Business Manager
SADAFCO
Total years of experience :18 years, 3 Months
I joined SADAFCO as a Business Manager for Sudan. My appointment was based on an excellent relationship I have gained with SADAFCO's CEO and CFO when I was a Finance & Administration Manager in Friesland. Therefore, the responsibility given was to look after overall business establishment and development in Sudan.
However, horses were held back for the time being and awaiting the signal to start running towards the African territory. I'm a firm believer that SADAFCO is having all the chances to gain a winning ground in Sudan.
For the time being I'm turning around a troubled subsidiary and I managed to bring it back to the right course for a smoother strategic direction.
I managed and controlled the financial and accounting aspects of Abbar. Overall management and supervision of staff activities that culminates in the attainment of functional and overall company objectives.
This included harmonization and smooth running of all company branches spread across KSA.
Attendance to company systems and statutory requirements.
Satisfaction of all management reports and requirements.
As a finance manager when I joined Electro it was a young company. I took this job due to my excellent work relationship with the HR Director, Mr. Saad Al Zahrani, when I was in Friesland. However, in terms of commercial standing it was a great establishment meant to be big and strong enough to make it difficult for all GCC competitors in the region to stand and compete with Electro's superstores.
Therefore, all management team's recruitment and selection was made on the basis of the above understanding.
My role was mainly to look after accounting and financial matters of the business. However, due to the instability of the enfant business on top of my accounting and financial management activities I found myself involved and engaged in various business functionalities. Notably personnel and operational matters.
As a Finance and Administration Manager of a multi-national company I have successfully built and strengthened the function of Finance & Administration to the levels of the parent in Holland.
In harmony with the Head Quarters our systems and procedures in Jeddah were successfully aligned.
Staff training and grooming to the highest standards used to be one of my deliverables for smooth running of the business. An evidence of this my chief accountant took over immediately from me as a Finance and Administration Manager. Succession plans are always in my mind. Staff rotations within the department is a must for the improvement and development of their skills and talents.
Systems implementation and control is a talent gained through exposure to various scenarios throughout my career.
Compliance with the requirement of the Head Quarters in line with the local ones in KSA was one of the sharp skills gained working with Friesland.
My experience and dedication working for Friesland and its senior management team gave me the opportunity to work again with the same team in SADAFCO.
Financial accounting, management accounting, and budgetary control were practiced and lived with and within the manufacturing processes. Our offices are within the factory in the Industrial City in Jeddah, Phase 1. I enjoyed dressing in white in the mornings and enter inside the factory with management team almost every morning. A real feel and test of daily factory activities is lived while we enter the QC lab and test the products and discuss and solve various factory issues through the contributions of our management colleagues.
Budget preparation is kicked of by the parent in Meppel, Holland. Budget booklet is received referring to almost all the requirements for annual budget preparation. The final budget is then approved for consolidation with all other input of other Friesland subsidiaries spread worldwide.
Costing and evaluations of new products together with old ones is a routine.
Feasibility studies for purchase and installation of new production lines and new machines were frequently prepared.
Negotiations, and reconciliations with Tetra Pak, United Cartons, New Zealand Dairy Board together with other various suppliers in respect of business transactions, rebates, and resolution of any disputes were diligently managed.
Different system implementation activities were managed and controlled efficiently. Systems revision and requests for improvements and developments were made as a continuous strategy.
Performance evaluation of the overall business to the level of the per SKU were conducted at different times and frequencies.
Monthly, Quarterly, and annual accounts of the business were prepared including latest estimates and forecasts.
Revisions and improvements to the chart of accounts were made. Accounting system changes were implemented successfully.
I used to prepare monthly rolling forecasts that accommodate latest business estimates. In addition to this I used to prepare rolling five years plans.
I joined Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair Company as an auditor and ended up with them as a Finance Manager. I gained the trust of the brother partners to a level where they allowed me to study the ACCA in London.
I have managed to establish systems and control procedures for the smooth running of their business.
I have highlighted and strengthened many loopholes that saved them millions of riyals.
I have prepared various performance reports through which they have got lucrative funding from the local banks.
I have build from scratch accounting systems of newly established subsidiaries.
I have managed and facilitated various business transactions involving supplier agreements and implementation that saved millions of riyals.
I have looked after and controlled investments related to trade agreements with Spanish Brands, such as, Zara and Massiomo Dutti.