Issa Sweidan

Construction and contracting in Oil & Gas, Upstream Oil & Gas Services, Marine services, Trading Drilling chemicals, Maintenance & operations Services, Corporate Catering, and several Asset classes of investments.

Head Of Finance & Investments

Provide ongoing financial leadership to the main business line in constructions and 4 Start-ups within the fields of: Marine services, Corporate Catering and Drilling Chemicals. Advised the Board and CEO with development of business strategies and financial models, core competencies, revenue stream development, business lines and strategic partnership identification. Managed relationships with venture capital partners, accounting firms, law firms and banks. Currently, representing the shareholders as a Board member in several start ups. Report to Chairman of the Board and CEO of Albinali Group.

Selected Achievements:

• Developed high performance finance team for all start-ups to drive disciplined growth and strengthen controls. Managed to establish 4 start ups in the past 3 years. The teams consist of total 18 accounting & finance associates.
• Structured and negotiated numerous new Joint Ventures strategic partnerships: SAVAGE Saudi Arabia (SATORP’s Petroleum Coke Handling with estimated contract value of USD 150 million), OVMS (Agencies agreements with Airbus Helicopter & CMN Security boats), Patisserie Suisse (Major agreements with ARAMCO Aviation and community Catering), MARCAP Saudi Arabia DP1 & DP2 Marine services with revenue of USD 8 million per year for two vessels.
• Achieved USD 40 million in funding via capital planning, search, negotiation and leveraging operational receivables.
• Achieved total revenue growth over 300% in all start-ups through successfully winning several bid contracts with major clients.
• Priced several successful bids mainly for ARAMCO under different business lines. Last bid won was “Calcium Bromide” a drilling Chemical for ARAMCO starting May 2014 for two years with estimated value of USD 35 million.
• Managed to reduce funding requirements by 25% per project via development of finance road-map & schedules for each project and manage a pool of funding to achieve higher efficiency

Specialized in high quality slats for shutters, garage doors and high quality facades profiles and automation.

Finance & Administration Manager
Directed finance, accounting, human resources, logistics, pricing, client relations and facilities management. Reported to the General Manager.

Selected Achievements:

• Re-establish financial control leading the company out of severe financial losses to sustained bottom line profitability in less than one year.
• Transformed the company from bankruptcy to enabling it to fulfill all its commitments and manage to generate some value for the owner.
• Restructured and renegotiated finance limits structured that resulted in saving around 10% of company finance cost.

Regional Operational Leasing & Fleet Management targeting corporate clients. The shareholder was “ The International Investor (TII)” listed company in Kuwait Stock exchange.

Regional Finance Manager
Managed a team of 35 regional accounting and finance associates, directed regional accounting and finance operations, and non- finance project management, mergers & acquisitions. Ensured cohesive financial, strategic and operating plans, hedging interest & currency risk, securing contracts financing, allocation of resources, Kuwait listed company reporting & consolidation, budgeting, and financial analysis. Reported to the Board and CEO of the business line and to TII’s CFO.

Selected Achievements:

• Secured over USD 500 million of contract Financing by normal structure and syndications.
• Managed two major acquisitions in Turkey for two major players (DECAS, DeCAR) and merge them together under Fleet Corp - Turkey. Total value of the deal was around USD 50 million. Total number of fleet was over 18, 000 Vehicles that range in size from small car to a ship tanker.
• Managed to ensure proper reporting and consolidations for Kuwait Stock market requirement on time and with no remarks over the period of two years.
• Achieved 2% margin improvements two convective years through better financing structure and mitigating of operational risk.
• Achieved savings of USD 15 million per year; mainly in human resources expenses & rent through upgrading CRMs technology, restructuring the operational procedures and centralizing major processes with keeping a margin of flexibility to keep practically of work flow.
• Initially I joined a troubled Jordanian company called “ Leasing Solutions” in 2005. Established new structure for the accounting department with new procedures, controls and guidelines. Restructured all company facility limits with value over USD 50 million and managed to bring the company from severe negative cash flow to positive cash flow. Then, managed to sell 60% of the company to a strategic investor the “TII” in 2006, when the company became Fleet Corp - Jordan.

•Planned, managed and developed relationships to ensure maximum profitability and minimizing risks of total balance sheet of USD 100million. \n•Structured the clients’ portfolio based on their plans, targets and ability to repay in accordance with HSBC and Central Bank guidelines and compliance requirements

Financial Advising Services that include Accounting & Tax Services for small business and individuals.

Financial Advisor

Developed and identified new business opportunities (Mortgages and Financial Investments). Accounting services and tax reporting using software program called MYOB as Information System. Retirement fund plans, College fund plans and Insurance policies.

Selected Achievements:
• Performed this Job in parallel with Master degree program in Australia.
• Generate revenue stream of almost USD 1 million to the company in fees & commissions.

Banking & Financial Services. Several positions assumed:

Financial Planning Officer/ Financial Services 2002-2005

Provided financial advice complying with HSBC guidelines and regulator (Jersey Financial Services Commission) requirements to provide the best advice through HSBC and non HSBC investments Funds & insurance policies. Built, developed and managed portfolio of client relationships with total value of USD 100 million.
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GIMIS Coordinator/ Financial Control Department 1999-2002

Managed GIMIS (Group Integrated Management Information System) from user and operator sides and utilizing it to:
• Produced Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) monthly reporting, and Group reporting and analysis.
• Cost analysis on Bank, Business lines, Branch, Product, and Transaction levels to promote cost control.
• Strategic and Annual Operational plans and budgets.

Nostro/Vostro account Reconciliation & Central Bank Reporting 1998-1999

Banks reconciliations and Jordanian central bank reporting requirements (Daily, Monthly, quarterly, Half Yearly and Yearly).