Girish Pai

Leading end-to-end retail operations and finance for the UAE and GCC, driving profitability, cost efficiency, and operational transformation

• Presently overseeing the implementation of the new ERP and WMS systems targeting to achieve implementation within record time of 4 months

• Support the CEO in overseeing the performance of the retail businesses and its expansion, striving to achieve higher profitability

• Achieved significant cost savings of over AED 500k by effective negotiation of rates with the Freight Forwarders against inbound
import shipments

• Achieved cost savings in excess of AED 500k in areas of manpower, Logistics & transportation, fleet optimization, outsourced
labor etc.

Managing the entire F&A team of 100+ staff, for a well renowned Group in West Central Africa, operating a chain of 130+ supermarkets, traditional stores & businesses in steel manufacturing, Pharma trading, sausages production, egg farm, transport & logistics and, having a combined annual Turnover of more than US$ 450 Mlns.

Also, oversaw for a brief time the private investments of the family house, having A/cs with major private banks based offshore, with a portfolio comprising of hundreds of instruments in fixed income, equities, AIFs and, reporting directly to the Chairman.

• Support the CEO in overseeing the performance of the Businesses and its expansion, striving to achieve higher profitability.

• Report to Group HO towards timely submission of the monthly Financial Statements, Budgets and MIS reports

• Oversee the preparation and review of the annual Financial Budgets, monthly forecasts & variance analysis and corrections.

• Work closely with the HR, Admin, IT, other shared services and business segment heads to achieve synergies and efficiencies within the business.

• Progressed through series of positions with increasing responsibilities and swiftly rendered a lead role as CFO & Sr. Vice President - Operations reporting jointly to the COO and BOD, managing +350 staff of logistics, Finance & Accounts, HR and Admin, IT/EDP in UAE.

▪Perform duties as a strategic overlay to lead entire Finance & Accounts, Administration & HR/Personnel, Logistics & Warehousing functions for the UAE territory and supervise operational KPIs for the other territories of Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

▪Strategized and aligned activities in new warehouses in Jebel Ali & Technopark (2 warehouses) spanning 800, 000 sq.ft’ introduced PALMS WMS (Warehouse Management System) in 2018 to ensure seamless execution of all operations.

▪Introduced and delivered the largest and comprehensive solutions, saving cost of +AED 7M in areas of manpower, Logistics & transportation, contracts of security & cleaning, transport, outsourced labor, AMCs etc.

▪Credited for contributing AED1.0M in cost saving by negotiating prices with Freight Forwarders; improving multiple operating processes and procedures throughout the stint resulting in internal efficiencies optimization.
Set up adequate systems and internal controls to ensure streamlined processing of MIS reporting for effective decision-making.

Strategically positioned to manage treasury & finance at Group level for all the divisions (retail, wholesale & leasing) in the UAE & GCC countries; led cash flow planning & application of funds, analysis & reporting on daily banking vis-à-vis sales, liaising with the bank RMs on credit limits / utilizations and follow-up on credit facilities renewals.

▪Recognized by senior management and received Best Employee of the year award from the Chairman in 2004.

▪Inducted as AVP and promoted to VP - Finance position within two and half years due to strong performance and dedication.

▪Post de-merger of the Group in 2003 set up new Bank Accounts and credit limits with 6 major banks for 10 different entities, having a combined credit facility of over AED 230.0M (US$ 62k+).

▪Finalized AED 3.5M insurance claim with assistance of external Loss Assessor for loss of stock/contents & Business Interruption.

Achieved significant cost savings in the following areas;

Best FX rates through negotiating with banks saving almost AED 3M in cost.

Minimized and controlled interest loss on funds by effective monitoring of credit balances & value dating of transactions.

Managed legalization charges & LC/bank charges etc. as a result of using the alternate funding routes available.

Highlighted excess interest levy by the banks on term loans and reduced capital cost significantly.

Instrumental in bringing down the acquiring rate commission charged by the Banks on credit cards sales realizations.

Streamlined & introduced MIS reporting to support leadership in effective decision-making process.

As a Concept & Territory Finance Manager for UAE reported to General Manager and worked in closely with Mr. Micky Jagtiani (Chairman) in the initial development of the concept and led routine tasks such as office/retail administration, IT, warehouse, and HR.

▪Promoted from Finance Executive to Finance Manager within 8 months due to strong commitment and industry knowledge.

▪Cleared 5 months backlog in Accounts within a record 3 months and set up systems, procedures & MIS reports for reporting.

▪Contributed to the areas in retailing, involving man-power scheduling, inventory & category management, new store opening.

▪Formulated a detailed buying budget for the concept, planning & organizing marketing events, pricing, discounting etc.

Conducted C&FA/Showroom visits in southern region for commercial compliance & appearing before the Sales Tax Authorities for finalization of Assessments, also accomplished over 10 ST Assessments covering 5 states in the assigned region.

▪Utilized acute accounting and finance knowledge to prepare and finalize Accounts, MIS, Sales Tax Assessments, stock reconciliation, perform debtors age-wise scrutiny for the jewelry brand Tanishq for the southern region.

▪An integral part of the commercial team dedicated to monitor company / external credit to Trade and expense control at C&F Agents and showroom level for the brand Titan.