon. This involved contributing for the preparation of a 'closing procedures' manual and the design of automated excel reporting packages.
3. I was the main contributor for the writing of an accounting manual for a big construction company outside Lebanon. This included the design of a complete chart of accounts.
4. In response to questions raised by a big foreign real estate developer intending to establish business in Lebanon I wrote a comprehensive report tackling issues on personal and corporate taxes, VAT, social security, built property taxes and non-resident taxes.
5. I prepared from scratch (directly from the related laws) six tax and statutory checklists that the audit teams are using to support them in their audits. These checklists cover and include guidance on the following laws: income tax; commercial law; Value Added Tax; payroll tax and social security; built property tax; and stamp duties.
6. As part of the audit work, I get involved on a regular basis in analysing financial data, preparing financial information, preparing consolidated financial statements (this includes companies with foreign subsidiaries) and in managing and reviewing the work of teams working with me.
7. Additionally, as part of the audit work, I get involved on a regular basis in analysing the financial impact of contracts and in checking compliance with contractual obligations/commitments.
8. Also, I have a good exposure in accounting for departmental costing and the allocation of overheads and the elimination of inter-departmental profits when it comes to reporting entity level results.
Acted as senior in charge of medium to small sized audit clients in various industries: mainly trading and indsutrial companies and investment companies.
Responsible for the maintenance of the accounts receivable ledger and follow up on collections.
Selling industrial spareparts
I passed the CPA examination in May 1990 in the State of California. I transferred my grades to the state of New Hampshire and I am now a Certified Public Accountant and hold a valid CPA licence from the State of New Hampshire.