Independent Finance and Management Consultant
Independent Freelancer
Total des années d'expérience :34 years, 10 Mois
a) Studying, analyzing and comparing business activities and relative results for determining the spots of strength and weaknesses in business.
b) Organizing and re-organizing administrative charts, re-designing “Job Descriptions” to fit with amended charts, maximizing productivity & minimizing paperwork (through detailed flow-charting of activities), with an ultimate aim of reducing staff, eliminating bureaucracy and speeding up the execution of procedures and tasks.
c) Setting internal audit points, linking departments by nature of work or activity to ensure maximum compliance with external laws and internal procedures.
d) Examining and improving existing IT solutions and MIS reports for more precision flow of financial information.
e) Analyzing and reducing the general operational overheads and costs of production without affecting productivity, seeking every possibility for increasing income through digging into slightest details.
f) Other tasks as required by the business or requested by the client.
Typical universally-defined CFO duties in telecommunication business, including but not limited to controlling and ensuring profitability of operations.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
a) Done a third party “Asset Revaluation Assessment” officially raising the net worth of the company - (approved by officials & accepted by banks)
b) Obtained considerable bank facilities for all new and ongoing projects
c) Created new internal “Business Areas” with various “Cost & Profit Centers” that are also used as departmental KPI’s to accurately measure performance
d) Purchased and implemented a new ERP integrated computer system to manage and monitor the entire business
e) Enhanced the Accounts Department into a loss of profit “Prevention Centre”
f) Implemented an entirely new cost analysis & control procedures accompanied by unified cost-codes for all projects and production batches
g) Implemented daily “Waste Reports” which resulted in reducing production waste by more than 15%
h) Reduced working capital requirements; improved cash flows and diversified sources of financing
i) Increased registered capital from AED 1.5 to 6.0 Million to strengthen the financial position
j) As a direct result, “Net Profit” percentage in 2010 exceeded 11.06% (was below 7% in 2009) accompanied by an 8.15% increase in the “Turn Over” (measured by works done, invoiced & approved); and it was continuously improving during the following years.
INDUSTRY: Infrastructural Contracting, Construction, Water and Sewerage Works, Studies and Execution, Landscaping, Operation & Maintenance Contracts.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
a) Redesigned & improved the finance and administrative functions by formulating newer but simpler internal policies, processes & workflows.
b) Re-engineered and enhanced the Organizational Structure implementing Key Performance Indicators to measure performance, productivity & profitability of the reduced staff.
c) Overhauled all suppliers’ agreements terms & conditions as well as their relative cost accounting measures, applying a unified cost-code for all projects that helped to consolidate results per activity.
d) Implemented a very efficient cost reduction plan on fixed costs & minimized all variable costs without affecting productivity and enhancing results.
e) Restructured company’s debts to banks & suppliers over a 5-year plan with a grace period, reducing interest paid, improving cash flows & purchasing abilities.
f) Renewed the company’s fleet of vehicles & construction equipment to a relatively smaller but more efficient, well-maintained machinery.
g) Reduced working capital requirements & improved assets utilization & productivity.
h) Diversified sources of funds by implementing new financial approaches & techniques.
i) Improved Balance Sheet & Income Statement tremendously & appointed KPMG as External Auditors.
INDUSTRY: Road Contractors
ACHIEVEMENTS:
1) Implemented a new and fully integrated custom made Oracle based real-time information system to improve coordination between organization’s HQ, branches & offices which permitted to reduce the clerical workforce by 15%, boosted productivity, reduced paperwork & enhanced prompt reporting and immediate control.
2) Obtained huge bank facilities to finance projects and acquire productive assets. This was a pioneering step with Nigerian bankers who usually were very hesitant in granting such form of facilities against a simple "Negative Pledge".
3) Improved electronic flow of financial reporting and implemented very strict hierarchical electronic real-time approval standards for transactions after having discovered a series of fraudulent unauthorized actions.
4) Initiated several change programs that resulted in considerable efficiency gains (i.e. consolidation of tasks, personnel reduction, restructuring inventories with higher turnover & eliminating deadstock).
5) Monitored closely the projects actual costs versus their estimated budgets, preventing wastages and over-spending in projects that were worth $2.6 Billion.
6) Managed several engagements in different sectors and fields.
7) Implemented an "Asset Revenue & Cost Analysis” for the fleet of equipment which resulted in big savings in their running expenses and enhanced the control of their usage, maintenance & replacement.
8) Introduced new financial products such as revolving LC's and “Payment Guarantees” to regular suppliers and eliminated completely the insurance required for local banking operations.
INDUSTRY: Contracting, Construction & Civil Engineering
Director of Finance & Administration for a group of seven companies that employ more than 6, 400 labors, mainly involved in the construction business, import & trade of building materials, industry & production, including ready-mix concrete, pre-cast, carpentry & aluminum.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
1) Centralized the "Finance Department" for the entire group, the matter which resulted in a stronger cash position and a wiser, yet, more efficient and productive utilization of the existing bank facilities and other financial resources.
2) Introduced the "Consolidated Balance Sheet" and "Net Worth" valuation to the group
3) Using a fully integrated real-time information system, online approval of financial transactions was implemented centrally for all sister companies of the group.
4) Established new, inter-related financial & administrative policies for the group to systemize and control all related procedures.
5) Analyzed and re-organized the flow of work and information that the MIS reports became instantly accessible by a simple “push-button”.
6) Supervised a team of 68 multi-cultural accountants and could deal comfortably with ambiguity
7) Re-designed, analyzed and reviewed all types of periodic financial reports, submitting necessary recommendations to the concerned Managers and annotating the statements forwarded to shareholders.
8) Enhanced all insurance coverage & conditions for the entire group.
INDUSTRY: Ready Mix Concrete, Blocks & Precast Plant
When I joined the group, Al-Ghafly RMC was encountering tremendous losses, the reason why I requested to take in-charge of the management.
Seven months after taking over RMC’s management, the bleeding (which was caused by erroneous cost-related matters) stopped completely and the results of the following year turned positive.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
1) In collaboration with the Engineers and Lab Technicians, an entire re-assessment of the "Cost of Production" was carried out and the results showed clearly the reasons for the deficit.
2) Immediate corrective actions were taken to stop the bleeding without delay.
3) Enhanced and assured the quality of production, where RMC stopped facing “Lab test failures”.
4) Implemented accurate daily activity reports, similar to “Production”, “Waste” and “Delivery” Reports.
5) Enhanced the follow-up and collection procedures. Aging of receivables became very satisfactory & supportive of operations and thus, the flow of funds.
6) Improved relationship with suppliers & their relative credit and payment terms.
7) Partially renewed the fleet of Trans-mixers and enhanced the performance of the workshop.
INDUSTRY: Distributors of Ford, Mercury & Lincoln vehicles in Lebanon
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1) Managing and supervising the "Finance & Accounting Department".
2) Carrying-out, following-up and developing contacts with local and international banks.
3) Preparing periodic financial statements, reports and other analysis for the Management.
4) Handling the import and export "Letters of Credit", as well as the discount of “Notes Receivable”.
5) Following-up closely on the status of collections.
6) Reducing, through close follow-up, the running, and operational costs & expenses.
7) Making financial arrangements with local suppliers.
8) Carrying-out the duties of the "Personnel Manager" and conducting employees’ files and daily status.
9) Working-out and finding solutions for all the computer & networking problems in terms of both, hardware and software.
10) Preparing "Job Description" forms for the newly created jobs and positions within the continuously enhanced organizational chart.
11) Handling corporate finance with suppliers abroad and following up on the investment and revenue issues, including the flow of stock and fleet sales incentives and promotional matters.
12) Handling all the other daily banking, financial & accounting routine work.
PUBLIC SECTOR: U.S. Diplomatic mission to Amman - Jordan
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1) Organizing professional exhibitions to promote American products in Jordan.
2) Conducting consecutive meetings with local merchants and importers to introduce new releases of U.S. products.
3) Following-up, analyzing and resolving issues between local Jordanian importers and U.S. exporters.
4) Working side by side with the Jordanian Ministry of Economy and Trade to amend the Jordanian laws that affect or conflict with the U.S. export policy and the Jordanian import regulations, particularly those laws related to customs and taxes.
5) Keeping an eye on the local development of the economy and its accompanying regulations, trying to fit-in the opportunities for more U.S. exports to the Jordanian market.
6) Reading, analyzing and translating all the economical-commercial articles in all local Arabic newspapers, highlighting the news that might be of interest to the U.S. Department of State and Department of Trade and Commerce, reporting directly to the Commercial Attaché with comments and annotations.
1. BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (with concentration in Finance & Banking)