Marketing & Commercial Services Manager - Middle East and Africa
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Total years of experience :9 years, 1 Months
- Provided customer value-added solutions to IATA stakeholders and business partners.
- Developed strong and fruitful business relationships with IATA stakeholders, travel agencies, Civil Aviation Authorities, and Air Traffic Controllers in AME;
- Leveraged my business relationships and sales activities to promote and increase awareness of IATA products and services, with a focus in training.
- Planned and executed regional sales activities in order to meet the sales target and acquire potential new customers.
- Managed the market place communications, monitored the market and competition trends, implemented and followed up on the sales campaigns.
- Worked and collaborated with the global and the regional product specialists, Divisional, Marketing and Product management to fulfil the customer needs in the best possible way.
- Successfully instilled diligent and accurate reporting mechanisms resulting in better market analysis.
- Prepared the sales plan for target category in accordance with the regional sales plan.
• Prepare and develop timely divisional reports and analysis for the division and departmental Heads
• Lead the process improvement initiatives to ensure the closure of all internal & external audit issues.
• Educate all staff regarding policy compliance and best practices;
• Periodic maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Supervise the day-to-day accounting operations and financial management functions in regional and field offices, ensure internal controls are in place and compliant with company’s financial policy and procedures;
• Coordinate the alignment projects between finance and other ISS departments;
• Review and account for procurement transactions and ensure adequate proposals and supporting documentation;
• Supporting the country managers and the regional financial controller in the country offices’ forecasts, budgets, variance analysis preparation and any other financial matters;
• Preparing account reconciliation reports, reconciling cash flows through over 50 IATA bank accounts in 32 countries in the Middle East and Africa (AME) region on weekly basis, identifying any suspense amounts, handling adjustments and post-billing disputes and following up on discrepancies.
• Performing matching activities, monitoring and analyzing bank statements for (AME) regions on weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis, analyzing airlines and travel agents invoices and bad debt figures.
• Preparation and execution of bank orders for collection and settlement of funds to over 200 airlines according to the scheduled calendars and in alignment with IATA financial policies and standards.
• Liaising with banks in the AME regions to ensure payment instructions are processed in time and addressing any changes in banking procedures.
• Manage suspended airlines funds, check legal seizures, money to be held and release agreements valuing approximately $10 million.
• Manage the audit requirements, and support the audit process.
• Ensure full training to the new staff, provide support and ensure the team is up and running.
• Coordinating with IATA Hub divisions, field offices and country managers for day to day shared operations according to IATA standards, resolutions and procedures.
• Developed a user manual for the Remittance and Settlement process by documenting the process and defining the country specifications for the IATA settlement systems operations, defined under a project for Business Continuity Planning (BCP).
• Managed the migration project of IATA Financial and Distribution Services for all Africa and Middle East countries to a new operational model based on a hub system.
• Designated as ‘Subject Matter Expert’ for IATA’s automated Remittances and Settlements system.
• Managed new agents/airlines applications and followed up on the existing applications.
• Tracked and monitored the applications supporting requirements (financial assessment, financial security, location inspections and static data).
• Supported and reflected all the Agency Management process changes through IATA’s associated systems.
• Verified agents’ financial security, Airline credit and bank guarantees.
• Handled Risk Management process including irregularities, financial assessments, financial security, suspension, defaults, terminations and reinstatements.
• Supported the implementation of the Shared Service Center Tools and automation according to the IATA standards, rules and procedures.
• Improved exiting processes, implemented SOP & developed standardized methodologies.
• Aligned communications in the migration of business operations of Africa to the Middle East region.
• Provided support to agents, airlines, GDS, government and field offices on all accreditation related matters.
• Assisted in preparing business and strategic Plans;
• Conducted periodic market assessment studies;
• Organized international conferences, seminars, training courses & lectures;
• Prepared business related publications (brochures, flyers and newsletters);
• Maintained and developed the Content Management System (CMS).
Talal Abu Ghazaleh International (TAGI), Amman, Jordan Internship
Accountant - Middle East and North Africa Jan to April, 2009
• Preparing the performance & productivity reports of all activities (Auditing, Consulting, Valuation, I.T, & Training)
• Responsible of preparing the salaries payroll and running expenses sheets.
• Preparing monthly TAGI Newsletter that includes all updates of TAGI internal divisions.
Scientific Stream