Financial Controller
Gale Pacific Fze
Total years of experience :20 years, 6 Months
Reporting to the CFO and the General Manager - MENA, the role is responsible for managing the Financial accounting, Management Accounting, timely closure and submission of monthly / quarterly / yearly reports, compliance with company global finance policies, liaise with the external auditors for year-end audit, Preparation & monitor of the budget and forecasts, and provide the necessary variance analysis with explanations, Intercompany accounts reconciliation, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, Inventory planning & Reporting, logistics, HR & Admin functions for the region.
Key Contributions:
• I took overall control of the company’s accounting function and ensured the use of approved accounting policy and procedures in line with International Accounting Standards purchase, streamlined local ledger and sales ledger functions
• I contributed fully to the company financial strategy of building a global reporting tool and implemented successfully IBM Cognos TM1.
• I took ultimate responsibility for company VAT registration also implemented VAT best practices and provide training to the staff and reviewed existing company contract and accounting systems on VAT implementation also I was lead person in implementation of IFRS 15, 16 across regions and LOBs.
• I took ultimate responsibility for the company cash management policies
• I contribute fully and worked with senior team to the development of company strategy across all areas of the business, challenging assumptions and decision-making as appropriate and providing financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers.
• I ensured that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met and company cash management policies are followed.
Located in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone, Simba Toys Middle East is a subsidiary of the German Simba-Dickie-Group with headquarters in Fürth and Hong Kong the Simba-Dickie-Group is one of the leading players in the global toy market. The group’s toy range consists of more than 4, 000 products. Simba Toys Middle East’s core business is to develop the markets in the Middle East, India and North Africa.
Responsibilities:
I was reporting directly to Group FD and supervised three junior accountants. My core functions include daily monitoring of accounting activities and also responsible for supporting the Group Financial Controller in providing the management with accurate financial reports and incisive analysis for monthly management accounts, quarterly forecasts, annual budgets, preparation of Group statutory accounts, and also supporting the group audit planning activities.
Key Contributions:
• Developed, implemented and ensured compliance with internal financial & accounting policies and procedures.
• I took ultimate responsibilities of monitoring and reviewing the Purchase & Sales Ledgers, daily bank postings & GL postings, Balance sheet and Intercompnay reconciliations, treasury and credit control functions in its entirety.
• I streamlined the period end activities and carried out peried end procedures and ensured period end reports prepared accurately and in a timely manner.
• I ensured all financial practices is in complying
with legal and corporate policies as outlined and developed systems and processes for improved financial operations.
• I maintained a good relationship with company bank and negotiated loan facility and company’s borrowing need.
• I evaluated the performance of my team and provided them training and development opportunities.
Responsibilities:
Working Service side of the business my responsibilities included but not limited to:
•Managing & controlling all aspects of Purchase and Sales Ledger accounts.
•Arranging contractors’ payment (2.8 Million GBP each month) through BACS and dealing with payment queries.
•Preparing period end reports and carrying out month end procedures i.e. Bank Reconciliation (USD, EUR &GBP), Cost Accruals, Revenue Accruals, Prepayments & Journal Preparation.
•Accounting for capital expenditure, including projects’ income and expenditure reporting and cash flow forecasting.
•Assisting European Financial Controller in timely completion of comprehensive management accounts packs & statutory accounts and dealing with auditors queries.
• Prime contact for raising contractors & Capital Purchase orders and also providing training to Project Managers /Managers on raising PO requisitions through e-procurement system.
•Preparation and submission of National Statistics Reports and assisting financial controller in VAT returns & in audit process.
•Regular liaising with customers, suppliers, sales team, project managers, management and working within the local and extended global finance teams in Europe, India and the US and also dealing with contractors’ payment queries and their time booking issues & other administration role.
Key Contributions:
•Streamlined cost accruals and contractors payments procedures.
•Streamlined the multilines invoices’ payment procedure and offshore invoices.
•Compiled a comprehensive guide notes for job procedures/responsibilities for reference and audit purposes.
•Providing training to users on new e-procurement system for booking their PO requisitions.
•Member of Asset Management committee: provided technical financial information for compiling Asset Management Policy documents.
Responsibilities:
Working home care side of the business, my responsibilities were:
•Keeping accurate and up-to-date financial records on accounting software SAGE Line 50, processing Payroll (SAGE PAYROLL) & related Inland Revenue & Pension payments
•Managing and controlling of all aspects of Sales, Purchase & General Ledger, ensuring that all posting are correct, customers/suppliers queries are dealt with, reconciled cash books and Sales & Purchase Control Accounts
•Banking of all monies & cheques received, preparing cheques at appropriate time, arranging signature and dispatching, paying suppliers through BACS & overseeing the operation of a petty cash system
•Producing nominal ledger up to and include a trial balance which involves Journal creation & posting and reconciliation of Banks and all other accounts within the balance sheet & year-end accounting & runs
•Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual Management accounts, project performance reporting for board meetings and Statutory accounts.
•Producing Budget variance analysis & Commentary and holding regular meetings with budget holders to discuss these variances in detail and also producing financial reports for management committee and funders and preparing different projects’ accounts
•Keeping personnel administration & other administrative support for events trips clubs and parties.
Key Contributions:
•Re-entered all journal of a newly acquired project (Woodview CA) from the original database (TASBOOK2) into a company accounting software program (SageLine50) with full accuracy and took responsibility of all other financial matters of this project.
•Streamlined the routine period end procedures to produce financial statements more efficiently
•Assisted Finance Manager in implementing new web based workforce management & rostering software (Webroster).
Assist in, planning, setting up, organising and controlling the finance department of the projects
•Assist in preparation and issuing of financial statements, management accounts, complex financial & Statistical Analysis & working on Sage Line 50 & Sage Payroll & Advanced level of Microsoft Excel (V /H Lookups & Macros)
•Generating financial reporting & business plans for new projects
•Developing and accomplishing business and operating plans.
•Assist IT manager of the projects in designing, installing and upgrading server and network devices, managing user accounts & emails and other IT support
• Utilising financial information & gathered relevant financial information
• General Invoice Payment, batching, coding and performed payments runs through computer system of Order Book
• Assisting in preparation of management accounts and reports writing
• Liasing with suppliers, other telephone queries & general administration work to fulfil business needs
