Saad Siddiqui

Currently working as a consultant to the Head of Finance for unconventional gas / shale gas business unit runs multi-billion dollars / year capex program developing the largest non-associated gas field in Saudi Arabia (Jafurah) - $100 billion lifecycle investment that will make Saudi Arabia the largest natural gas producer in the world.

Reporting directly to Head of Finance providing strategy and decision support, accounting policy alternatives, financial analysis and handling ad hoc special projects, requiring frequent interaction with senior leadership of the business.

Set-up well accounting function, covering well capitalisation & depreciation, review of suspended wells for provision / dry-hole write-off.

Led a team of five staff from four countries that established business partnering and accounting policy group.

Acted as go-to person for finance related requests to/from business and technical accounting questions. Act as interface between business and Aramco Finance. Act as audit (both internal & external) coordinator.

Drafted procedures document for Unit of Production (UoP) depletion, and led UoP set-up in SAP.

Coordinated procedures development on Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) estimate inputs.

Represented Upstream business in accounting policies and procedures update due to the planned IPO. Topics included: impairment and CGUs, unit of production depletion, exploration costs, ARO.

Supported commercial negotiation with the government on domestic gas pricing framework.

Supported development of several performance management reports for use by the business.

Reengineered capex forecasting process to meet tight reporting timelines, improving tools and setting up a structured process that involves collaboration with the business.

Drafted first performance management / KPI analysis report for the unconventional gas business.

Set-up suspended wells review process to ensure accuracy of operational well status, requiring close coordination with business. This also required significant operational database clean-up work.

Set-up well reconciliation / list of material submission process that included training staff and leading design of SAP functionality.

Part of team that has been involved in acquisition and implementation of production & revenue accounting system.

Supported business planning activities related to controllable costs.

Mentor Saudi employees and responsible for their training and professional development.

Supported business planning activities relating to capex and controllable costs.

- Jointly led bid for Finance & Accounting (F&A) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) deal with a downstream oil company that Accenture won.
- Reviewed F&A process documentation for unconventional resources department of one of the largest oil producers in the world.
- Jointly led a survey that involved interviewing 40+ resources industry CFOs being interviewed across Australia and contributed to the development of point of view (POV) document.
- Acted as accounting expert on inventories ERP upgrade projects at two oil downstream companies.
- Led zero-based budgeting offering with a focus on utilities. This included creating a go-to-market strategy with account teams, harvesting of assets from global sources within Accenture, and development of resources to service the clients.

-Set up finance & accounting function for the midstream O&G start-up.
-Led the process that resulted in selection of the ERP vendor. Negotiated the contract and currently leading the implementation project. Set up the project charter, participated in the analysis, design and user acceptance testing phases. Leading project management activities.
-Created corporate policies & procedures and management report. Developed hiring plan and hired staff. Hired and coordinated activities with tax advisors. Set up production accounting function.
-Led the corporate budget and business plan process that involved working with executives and other stakeholders to set up the timeline and templates. Created budget and monthly forecasting models. Coordinated with Business Development and Operations groups on creating long term plan and operational budget. Created and delivered presentations to the executives.
-Drafted IFRS compliant financial statements and coordinated with external auditors on resolving accounting issues.
-Supported Business Development group by reviewing the economic models and contracts underlying the commercial deals and asset acquisitions. Provided finance support to Operations group.
-Led compliance program that covers credit facility, shareholder agreements and audit committee procedures.
-created internal controls program.

* ATCO Power is the Power generation business of Calgary-based ATCO Limited (www.atco.com). ATCO is listed on TSX, has more than 9, 400 employees and assets of $15 billion and is active in energy and utilities businesses globally.

- Performed controllership duties for a business unit (separate legal entity) that operates three coal and gas fired power plants with total generation capacity of 1, 468 MWh, annual revenue of ~$300M and original cost to build of $ 2 billion.
- Led business performance reporting including KPIs analysis, budgeting, forecasting and monthly variance analysis processes. Led operations & project accounting processes including GL close, account reconciliations and monthly / quarterly reporting activities using Oracle.
- Acted as finance “one-stop-shop” for the business unit, liaising with corporate reporting, internal audit, tax, treasury, accounting services, IT, commercial teams as well as ATCO Group office.
- Partnered with operations on solving commercial issues. Contributed to investment analysis as well as strategic business planning activities. Managed corporate cash. Created and directed process improvement initiatives.
- Identified, evaluated and implemented solutions to complex accounting issues, guided application of accounting policy and acted as technical accounting resource for the business unit. Led preparation of statutory financial statements and coordinate with external auditors.
- Mentored and coached staff, including performance appraisals and setting up career and professional development plans.

- Led budgeting / business plan consolidation process that involved managing relationships with stakeholders and executives across power plants in Canada and the UK as well as corporate office. Re engineered the business planning process and redesigned the tools used in the process.
- Led internal controls compliance activities. Worked with Group internal audit in setting the internal audit and internal controls testing scope, coordinated testing and managed resolution of deficiencies.
- Led technical accounting research including development of accounting policy and implementation of new IFRS.

-Managed a portfolio of audit clients in oil & gas exploration and production industry reporting directly to partners, handling multiple projects concurrently to meet tight deadlines.
-Directed, supervised and mentored staff which included designated accountants to get the work done efficiently and effectively; counseled staff to enhance their performance.
-Reviewed financial, operations and variance analysis to identify significant variances that may indicate audit risk areas. Reviewed complex journal entries as part of audit.
-Developed audit plans covering project budgets and implementation of KPMG’s audit methodology.
-Prepared detailed reports on audit findings including reporting to group auditors. Presented such reports to audit committees of the boards of directors.
-Assisted clients in preparing financial statements and related note disclosures in accordance with Canadian GAAP and IFRS.
-Researched new accounting literature and GAAP differences, analyzed accounting choices and assist clients in Canadian GAAP to IFRS conversion projects.
-Assisted clients in accounting for complex transactions including listings on Canadian exchange, corporate acquisitions, debt issues and equity offerings.
-Assisted clients in connection with their regulatory filings in Canada such as prospectus, offering documents as well as MD&As and AIFs.
-Reviewed management’s documentation of internal controls required for SOX 404 certification.
-Reviewed work of KPMG tax, IT and valuation specialists to support audit conclusions.
-Developed strong relationships with clients to facilitate timely completion of assignments to their satisfaction, identifying potential opportunities to provide additional services and negotiate billings.

-Planned, executed and supervised audits of financial statements of clients which included banks and companies in shipping, information technology and manufacturing sectors.
-Supervised and coached audit teams to meet budgets and tight deadlines.
-Audited group-reporting packages of various multinational clients that required coordination with overseas KPMG offices. Drafted reports on the salient features on such engagements.
-Made assessment of internal controls involving systems evaluation and documentation. This required understanding of packages and platforms (e.g. SAP) on which such financial information systems are built.
-Drafted management reports on internal control weaknesses and recommended improvements.
-Lead the accounting services engagement for one of the world's largest IT companies operating in Saudi Arabia.

-Planned, executed and supervised audits of financial statements of clients which included banks and companies in shipping, information technology and manufacturing sectors.
-Supervised and coached audit teams to meet budgets and tight deadlines.
-Audited group-reporting packages of various multinational clients that required coordination with overseas KPMG offices. Drafted reports on the salient features on such engagements.
-Made assessment of internal controls involving systems evaluation and documentation. This required understanding of packages and platforms (e.g. SAP) on which such financial information systems are built.
-Drafted management reports on internal control weaknesses and recommended improvements.
-Seconded as internal auditor to a public sector corporation. Awarded letter in appreciation of outstanding performance.
- Seconded as accounting staff to a multinational commodity trading company.

Worked with KPMG Dubai on short-term international secondment from KPMG Pakistan.

Conducted financial audits of medium to large size entities.
Coordinated efforts in teams with persons from up to six different nationalities.