Accounting and Financial Consultant
Accounting & Financial Consultant
Total years of experience :25 years, 6 Months
Since 2017, I have embarked on my career as a financial consultant, engaging in a spectrum of roles encompassing accounting, finance, auditing, and taxation. However, the start of the pandemic in early 2020, extending through 2022, along with the subsequent global economic downturn, presented formidable challenges to independent service providers like myself. Consequently, I have realized the importance of stability offered by full-time employment over freelancing, and have decided to pursue a permanent position. Employers can now benefit even more from the enhanced skill set that I possess, acquired from various industries, roles, taxation, and updated international standards.
The Aramtec is involved in importing and distributing food and beverage products in the UAE. The company had a total workforce of 300+ employees. I reported to the finance manager and supervised a total of 10 subordinates that included one general accountant, two accounts payable accountants, three accounts receivable accountants, one imports coordinator, one inventory controller and two cheque-collection/follow-up clerks. The Armtec was owned by Emirati Nationals and they had employed directors to manage it, but unfortunately the company was not being steered to achieve its objectives.
The company is involved in importing ‘Hacker’ kitchens and furniture from Germany, and installing them locally in the UAE. I implemented the required internal controls and managed the finance department for almost three years from January 2013 to November 2015. I reported to the board of directors. The company had about 30 employees. I left the company with better prospectives in Armtec LLC which employed 300+ staffs and offered significant growth prospectives with an increase in remuneration by 50%.
I worked on a temporary accounting project of the Emirates National School which aimed at updating their new ERP system with the previous years’ accounting data and then to provide them with the required financial reports. The school has three branches, one in Al Ain and two in the Abu Dhabi city, and I managed the entire project work with the help of three subordinates. I reported to the Managing Director of the MIM Consultancy Company in Dubai which was the main-contractor for the project work, and I received a recognition award for the successful completion of the project work. The employment was a two-year contract mainly to complete the project-work of the Emirates National School.
The company was into trading mechanical tools and hardware. I managed the financial reporting process of the company and reported to the managing director. The company had a total of about 20 employees. The Financial recession that started in the UAE during mid-2008 lasted for several years which caused Machinery International to close its business in the Dubai Airport Freezone.
During this period, I worked with two hotels, the Banyan Tree and Angsana which are located in the Maldive islands. I reported to the ‘Financial Controller’ of the Banyan Tree, and to the ‘Resident Manager’ of the Angsana. The Banyan Tree Resort is a five star hotel island whereas the Angsana Resort is a four star hotel island. I supervised the ‘Management/Financial Accounting and Reporting Processes’ of the company. The Maldives comprises 1, 200 separate islands, with an average size of the biggest island is about 2 square kilometers, which can easily be walked around within about one hour. By the end of 2007, I travelled to the UAE in preparation for my marriage, as the island lifestyle in the Maldives did not accommodate it.
I worked with the two offices of the Ernst & Young (Big-four); one located in Sri Lanka and the other in the Maldives. I occupied a ‘dual capacity role’ with the Earnst &Young, by undertaking both accounting/auditing assignments and special engagements. Therefore, I reported to the engagement partners, directors, and managers of the Ernst & Young, depending on the requirements of each engagement. I was appointed as the ‘Ernst & Young Represented Accountant’ to a five-star hotel in Sri Lanka, the ‘Taj Samudra Hotel’ and to a five-star resort island in the Maldives, the ‘Nika Island Resort’.
I conducted audit engagements for the following large scale manufacturing companies.
Company Name (Product)
John Wards Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd (Rubber hand-gloves)
Sky Sports (Pvt) Ltd (Parachutes and paragliders)
Isabela Company (Pvt) Ltd (Socks)
Samson Silva & Co. (Pvt) Ltd (Garments)
I conducted audit engagements for the following construction companies.
Jausa Construction Company - Maldives
Maldives Transport and Construction Company (MTCC)
I conducted audit engagements for the following star-level hotel properties.
Tangerine Beach Hotel Ltd - Sri Lanka Royal Island Resort - Maldives
Royal Palm Beach Hotel Ltd - Sri Lanka Paradise Island Resort - Maldives
Sun Island Resort - Maldives Laguna Beach Resort - Maldives
Palm Beach Island Resort -Maldives Fun Island Resort - Maldives
Fihalhohi Tourist Resort - Maldives Bolufushi Island Resort - Maldives
Club Rannalhi Island Resort - Maldives
The work I did with Ernst & Young during this period represented the three-year advance training stipulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.
I worked with them in the capacity of audit trainee. I conducted external audits under the supervision of audit managers and supervisors for a number of clients operating in various industries. During this period, I also obtained a comprehensive knowledge and experience in the calculations involving personal and corporate taxation, and handled tax consultations with the Department of Inland Revenue. To qualify as a charted accountant, there was a five-year training requirement stipulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, which includes two years of basic training and tree years of advance training, so the work I did during this period represented that two-year basic training.
I obtained graduation as a Certified Business Accountant (CBA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka at a CBA-Convocation held in Colombo in January 2015, and the certificate has been attested in the UAE.
Intermediate Certificate in Chartered Accountancy