Haidar Harb

I am currently working as a finance manager for a company called Zeefax Limited. This role is an all-encompassing role responsible for all the day-to-day accounting tasks of an SME, the production of the monthly management accounts and annual reporting/auditing, as well as providing financial planning and commercial support. This role includes preparing vat/other tax returns (as well as payroll for the company), multi-currency management and maintaining stock control. I oversee all aspects of financial controls including credit control in the business and provide Directors with business and personal tax advice.

• Payroll/PAYE
• VAT returns
• Pensions
• Statutory Accounts
• Accounts for auditors - IFRS
• Management accounts/Bookeeping
• Annual budgeting and forecasting
• Carrying out reconciliations including inter-company transactions.
• Multi-currencies management
• Analysing and providing financial data to Board of Directors.
• Cashflow forecasts and analysis
• Maintaining stock control.
• Providing Directors with business and personal tax advice.
• Overseeing all aspects of financial control in the business including the processing of payments.
• Communicating with relevant stakeholders such as the Bank and HMRC and auditors on a variety of financial matters.

For ten months I was contracted as a senior accountant at Angola LNG Marketing Limited, in the oil & gas industry. My role in this company was the senior accountant of the marketing division of a wider company with various shareholders including BP and Total. My job description had a variety of responsibilities from the approval of invoices coded up by the assistant accountant to the preparation of the fixed asset register, accruals/prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations at every month end. Every month I had to complete a wide ranging number of reports for the senior managers of departments within my division as well as shareholders on the division’s figures including variance analysis to budget and present these. VAT returns and the management of the corporation tax provision and payment of this was also part of my responsibilities.
The division recharges its costs on to the parent company and so managing the intercompany every month was vital and required reconciliation on a regular basis with queries on cost and therefore cost management.

Continuing with my progression, I was in the position of Finance Manager at Woods Foodservice. I had a wide range of responsibilities which include:
• Management Accounts
• Management of four others.
• Massive improvements in internal controls and processes in a very short space of time to help the demand in the business in a period where it grew over 30% in one financial year.
• Production of a detailed budget
• Creation of a cashflow forecast to assist the Managing Director with his commercial decision making.
• Operationally, debtor days has been bought down massively
• Creditors beyond 90 days reduced significantly.
• Advising Managing Director on tax efficiency/capital allowances.
• VAT returns

The company under my watch is now in a position where it is fully ready for the upcoming audit, which I have been in negotiation regarding and have fully prepared the finance team for. My day-to-day tasks include:
- Cashbook management, posting and bank reconciliations
- Cashflow forecasting
- Ownership of Sales Ledger and management of Credit Controller and 2nd PT Credit Controller
- Management of Assistant Accountant
- Ownership of Purchase Ledger and management of AP Clerk
- Management accounts preparation in full and variance analysis to budget
- Report on management accounts and variance analysis to board of directors
- Preparation of month-end schedules, including prepayments & accruals and all month-end reconciliations
- Maintenance of Fixed Asset Register and posting of depreciation
- Customer profitability and viability reviews
- Assist Managing Director with commercial decision making