Neeraj Jain

Masafi is the leading and one of the largest and oldest premium water company in UAE with business spread over more than 30 countries with ever increasing footprint. The business portfolio includes manufacturing (UAE and Oman) and selling / distributing Bottled Drinking water, Juices and Tissue paper.

The Role:
Joint owner ship of the strategic initiatives and yearly P&L along with the CEO of the business

Strategic input / support to CEO / Board and timely execution of all decision / directions from Board

Fund raising / treasury management

Overall responsibility for finance, reporting, budgeting, accounting (IFRS), pricing, taxation, procurement, risk management (including Audit, Hedge & Insurance), legal and all activities related to the function

Project feasibility / viability / M&A and Outsourcing arrangements, evaluation for new investments / acquisitions / commercial negotiations

Process / system optimization and handling / sorting out legacy issues

Gulftainer is the largest private port operatorin the world. It has presence in 5 continents with ever increasing footprint. It had in recent past acquired controlling stake in the biggest port operation in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Port Canaveral in Florida, USA and Management control of Port of Tripoli in Lebanon.

The Role:
Overall Profit and loss responsibility of the International Operations (Includes KSA, Lebanon, USA, Pakistan and Brazil business)

Accounting, Annual Business Planning, Financial Reporting and Consolidation.

New Investment / Strategy evaluation

New acquisition of a company on KSA and restructuring / raising of working capital loan, Green field project in Port Canaveral, USA, Port of Tripoli, Lebanon etc.

Follow up with companies under portfolio for Annual audit and tax compliance

Working capital management including dealing with banks for new funding and managing / restructuring of existing lines

Business / operational support and Cost management

Notable Achievements:
Major accounting issues found in new acquisition in KSA and worked with GTL board to formulate a claim and take up the matter with seller for its settlement from the agreed acquisition price

Raising funding of USD 100M to fund a significant acquisition

Managed the FDD process for new acquisitions / JV’s in USA and Lebanon

Part of HANA 4 Simple SAP implementation team

Emirates Refining Co. is the market leader in the GCC region manufacturing and selling edible Oil and Fats products. The company distributes products across 70 countries and has an annual turnover over US$ 750 Mio. The company also manages the retail distribution of entire range of FMCG products that the group manufactures.

The Role:
Managing the overall finance function including owning the overall P&L for the company / region.

Aligning the company's strategy and budget to the group's overall strategy and vision and ensuring monitoring and implementation of the same.

Support the CEO/ MD in operational and commercial decision making like pricing, tenders, Commodity risk management and buying negotiation.

Support Oil buying and risk management for IFFCO Arabia business.

Managing relationship with Audit Committee, Board, External auditors, Bankers and other related stakeholders.

Ensure timely release of monthly / periodic Financial MIS (under IFRS / IAS) including Regional consolidation of Financial Statement and annual budget for the Arabia region.

Interact with other business managers to provide consultative support to planning initiatives through financial and management information analyses, reports and recommendations.

Drive the cost optimization project across the organization by actively engaging all the stake holders.

Responsible for working capital management and funding for the UAE business which is the largest manufacturing setup for the group.

Managing the Statutory Audit and legal / statutory compliance.

Project funding / accounting / taxation / statutory compliance / for Saudi Arabia green field project.

Responsible for Implementation of biggest foot print in GCC region of Oracle (12i3 version) across 4 other group companies including 2 manufacturing units.

People / team management (have a 30 people team from various nationalities directly / indirectly reporting into me)

This was then a US$ 250 M group with Business/ Office/ Manufacturing setup in 16 countries and involved from Mining to manufacturing to retailing of Jewelry. Currently the group has 3 manufacturing locations, 3 TV channels (based out of UK, Germany and USA respectively) exclusively selling Jewelry and 22 retail shopping spread over in Caribbean Islands, Alaska and Mexico.Thailand

The Role:
•Increase the business from US$ 2.5M in Year 2005 to US$ 22M in Year 2007 & responsible for the complete P&L of the business. Had a team 150 plus people (majority local) supporting me

•Negotiate and set up the complete sourcing structure / pricing / base for luxury consumer goods from Thailand and China for the whole group

•Managing and supervising the Accounting, Reporting, Audit, Statutory compliance, Treasury and Business Planning activity for China & HKK business

•Create, coordinate, and evaluate the financial programs and supporting information systems of the company to include budgeting, tax planning and conservation of assets

•Oversee the approval and processing of revenue, expenditure, and position control documents, company budgets and responsible for complete day to day accounting and finance function

•Responsible for the preparation and reporting of financial statements, financial reports, special analyses, and information reports under IFRS / IAS

•Interact with other business managers to provide consultative support to planning initiatives through financial and management information analyses, reports, and recommendations

•Established a complete network of vendors manufacturing / supplying Jewelry/ packing material

Notable Achievements:

•Distinction of being the youngest and most appreciated Executive Manager in the group consistently delivering more than budget / expectation for 3 years

•Turned the loss making China / Hong Kong business into a sustained profitable business

It is a part of the highly successful DAL Group and is the franchise bottler for The Coca-Cola Company. DAL Group is the biggest corporate entity in Sudan dealing in FMCG manufacturing, Automobiles, Construction and Trading besides other business. The group turnover then was US$ 400M. Coca-Cola Sudan was in the business of manufacturing / selling branded Carbonated Soft Drinks, Water, UHT Milk and Juices.

The Role:

•As the CFO, was responsible for setting up finance department, hiring of people, setting of systems, processes, and internal controls

•All activities of accounting, finance, arrange long term funding, Working capital, Statutory and internal audit, legal compliance and creating conduit environment wherein timely and pro-actively business decisions are taken

•Acting as second in command to the country General Manager for all operational matters like sales planning, procurement planning / negotiations

•Follow and implement operational decisions like pricing, business strategy for the company etc. Had direct responsibility of managing 16 depots and its operations besides the regular finance and accounting activities for the Company. Had a team of +100 people (all local) directly / indirectly reporting into me

•Accountable for the Group Accounting, Project appraisal & negotiations, financing, cash flow forecast and reporting to the Board and serve as his advisor on financial & business issues

Notable Achievements:

•Part of the Core team who had set up this Green Field Project in record 8 months’ time frame i.e. from planning of project to Launch of Coca-Cola / alternate beverage in the market. This included setting up of the complete financial process and systems and putting in place the team to manage the same

Shell Petroleum Yemen (HASM Y.S.C.)

It was a joint venture company between Shell International and the Hayel Saeed Anam & Co.

The Role:

Maintaining finance and accounting (under IFRS / IAS), Monthly MIS and Financial reporting, payroll, costing, all reconciliation's, receivables/ payable & providing monthly standard management reports to Shell International including General Ledger files, account reconciliation's, expenditure by cost center, required JV reporting as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.

Managing funds / treasury / currency risk.

Assisting the Operation Manager with pricing for products and possible avenues of savings in costs / expenses.

Assisting the General Manager in day-to-day operational matters like sales planning/ budget monitoring etc.

Developing and monitoring Annual business plan.

Coca-Cola India, New Delhi, India - FMCG Regional Controller

The Role:
Responsible for finance, accounting, Consolidation & reporting (For all 26 manufacturing locations in North of India), Audit and taxation for 8 bottling plants across North India.

Implementing, administering & managing daily accounting & finance functions including the timely recording of transactions, cash management, banking, procurement, inventory, receivables & payables for the Northern Region (consisting of 8 plants / locations)

Overall Annual business planning for the region and its control and monthly reporting of financial and variances and corrective actionable including monthly rolling estimates for the region.

Provide analytical and strategic input / support to the Region CFO and Operations Director in the commercial / operational decisions.

Visiting and interacting with the 8 plants / locations on regular basis to facilitate & improvise the implementation of the Coca-Cola Systems for internal control, compliance, accounting data processing & financial reporting functions.

Daewoo Motors India Ltd., NOIDA, India - Auto Sector
Assistant Manager (Finance & Accounts)

The Role:

Liaising & finalizing the Letter of Offer for the rights issue of Rs. 6, 880 Crores with the lead managers.

Responsible for the day to day plant accounting and treasury function.

Payroll processing and payment.

Coordinating overall Statutory Audit and timely signing of financial statement with no major qualification.

Designing and laying system for project accounting for the entire project including contractors for commissioning of plant & machinery and buildings.

Capitalizing the entire car project.