Executive Assistant to CEO
USA Regional Trade Center
Total years of experience :10 years, 0 Months
• An extension of the Chamber of Commerce, International Affairs Section
• Provided admin support and strategic advice to CEO on decision making matters in a diplomatic and confidential nature by analyzing financial statements, budgets, research, and proposals
• Developed organizational, operational, and marketing strategies to increase efficiency, effective management, and overcome internal/external challenges:
o Increased clients by 660% and occupancy rate from 12% to a consistent 90-95% over 4 years by repositioning USARTC to better adapt to market challenges and reaching out to new partners to establish new revenue streams
o Rewrote and recreated USARTC website content, and implemented online marketing strategies to increase website traffic and conversion rates
o Improved quality of service by developing internal policies and operational manuals on business set up and customer service, creating templates for communication, and consolidating internal databases to manage clients in a simplified manner.
• Carried out managerial and HR duties (job design, recruitment, performance reviews, mentoring)
o Developed and lead a functional team to assist in day to day operations of leasing offices and providing consultations on UAE freezone licensing, business setup, market entry, distribution strategy and visas to local and international clients
• Composed all outgoing communications (i.e. CEO emails, distribution agreements, reports, contracts, marketing material, presentations and proposals to investors and stakeholders)
• Seeked out new opportunities and strategic partners for the Sharjah Development & Investment Authority (SHUROOQ) which lead to successful partnerships in construction and recycling plant opportunities.
Confidential
--English and Arabic teacher for age groups ranging from 5-12 year old girls
--Created stimulating lesson plans to facilitate language acquisition for students from different cultural groups and backgrounds
--Part of a positive and inclusive learning environment and support system for students
--Regional Headquarters for MENA for an international NGO specializing in sports for development for children and youth
--Audited finance documents (payment and receipt vouchers, reconciliations, bank statements, petty cash)
--Created an HR management system and created then managed personnel files
--Created detailed budget for payroll for potential salary increases for each region in accordance to national regulations
--Translated HR survey (English to Arabic) sent to entire MENA region
--Participated in and transcribed meeting minutes of the critical Regional Planning Meeting 2012
--Participated with coaches in field events and activities of play and sports for children in various locations (schools, refugee camps, remote areas)
--Assisted with various clerical duties including compiling daily and monthly cash reports
--Used accounting software and internally-developed interfaces to: post journal entries; produce financial statements and reports; process expense claims, conduct bank reconciliations and deposits; carry out other business procedures using different currencies.
--Calculated taxes payable by self-assessing goods and services obtained by the organization from foreign payments as required by provincial government auditing policies
--Assisted in fiscal year-end closing procedures to ensure balanced books and providing back up documentation for journal entries for government auditors
--Reconciled monthly bank statements for an entire college with different satellite campuses consisting of many accounts with reports generated using accounting software
--Demonstrated working knowledge of Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
--Responded to phone, email, and walk in inquiries and provided front line marketing to recruit new students
--Provided tours of the campus for various clients and potential students while showcasing leadership skills
--Conducted interviews along with manager to recruit new employees
--Created promotional material and assisted in planning and running events for orientation, open houses and community events that dealt with government members and international representatives from other post-secondary institutions
--Assisted in public relations activities by being the first point of contact at a College for prospective students, their families and visitors, by responding to inquiries, and suggesting college services to best accommodate the requests of those customers
--Conducted competitive intelligence and compiled statistical information from feedback provided by surveys and presented to managers ideas for communication and creativity
--Ability to think and respond quickly to the different needs and situations of customers, suppliers, and the public under unplanned events in the most efficient and cost effective method
--Managed records and input sensitive information and inquiries using a MS Access database and used that information to produce labels for mailings, and to respond to inquiries
--Dealt directly with students to help in their planning of post-secondary education
--Participated in panel presentations for students in various institutions across the province at various school levels (elementary, secondary, and post-secondary)
--Recipient of Peer Ambassador Award for excellence
--Accounts receivable and payable for the Business and Financial Services Bureau for the Government police force, one of the largest organizations in Canada
--dealt with highly confidential information relating to the procurement of weapons and fleet of various vehicles
--Provided phone support for any inquiries within a huge organization
--Created memos explaining cheques received with proper revenue coding and expense refunds to Ministry of Government Services
--Generated and analyzed financial reports from the Government’s Integrated Financial Information System (IFIS) by manipulating specific queries
--Tracked all processed invoices and cash/cheque deposits by developing and maintaining an Excel database; reconciled this on biweekly basis with IFIS reports to ensure accuracy
-Dean's list standing (GPA over 80/100) -Peer Ambassador Award for leadership -Working towards accreditation (Certified International Trade Professional) from the professional designation authority in Canada for international trade (FITT) -Courses include: Advanced Global Strategy, International Trade Research, International Marketing Management, Global Supply Chain Management, International Trade Finance, Global Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management of International Operations, Global E-commerce, and International Human Resources Management -Prepared an international business plan for a global armoured vehicle company planning to expand its business into Mexico by analyzing the impact of economic, legal, cultural, geographical, and political systems on international business and developing strategies to utilize domestic and foreign government programs, policies, and agencies -Developed a comprehensive international marketing plan to expand a well-known American franchise into the Lebanese market which includes marketing objectives, marketing mix, strategies, budgetary considerations, and evaluation criteria
-GPA over 75% -Completed 3 internships including one in government position, and one internationally in Lebanon which earned the International Education Opportunity Scholarship -Volunteered in student welcoming activities
