Georges Farhat

Financial Controller / Director at Dar Al Handasah (Shair & Partners)

• Lebanon - Beirut
• My current job since May 2011

- I exercise the role of Financial Controller in Dar Beirut, a Design H.Q. with 1, 200 employees, directly reporting to the Chairman and the Group CFO.
 • Managing a team of 14 accountants.
 • Ensuring the best management of all cash, investment and legal aspects of the job role
 • Reducing the tax exposure by taking the right and accurate measures.
 • Improving operational and administrative policies & procedures to best fit with the company’s vision
 • Optimizing the company’s systems and Management reports by leading the development and implementation of a full in-house ERP system trademarked Dar Group automating around 90% of the accounting work to have the utmost reduction of human error and maximize people’s efficiency
 • Ensure with all related parties financial statements closure, budgeting and financial ratios analysis

- I remotely oversee Dar India's finance department (800 employees), and I am currently on its Board of Directors since Jan 2016

Financial Controller at Dar Al Handasah (Shair & Partners)

• India
• March 2008 to May 2011

- As expat deputed to India, I led Dar India office inauguration and ensured the complete set up & financial management from inception to date
- Among the other regular aspects of the job well fulfilled, my remarkable achievements were on the level of
 • Establishing an APA (Advanced Pricing Agreement), the first with the Indian Government representing an agreement between the taxpayer and the Revenue authorities for reaching at an appropriate transfer pricing methodology for a set of international transactions over a fixed time period in future.
 • Implementing the tailor-made ERP system matching with the Indian local requirements
 • Negotiating with local and International banks to get the best rates and corporate offers in order to increase the company’s access to funds while reducing its financial burden
 • Elaborating the best conditions contracts with all third parties to ensure the office optimal activity while reducing the expenditures
 • Providing the senior management all necessary reports on cost/revenues figures and giving the necessary insights for best decision making
 • Negotiating and reviewing the yearly transfer pricing studies with consultants and income tax commissioners.
 • Managing the office legal aspects including the registration of the company as STPI unit (Software technology parks of India)
 • Defining and implementing DAR H.R. policy to comply with the Indian Labor law requirements.

Financial & I.T. Analyst at Dar Al Handasah (Shair & Partners)

• Egypt - Cairo
• November 2006 to March 2008

- Led the implementation of the new accounting system in Egypt.
- Defined new policies and procedures within the system which minimized the operational risk in Accounting, Administration and HR departments.

Risk Analyst at BLOM BANK SAL

• Lebanon - Beirut
• January 2006 to November 2006

- Created detailed financial projections based on sensitivities/stress testing.
- Completed insightful credit proposal/annual review reports.
- Monitored the exposure for assigned clients in accordance with internal policies, credit terms and conditions.
- Provided support to managers and Head of risk manager at Credit Committees while acting as a reference point for credit risk/policy issues.
- Tested the internal rating systems (Moody's, Systemic RM) and recommended on systems best compatibility with the Bank credit policy.
- Monitored branches' credit risk.

Corporate, Credit , L/C and L/G departments at BLOM BANK SAL

• Lebanon - Beirut
• June 2005 to December 2005

- Managed diversified Portfolios and prepared financial statement analysis & recommendation to credit committees

Tellers And Customer Service at BLOM BANK SAL

• Lebanon - Beirut
• February 2003 to June 2005