Muhammad Usman

I am currently working as a Regional Chief Accountant of Legal Entities within the Global Shared Services (GSS) - Area Middle East of DNV GL, based in Dubai, UAE.

My responsibilities in this capacity include;

- All statutory reporting and compliance issue within all Legal Entities

- Drive standardization of accounting processes and recording of transaction in collaboration with the
GSS center

- Drive standardization of the chart of accounts and cost center structure for the Legal Entities

- Work with Business Controllers, FP&A and GSS to standardize Daily, weekly and monthly reporting

- Monitor shares capital development and dividends and makes sure that equity rules and dividend
payment rules are followed and are legally compliant (e.g. thin capitalization rules, limits to
dividends, WHT on dividends, dividend reporting)

- Ensure compliance with Group accounting standards, International Accounting Standards, Statutory and Tax rules

- Oversee tax compliance, supports in tax reviews, supports in preparation of tax reports and tax
calculation for annual group and statutory accounts

- Oversee compliance to statutory rules, support in yearly audits and preparation of annual statutory
accounts, notes and annual reports

- Coordinate and facilitate in Internal Control matters

- Prepare companies for Internal Control visits and participate in Group Internal Control visits

- Act as main contact point for general accounting processes (Record to Report) and group reporting
towards the shared service center, which includes providing input to specific accruals, provisions,
Intercompany invoicing, investments and asset reviews, stocks, revenue recognition, cost of sales
adjustments and questions to non-standard or complex journal entries

- Act as main contact point towards auditors and outsourcing partners from local/area side and

- Support in rolling out key strategic projects (e.g. Legal Entity rationalization, Finance systems roll-
out)

I am heading the Business Advisory and Accounts outsourcing & Bookkeeping departments of Qadi Accountants. My responsibilities in this capacity include;

 Acting as Financial Reporting Manager of various clients in different industries including Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Steel Manufacturing, Hospitality, Interior Designing and Furnishing, Healthcare, Jewellery and General Trading etc. and managing a team of accountants deputed at different clients,

 Preparing the financial projections and feasibility studies for existing and new projects/companies,

 Conducting GAP analysis and internal audits for various clients,

 Providing corporate finance advisory to existing businesses,

 Acting as a consultant in setting up of new companies,

 Managing the various other bookkeeping clients providing monthly/quarterly reports, and

 Client relationship management.

I worked in the Audit and Assurance Department of the firm for a period of more than 4 years including mandatory training period as specified by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), growing in the hierarchy from being an Audit Assistant to Audit In Charge. My last held designation in the firm was Supervisory Senior.

My major responsibilities in this role included:

- Effective planning and co-ordination of assignments to meet stringent deadlines including the supervision, training and motivation of team members;

- Supervising the audit including consultations on contentious matters, resolution of differences of professional judgment and addressing significant accounting and auditing issues and reviewing the work performed by the assistants;

- Conducting business and audit risk assessment through client meetings and via research and analysis;

- Ensuring compliance with the requirements of International Standards on Auditing and Code of Ethics issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) as adopted by the ICAP for audit engagements;

- Liaising with, and developing good working relationships with clients to deliver engagement expectations;

- Co-ordination with professionals in various fields like legal, actuarial, taxation, valuers, co-auditors and IT experts;

- Assisting clients in preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), corporate laws, listing regulations and other directives of regulatory authorities;

- Providing on-going advisory services including taxation, foreign currency remittances, accounting treatments of complex transactions, compliance with Corporate Governance requirements and secretarial practices etc. to non-audit clients; and

- Evaluating internal controls, identifying control deficiencies and making appropriate recommendations to the management.