Ernest Michael Looch, Director and Founder

Ernest Michael Looch

Director and Founder

Equitable BEE Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Location
South Africa
Education
Master's degree, Baccalaureus Computationis (Hons) (Accounting)
Experience
13 years, 5 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :13 years, 5 Months

Director and Founder at Equitable BEE Solutions (Pty) Ltd
  • South Africa
  • July 2015 to March 2016

Equitable BEE Solutions is an accredited audit firm, specialising in Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment verifications. The company service a client base across the Republic of South Africa.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Performed all start-up activities - statutory documentation, register of ownership structure, marketing, new business generation, implement financial systems, graphic design, and compliance with Auditors’ Board registration requirements.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with prospective and current clients.
• Responsible for strategic decision making, financial control and operational management of the company.
• Perform, manage and review of all B-BBEE verifications in accordance with the Codes of Good Practice and the requirements per the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors.
• Manage quality control process, client queries and liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure accurate and fair verification outcome.

Trustee and operations manager at TBLV Trust
  • South Africa
  • June 2013 to March 2016

The TBLV Trust specializes in consultation services and acts as an investment holding company. Consultation services are focused on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment compliance and structuring, financial modelling and forecasting.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment consulting
o Engage senior management and business owners.
o Perform GAP analysis, assess deficiencies and implement remedial actions.
o Assist clients with interpretations and facilitate the verification process.
o Evaluate, assist and advise on suitable company ownership structures and implementation.
• Financial modelling and forecasting
o Creation of custom dynamic financial models, working papers and calculators (Excel).
o Examples of models built for customers - dynamic financial forecasting models, budget models, forecasting models for valuations, multiple input calculators for standardised calculation across multiple users.

Director, Analyst and Compliance Manager at BEE Verification Agency CC
  • South Africa
  • January 2013 to December 2015

BEE Verification Agency is a well-established and accredited verification agency, specialising in Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment verifications. The company performs verifications across multiple industries and include a number of JSE listed entities.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Participation in management of operations and strategy.
• Perform, manage and review of all B-BBEE verifications in accordance with the Codes of Good Practice and the requirements per the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors.
• Manage quality control process, client queries and liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure accurate and fair verification outcome.
• As compliance manager, responsible for resolving technical queries, delivering industry accepted interpretations, and taking ownership and ultimate responsibility for verifications performed.
• Responsible for developing standardised auditing processes and working papers, used by all BEE Verification Agency’s analysts, compliance managers and third party consultants.
• Developed excel based calculators and working papers compatible with the Agency’s web based software.
• Portfolio of clients serviced across various industries including (but not limited to) construction, retail, property, transport, financial services, manufacturing.
• Portfolio of clients included reputable and high profile JSE listed entities - a list could be submitted upon request.

Contractor – Accounting and process development (part time) at SLH Accounting
  • South Africa
  • June 2012 to June 2013

SLH Accounting is an accounting and tax consultancy based in the Western Cape.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Accounting processing and reconciliations for hotel group.
• Supervise and review work of junior bookkeepers.
• Design and implement excel based working papers, input sheets and reconciliation tool.

Contractor – Forensic Audit and Consulting (fixed term engagement) at Bernard Shaw Auditors Incorporated
  • South Africa
  • September 2012 to November 2012

Bernard Shaw Auditors is a well- established audit firm in the Western Cape and is registered with the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Forensic audit engagement per ISRS4400 confirming turnover and investigating irregularities.
• Assessing, testing and consulting on internal control procedures.
• Reporting of findings of engagement to the management of parties involved.

Exotic Equity Derivative Product Control at Morgan Stanley - London
  • United Kingdom - London
  • September 2011 to November 2011

Morgan Stanley is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in New York City and operates in 42 countries.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Compilation of daily estimate/expect files.
• Preparation, analysis and reporting of daily Profit and Loss.
• Variance analysis between estimate and actual Profit and Loss reported.
• Perform daily attribution process.
• Deal linkage process of new deals and structures.
• Preparation of daily valuation adjustment estimate, and validating accuracy of valuation postings.
• Ad hoc tasks as required.

Associate - Emerging Markets FX and Rates Product Control at Royal Bank of Scotland / ABN Amro Bank - London
  • United Kingdom - London
  • July 2007 to February 2011

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The group operates a wide variety of banking brands offering personal and business banking, private banking, insurance and corporate finance through its offices located in Europe, North America and Asia.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Compilation and reporting of the daily Profit and Loss.
• Analysis of Profit and Loss with relation to market moves and risk positions.
• Variance analysis between estimated and actual Profit and Loss.
• Daily, monthly and quarterly commentary on significant Profit and Loss movements.
• New trade review.
• Daily risk reporting.
• Daily and monthly reconciliation of reported Profit and Loss to the ledger.
• Liaising with various areas within the bank, including Front Office, Market Risk Management, Credit Risk Management, Back Office and Operations.
• Ad hoc projects as required by various stakeholders, i.e.:
o Automation of Profit and Loss reports and spreadsheets and reporting enhancements as required.
o Build of bond reconciliation tool reconciling source system, ledger and Bloomberg feed.
o Assisting in migration of unallocated brokerage process from ABN to RBS.
• Products included the following: Interest rate derivatives, foreign exchange, fixed income, money markets, repo’s, credit default swaps.

Divisional Financial Manager at Mecer Western Cape (Division of Mustek Limited)
  • South Africa
  • May 2005 to March 2007

Mustek is a JSE listed entity, the largest assembler and distributor of PC’s and related hardware in South Africa, and provides end-to-end ICT solutions.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Responsible for full financial function, business processes and internal controls.
• Duties included, but not limited to:
o Monthly financial reporting and variance analysis.
o Compilation of annual budget and periodical review of variances.
o Ensure adherence to financial controls and procedures.
o Cash flow management.
o Management of debt book - identification and management of credit risk, allocation of terms, debt collection, liaison with liquidation attorneys.
o Preparation and submission of statutory returns (VAT, RSC Levies, UIF, PAYE, Skills levies, Statistics SA).
o Preparation of annual audit packs, liaison with external auditors and project manage annual audit.
o Human resource management - responsible for recruitment, performance evaluations, disciplinary procedures, alignment of employee tasks to company objectives and procedure, direct supervision of accounting and admin department staff.
o General administrative tasks - facilitation function between employees and medical aid, authorised signatory of pension fund.

Audit Senior at Moores Rowland Chartered Accountants (SA) (Mazars)
  • South Africa
  • April 2001 to December 2004

Moores Rowland Chartered Accountants (SA) (Mazars) is an international, integrated and independent organisation, specialising in audit, accountancy, tax, legal and advisory services.

Purpose of the role and responsibilities:
• Manage and maintain a portfolio of clients of the firm.
• Conduct audit assignments from engagement to finalisation, taking responsibility for planning, execution and completion of financial audits.
• Develop audit programs and testing procedures relevant to risk and test objectives.
• Obtain and review evidence ensuring audit conclusions are well documented and supported.
• Ensure audit conclusions are based on understanding of the process, risk and test objectives.
• Identify and communicate issues raised during engagements, offering recommendations and solutions.
• Supervise junior auditors assigned to engagements, providing guidance and overall review of deliverables.
• Communicate assigned tasks to engagement team in a clear and concise manner ensuring high quality, accurate and efficient results.
• Report audit findings to engagement partner and client senior management.
• Ad hoc assignments as required - preparation of financial statements per IFRS, compilation of tax returns, factual findings reports, consolidated financial statements.

Education

Master's degree, Baccalaureus Computationis (Hons) (Accounting)
  • at University of South Africa
  • December 2002
Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Accounting – Accounting, Auditing, Tax, Financial management
  • at University of Stellenbosch
  • December 2001

Specialties & Skills

ACCOUNTANCY
ADMINISTRATION
BUDGETING
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL
Reuters information systems
Budgeting and Forecasting
Bloomberg Information Systems
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Financial modelling
Microsoft Outlook

Languages

English
Expert
Afrikaans
Expert

Memberships

South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
  • Chartered Accountant
  • January 2001
Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors SA
  • Registered Auditor
  • June 2013

Training and Certifications

Management Development Program – Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Programme (Training)
Training Institute:
WITS University
Date Attended:
January 2013
Duration:
160 hours
Valuation workshop (Training)
Training Institute:
P C Finance Research
Date Attended:
September 2013
Duration:
18 hours
ACI Dealing Certificate Training Programme - non-certified (Training)
Training Institute:
ACI
Date Attended:
July 2010
Duration:
40 hours
Advanced Certificate in Auditing (Training)
Training Institute:
APT - University of Cape Town
Date Attended:
June 2003
Duration:
40 hours
Practical Implementation of Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice (Training)
Training Institute:
EconoBEE and Mantis
Date Attended:
January 2015
Duration:
20 hours
Portfolio Management Workshop (Training)
Training Institute:
P C Finance Research
Date Attended:
April 2013
Duration:
9 hours