LAL RAJU

Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
Transaction Finance Head (Financial Controller)
 Lead the Finance & Accounting function, overseeing both local teams and Shared Service Center (SSC), ensuring timely period-end closing, accurate books of accounts, and internal/external reporting in compliance with IFRS and local GAAP.
 Prepare and analyze IBD consolidated financial statements, including Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, and Working Capital reports.
 Present and evaluate consolidated cash flow, working capital, and net fund positions (both gross and net of debt) across all IBD legal entities to support strategic decision-making.
 Deliver periodic Income Statements and Balance Sheets for UAE legal entities, supporting management with financial insights and variance analysis.
Treasury Manager
 Created business value by proactively managing cash, risk, and arranging tailored financing solutions across multiple geographies (UAE, Pakistan, Egypt, UK, Turkey, USA, Nigeria, South Africa, and Iran)
 Led the implementation of payment automation solutions (Host-to-Host integration), enhancing process efficiency and control.
 Developed and executed FX hedging strategies to identify and mitigate FX risks effectively.
 Oversaw treasury investments, optimized arbitrage opportunities, and structured solutions like IRS (Interest rate hedging), supply chain financing and sale of receivables.
 Successfully managed working capital by securing funded and non-funded credit lines across multiple banking partners.
 Provided strategic investment recommendations aligned with company policy and risk appetite.
 Ensured full compliance with treasury policies, IFRS accounting guidelines, governance frameworks.
Internal Audit, Process & Risk Management
 Led risk management initiatives, ensuring proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial and operational risks.
 Oversaw internal audit planning and execution, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and corporate governance standards.
 Designed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across key finance and business functions to strengthen internal controls and enhance efficiency.
 Managed and enforced the company’s Delegation of Authority (DoA) framework, ensuring policy compliance and clarity in approval processes.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
ERICSSON GROUP
Company Controlling Manager
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
 Led company controlling activities across multiple RSSA entities (Nigeria, Madagascar, Congo D, Benin, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso), ensuring timely period-end closing, accurate financial reporting, and compliance with IFRS, OHADA, and local accounting standards.
 Facilitated legal entity governance meetings, presenting Income Statements and Balance Sheets, and supporting strategic decision-making.
 Provided expert financial guidance to regional management, ensuring alignment with Ericsson Accounting Directives and group policies
 Supervised the Company Controlling Specialist team, overseeing daily operations and maintaining high standards of reporting accuracy and compliance.
 Authorized financial transactions in accordance with assigned Power-of-Attorney (PoA) mandates.
 Monitored branch profitability and customer-level project profitability across all 27 countries in the RSSA region, ensuring appropriate Transfer Pricing (TP) profit levels at the legal entity level.
 Developed audit scopes and coordinated with statutory and internal auditors to ensure timely and successful completion of audits and account finalizations.
Treasury & Credit Manager
 Effectively managed working capital and secured funded and non-funded credit facilities in coordination with regional banking partners (Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti Turkey and UAE)
 Ensured all treasury activities were fully aligned with internal policies, IFRS guidelines, governance standards, and internal controls.
 Provided treasury advisory support during contract negotiations — reviewed trade terms, currency clauses, and trade deviation implications.
 Led insurance management across the region, including non-life policies such as BTI, PDBI, General/Public Liability, EAR, Marine, and E&O
 Supported credit management for all RMEA-region customers—conducted monthly credit limit
Business Control Manager
 Led the business planning and target-setting process for the key account, including performance tracking, variance analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.
 Engaged closely with customer finance teams to ensure effective cash collection, LC and SOR.
 Maintained strict control over project execution through budget monitoring, performance evaluation, and profitability reporting.
 Partnered with the sales team, providing strategic financial support in structuring and securing new business deals, with a focus on sustainable margins and risk mitigation.