Ghina ElKassem, Finance Manager

Ghina ElKassem

Finance Manager

AVERDA

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, BA Business Administration – Majored in Banking and Finance
Experience
16 years, 2 Months

Share My Profile

Block User


Work Experience

Total years of experience :16 years, 2 Months

Finance Manager at AVERDA
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2017 to February 2020

 Achievements:
-Improved P&L and split it by project which led to improved profitability as some projects were diluted by others
-Decreased closing from 12 days to 5 days by eliminating some tasks or delaying them and by squeezing the other teams to deliver earlier.
-Created a cross functional collaborations between the teams
-Cleaned up all P&Ls from historical issues / Errors
-Improved DSO by 30 days by effectively working with Sales/collection

 Reporting to the GCC Finance Manager and managing 3 entities in UAE.
 Leading a team of 3 including 1 Team leader and 2 accountants
 Proven track record of satisfactory internal audit for 2 consecutive years
 Managing monthly reporting of actuals and ad-hoc analysis
 Preparing and reconciling P&Ls on a monthly basis
 Setting and updating fiscal targets and budgets
 Responsible for Overhead budget planning and reporting
 Leading all communication on financial analysis with top management
 Leading the budget process with Sales and management team
 Analyzing financial records and reports and make adjustments as needed
 Leading the financial support for cost saving projects
 Effectively managing the working capital components of the Group - in particular AR, cash, AP and taxes.
 Handling the implementation of VAT in UAE and reporting VAT
 Strengthening the collaboration with key stakeholders in the company
 Meeting and exceeding the Key process indicators and Service Level Agreements assigned for the team

Senior Accountant / Financial Analyst at AVERDA
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • September 2016 to December 2017

 Reporting to the CFO and indirectly managing team of 4 accountants
 Handling 3 countries: Oman, UAE, KSA
 Reviewing and Approving all month end reconciliations and control accounts.
 Preparing timely and accurate monthly management accounts
 Preparing and reconciling P&Ls on a monthly basis
 Responsible for general ledger account analysis and reconciliations so that the financials are recorded & reported accurately to management and external stakeholders
 Analyzing financial records and reports and make adjustments as needed
 Production of Quarterly, Interim and Annual Reports for shareholders, alongside any associated presentations and other documentation.
 Leading the provision of financial support for cost savings/rationalizations
 Effectively managing the working capital components of the Group - in particular AR, cash, AP and taxes.
 Handling periodical closing of accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and intercompany reconciliations.

Chief Accountant (Contractual) at ADDMIND
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • June 2016 to August 2016

• Reporting to the Finance Manager and managing a team of 3 Accountants.
• Responsible for the generation of monthly Management Accounts and monthly ad-hoc management reports: P&L variance and variation, Balance sheet, Cash Flow, profitability analysis by business unit…
• Handle periodical closing of accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and intercompany reconciliations.
• Manage the daily cash processes and bank deposits, prepare daily cash reports and daily cash position.
• Monitor revenue per Sales business unit on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Financial & Accounting Controller at CREPAWAY – BEIRUT LEBANON (A Leading F&B company in the Middle East)
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • July 2010 to November 2015

• Reporting to the Finance & Accounting Manager and managing a team of 3 Accountants..
• Assist the Finance Manager in the generation of Financial Statements (regional and consolidated) and the yearly audit of Accounts.
• Responsible for the generation of monthly Management Accounts and monthly ad-hoc management reports: P&L variance and variation, profitability analysis by business unit…
• Handle periodical closing of accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and intercompany reconciliations.
• Manage the daily cash processes and bank deposits, prepare daily cash reports and daily cash position.
• Monitor revenue per Sales business unit on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
• Review the debtors and creditors aging and manage the payment cycles and debtors collections.
• Participate in the preparation of the yearly budget (regional and consolidated) and yearly cash flow forecast.
• Maintain a 3 months rolling cash flow forecast, monitoring the overdraft and cash availability in different bank accounts and advice the Management of any anticipated cash tension.
• Prepare monthly reconciliations (supplier's statements, payroll, income taxes, intercompany expenses & adjustments, NSSF, shareholders Profit sharing, & P&L …)
• Lead Quarterly & Annual VAT, social security and income tax filing.
• Maintain and improve systems of internal control including implementing standard policies and procedures.
• Prepare menu costing and pricing.

Senior Accountant at CREPAWAY – BEIRUT LEBANON (A Leading F&B company in the Middle East)
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • July 2003 to June 2010

Reporting to the Financial Controller, I had the chance to handle different roles within the Finance department (GL Accountant, AP and inventory control and Treasury Accountant) which gave me a wide accounting experience.
• Timely and accurate posting, balancing and reconciliation of the general ledger.
• Ensure all suppliers are set up in the accounting system and are kept up to date
• Posting of vendor invoices.
• Reconcile vendor statements on a monthly basis, research and correct discrepancies.
• Review all invoices for appropriate documentation and approval prior to payment.
• Prepare payroll and review employee expense report.
• Reconcile the sub-ledgers with the GL accounts.
• Generate periodical payment run.
• Initiate and post manual and online payments.
• Generate and book intercompany invoices: internal sale, management fees and recharges.
• Post entries to the Inventory Module: goods received, goods consumed and monthly stock take variance analysis.
• Bank reconciliations and petty cash reconciliation.
• Maintain schedule of fixed assets, depreciation, prepaid expenses, accruals, provisions and deferrals and other accounting schedules.

Education

Bachelor's degree, BA Business Administration – Majored in Banking and Finance
  • at Lebanese University
  • July 2005

Specialties & Skills

Auditing
Budgeting
Cash Flow
P&L Management
Accounting
Word,Excel,Power point,

Social Profiles

Personal Website
Personal Website

URL removed due to policy violation. Please contact support for further information.

Languages

English
Expert
Arabic
Expert
French
Expert