Ravi Avadhanam

Raising & management- debt and equity
•Excellent Investor and lender relationships
•Legal compliance - Companies & commercial law
•Joint ventures, acquisitions and due diligence


•Budgets, financial forecasts and analysis
•Business strategy, planning & monitoring
•Financial hedges and operational risk review
•Tax Management- VAT ESR and direct taxes
•Implementation of ERP and Information systems
•Cash forecasts and working capital management
•Process improvements, controls & compliance

Assignment to drive change in financial reporting, and commercial growth in the AED 100 million regional division. With seven direct report staff; took leadership of the finance and supply chain functions.
•Introduced activity-based budgeting, profit center accounting and variance reporting, improving profitability by about 2 %
•Led process improvement initiatives in project management, contract review, service management, and procurement.
•Initiated a cross-functional effort to reduce inventory, achieving a reduction of 80 % in slow-moving stock. Created a program of periodic identification of potential obsolescence, inventory planning and just-in-time with key vendors
•Formulated an expansion plan of the regional unit with complete financial and commercial feasibility
•Rolled out an internal control framework in line with corporate guidelines and local regulations.


Multiforms LLC. An AED 700 million multi-division architectural façade company (operations in UAE and KSA). Owned by Emaar Industries and Investments (investment arm of Dubai’s leading real estate developer) and ACWA a major Industrial company of Saudi Arabia. Company engaged in fabrication and installation of aluminum and glass windows/panels for facades

Appointed by

Reporting to the CEO with a dotted line to the COO. Led a team of 12 accounting and administration staff. Implemented financial and accounting structures with sound business processes for the start-up businesses in a short period of time.
•Implemented financial reporting, control-framework and business processes.
•Working capital management -- commodity and currency price risks, supplier payments and receivables management. Achieved savings of up to 5% of the bottom line.
•Successfully completed implementation of a tier-1 ERP, as project manager for both companies in less than two years.
•Designed and improved most business processes resulting in efficiencies. Achieved a reduction in order-to-cash cycle by about 15 days (20 %)
•As Lead manager of the ISO program, led a cross-functional team to reduce material wastage by about 10 %, resulting in a saving of about USD 500 K.
•Raised and managed complex borrowing facilities from International and local banks-- both under conventional and Islamic finance. Negotiated terms resulting in annual savings of about USD 300K.
•Drafted a private placement memorandum detailing the growth of the company, made presentations to potential investors defending due diligence exercises.

Reporting to the General Manager locally and Finance Director in Head Office in the UK. Led a 6-member team. Responsible for UAE and regional offices in GCC, India and Azerbaijan. Played the role of a strategic partner to the local head of operations and the finance team in Glasgow, UK.
•Regional level reporting and consolidation of accounts. Active engagement with head office team on accounting policy, control framework, taxation, cash management and audits
•Key role in set up of joint ventures and operations in other countries. Commercial feasibility of agency and authorized repair facility tie-ups.
•Progress review, billing and control of O&M and supply-cum installation projects. (in UAE and CIS countries)
•Optimized operating costs. Achieved a substantial reduction in trade receivables and inventory levels. Reduced obsolete inventory from 10% to 2%.
•Played an active leadership role in all quality and improvement programs (ISO, HSEQ, 5S etc.) Managed the HR function during the growth phase of the business and the IT function as well. Active support to the management in commercial, legal and policy matters
•Reduced receivable levels by up to 20%, with use of letters of credit. Currency hedging resulted up to 10 % of the region’s bottom line.
•Successfully implemented tailor-made software supporting all major business functions. Worked actively on a corporate level ERP implementation (MOVEX). Administered a major expansion of the computer network
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PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENTS
In the United Arab Emirates; with a motor dealership of a large local group, as Senior Accountant
In India: With a manufacturer of brass and alloy strips (Listed company with a large manufacturing facility based in South India) as Assistant Manager based at the head office. Supervising accounting, taxation and cash management.