Manager Risk Consulting
KPMG
Total years of experience :21 years, 9 Months
Currently working as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on secondment for a manufacturing client having sales of more than 100m (Saudi Riyals) per annum. In short period we managed to transform finance department through identifying right resource for each task, development of finance policies and procedures, updating chart of accounts according the business needs, reconciling financial information, dealing with banks to restructure loans, enhancing procurement and vendor management process etc.
Apart from above, my job role also includes managing client interactions at senior levels and management of large teams with technical background and skills in variety of professional disciplines. The variety of advisory services includes but not limited to development and implementation of policy and procedures, setting up of and sourcing Internal Audit, development of Business plan, development of company profile, conducting internal audit, special investigations, supervising implementation of ERM system etc. Clients industry ranges from Oil & Gas, Automobiles, Financial Services and Banks, manufacturing’ sector etc.
Manager Internal Audit - Retail Banking Audit - (Jan 2013 - to date)
•Developing / updating comprehensive annual Audit plans and quarterly refresh. I am responsible for conducting annual country risk assessment for retail banking and country co-ordinator for entire audit function.
•To lead retail banking country quality assurance programme for all audits.
•Lead complex and group risk based audits.
•Development of training course for the internal audit teams to conduct periodic reviews as per the revised work procedures in line with the enhanced audit methodologies.
•Training of new staff relating to on-going assignments and help them to achieve common departmental objectives.
Head Retail Banking Audit & Subsidiaries (Acting) - (April 2012 - Dec 2012)
I was responsible to oversee the internal audit activities for retail banking audit division, internal audit function in Standard Charted Leasing (Pakistan) and Standard Charted Bank (Lebanon). Responsibilities in relation to the above role includes
•Assist Head of Internal Audit in preparing various updates relating to statutory requirements and Board Audit Committee directives.
•Developing / updating comprehensive annual Audit plans and quarterly refresh. I was responsible for conducting annual country risk assessment for retail banking and country co-ordinator for entire audit function.
•Performing risk assessments, scoping & planning, resource management, fieldworks reporting, tracking and escalating issues as per the Group Audit Methodology.
•Establish and develop effective working relationships with Management for which incumbent has risk assessment responsibility.
•Conducting continuous monitoring process with management to ensure full understanding of business strategy, plans, products, performance and risk-related issues at business unit level.
•Manage audit reviews to ensure quality of work and timelines for audits are as per the group standards.
Manager Internal Audit - Group Function and Risk - (Jan 2011 - Mar 2012)
Responsibilities in relation to the above role includes leading audit teams, carrying out risk based testing of all cycles, sub-cycles, processes and sub-processes relating to and including the following core areas of the entity;
•Periodic reporting of audit matters including timely tracking and escalation and effective closure of issues to the Management.
•Leading the annual Risk Assessment, Planning and Scheduling exercise in respect of Pakistan, Lebanon and Jordan; and
Manager Internal Audit - Project COSO/ICFR (Mar 2010 - Dec 2010)
Worked as Project Manager implementation of COSO & ICFR Frameworks (based on Sarbanes Oxley Act-US). The role entailed coordination between all internal and external stakeholders on a Pan Bank basis, regarding the implementation and continuous maintenance of the Bank’s of the following specific project deliverables.
•Process and control documentation/Mapping
•Conducting institution-wide compliance readiness assessment for all of the applications within this project’s scope to define the control environment and to identify the areas where deficiencies exist
•Creating action plans for remediation of each deficiency and Testing Plan for testing of key controls
• Quality Assurance/ Validation on the initiatives completed.
• Management’s own testing of key controls and reporting of results to Board, through Audit Committee
• Reviews and certification by the external auditors
Projects: Development and finalization of all audit programs under the enhanced methodology, regulatory requirements and best professional practices to bring improvements emanating from role enhancement. I worked as a project leader for this assignment and worked closely with Ernst & Young (hired as consultants for this project) to ensure quality and timeliness of this project.
•I was mainly involved Financial Reporting Controls Framework, Business Protection Program and IT Goverence component of GFS program and was acting as a focal point for FRCF, ITG & BPP components.
• I was responsible for documenting complex areas like actuarial reserving, Tax, budgeting & forecasting and claims. I was also responsible for review of process documentation prepared by other staff members.
•Analyzing the identified controls to ensure that these are design adequately to mitigate the risk(s) associated, this was assessed through construction of Risk control Matrix.
•I was responsible for testing, providing guidance on testing to other staff members and suggesting improvements in the processes (e.g. automation of manual process). Remediation: Where the control failed to meet the operating effectiveness test, I was responsible for briefing the controls owner about the shortcomings and with coordinated efforts developed strategy and timeframe for controls to be operating effectively.
•I was also responsible for testing & evaluating of Business Application Controls (BACs); It includes the task of analyzing all the controls across General Insurance and Life, and to identify all the underlying system reports which form part of the controls and analyze if these reports requires testing.
•I was also responsible for reviews of G/L reconciliations including bank reconciliations and follow up on reconciling items
I have worked as in-charge on various jobs through out the year. My responsibilities include engagement management, client relationship management, and co-ordination with professionals of various fields like legal, actuarial and IT experts and decision-making for resolution of critical reportable matters), liaison with client and review work of audit staff. I was also responsible for performance appraisal of audit staff and help to plan continuous improvement.
I have lead large teams through the planning, execution and conclusion stages of statutory audits, validation of financial reporting packages of multinational concerns and other varied special nature engagements. My responsibilities include engagement management, client relationship management, and co-ordination with professionals of various fields like legal, actuarial and IT experts and decision-making for resolution of critical reportable matters. (Reporting in Pakistan is based on IFRS as applicable in Pakistan and audits are performed in accordance with ISA)
I have also been appointed by the management as a trainer of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Learning and Education Program and have conducted numerous courses for the guidance of newly hired audit assistants.
CIMA's Islamic finance qualifications have won an award to recognise their world-leading status in the industryand chosen as 'Best Islamic finance education provider 2013' by the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) committee. The individual certificates will give you skills in Shari'ah compliance and the complexities of the contracts that underpin this compliance. -Islamic commercial law -banking and takaful -Islamic capital markets and Instruments -accounting for Islamic financial Institutions.
Member of the Institue
I am left with two papers to complete my certification.
I have completed four year training period with PWC and has been award early promotion to senior level and also received monetary rewards.
