Senior Finance Manager
MBC Group, Middle East Broadcasting Center
Total years of experience :22 years, 5 Months
Spearhead the financial planning processes and analyses, including budgeting and forecasting, to support strategic decisions
• Oversee production budgets for film, television, and various media projects to effectively estimate costs for diverse aspects of production, talent, crew, locations, equipment, and post-production to monitor cash flow across the MENA region
• Prepare and present financial statements and reports to key stakeholders to ensure compliance with accounting standards
• Engage with the Chief Financial Officer to provide updates and recommendations on projects to make informed decisions
• Collaborate with Production Managers, Accountants, & Account Supervisors to implement effective cost-control initiatives
• Analyze trends, financial ratios, and cross-division assessments to establish financial benchmarks of acceptable performance
• Develop & implement a robust system of internal controls & corporate governance to initiate applicable corrective actions
• Supervise subsidiary groups to create & monetize Special Purpose Vehicles to tailor objectives to the needs of production
• Conduct variance analysis and auditing to draft and implement policies to provide critical insights and recommend solutions
• Drive the updates of business plans to identify areas of expansion, product enhancements, & the scope for business growth
• Mentor and train finance and the production-finance team to manage multiple projects & promote growth & development
• Steer the management of rebates and incentives across all business units and SPVs in the MENA region to achieve KPIs
• Review, evaluate, and approve contracts for commercial and financial terms to ensure minimal risk and efficient delivery
Led financial cycle for multi-million-dollar projects to monitor financial performance and provide accurate variance analysis
• Oversaw the consolidation of financial reporting for subsidiaries to adhere to international financial reporting regulations
• Prepared & presented financial statements and reports to senior executives & stakeholders to identify areas for cost savings
• Implemented risk management policies and procedures to identify financial risks and develop strategies to mitigate them
• Engaged with CFO to ensure smooth cash flow, streamline budgets, & establish stringent procurement and expense guides
• Collaborated with Accountants and Account Supervisors to evaluate and establish financial benchmarks to reduce expenses
• Assessed the financial viability of proposed projects to ensure effective alignment with organizational goals and meet KPIs
• Supervised daily accounting activities, reconcile purchase orders to invoices & investigate non-conformities to boost growth
• Tailored departmental budgets to control trade payables, cash flow, and accounts receivable to maintain capital expenditure
Achievements:
→ Instilled dedication and commitment to tailor the Movie Magic budgeting for TV and Cinema Productions by sourcing an effective tool to transfer script into numbers, leading to streamlining and optimizing the budgeting activities for shows
→ Successfully conducted quarterly reviews and annual audits to provide stakeholders with reliable information and transparent financial reports to support informed decision-making, resulting in securing & sustaining strategic relationships
Reviewed monthly and yearly financial and income statements, balance sheets, internal audits, cash flow projections, and quarterly principal profit and loss statements to reduce expenses and adhere to budget compliance regulations efficiently
• Customized yearly budgets to optimize cash flows, investments, and working capital requirements to maximize revenue
• Executed financial strategies to emphasize contractual obligations, financial management, and systems to control expenses
• Monitored financial compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulations to adhere to international standards
• Engaged with the CFO to provide regular updates on the progress of financial activities to contribute to strategic decisions
• Collaborated with Accountants to coordinate daily administrative operations of the department and establish work priorities
• Developed & implemented reporting practices to efficiently oversee the maintenance of department records and inventories
• Supervised performance evaluations, training, and work allocation to align human resource goals with financial objectives
• Attended special events and exhibitions in Dubai to secure and sustain strategic relationships with prospective stakeholders