Shahzad Ali

Leading group-wide financial governance, and finance digital transformation across a diversified conglomerate of 20 entities spanning manufacturing, trading, EPCM, and investment sectors, working directly with the Group CFO, Board, and Audit & Risk Committee to strengthen financial accountability and control culture across the group.

What I've built and delivered:

▪ Designed and deployed a Group Delegation of Authority (DoA) and Finance Governance Framework across 20 subsidiaries and JVs, eliminating authority gaps, accelerating approval workflows, and strengthening segregation of duties group-wide.
▪ Built a comprehensive Group Accounting Policy Manual aligned with IFRS and SOCPA, driving consistent financial reporting and eliminating recurring audit findings across 20 entities.
• Developed and implemented the Group's first C-Suite and Executive Spot Bonus Framework from the ground up, establishing transparent, performance-linked reward criteria for senior leadership across the group.
▪ Developed a real-time, compliance dashboard for automated evaluation of 13 Financial Controllers, reducing the evaluation cycle from 30 days to near real-time and removing subjectivity from performance assessments.
▪ Directed SAP and BI-based digital finance transformation including automated compliance dashboards, fixed asset validation, and selective posting controls, significantly improving audit readiness across the group.
▪ Automated VAT, WHT, and compliance reporting, cutting preparation time by 50% and improving data quality and working capital visibility group-wide.
▪ Provide strategic input to the Board and Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) on JV due diligence, control weaknesses, and emerging financial risks.
▪ Serve as trusted advisor to the Group CFO on KPI design, Finance Leader performance evaluation, and annual goal-setting across 13 finance functions.
▪ Partner with Internal Audit, Strategy, and Investment teams to embed controls into initiatives, eliminating risks.

A pivotal period of ZATCA regulatory transformation in KSA — leading end-to-end tax compliance across 20 group entities covering VAT, WHT, Transfer Pricing, Zakat, Corporate Tax, and E-Invoicing Phase-I & II rollout across the group.

Key contributions:
▪ Developed a BI-based VAT returns report aligned with ZATCA requirements — eliminating ~20 man-hours per month in manual preparation time across the group.
▪ Led end-to-end ZATCA E-Invoicing Phase-I & II implementation — enhancing SAP reports in collaboration with the IT team and redesigning E-Invoice, debit note, and credit note formats to meet ZATCA compliance requirements across 20 entities.
▪ Managed review and filing of monthly and quarterly VAT and WHT returns, and annual Zakat, Corporate Tax, TPDF, and CbC reports across 20 group entities.
▪ Conducted group-wide training and awareness workshops on VAT, E-Invoicing, WHT, Transfer Pricing, Zakat, and Corporate Tax regulatory updates for finance staff across group companies.
▪ Prepared and submitted ZATCA objections and appeals — protecting the group's tax positions against regulatory assessments.

Returning to KPMG at a Senior Supervisor level during one of the most active periods of VAT enforcement and E-Invoicing rollout in KSA — delivering advisory, compliance, and implementation services to a diverse client portfolio across the Eastern Province.

Key contributions:
▪ Managed end-to-end VAT compliance for a portfolio of clients — covering monthly and quarterly return review, filing, and ongoing advisory on complex and contentious VAT matters.
▪ Advised on and implemented ZATCA E-Invoicing Phase-I solutions for multiple clients — including accounting software enhancements — ensuring full regulatory compliance ahead of ZATCA deadlines.
▪ Prepared technical exposure letters identifying VAT risks during return reviews — enabling clients to proactively address compliance gaps before regulatory scrutiny.
▪ Represented clients before ZATCA for queries, objections, and appeals — protecting client tax positions against regulatory assessments.

A pivotal role in my career — moving from advisory and compliance into full ownership of a finance function for a power generation subsidiary of Al Rushaid Group. This role gave me end-to-end controllership experience across financial reporting, treasury, banking, audit, and regulatory compliance — the foundation that shaped my approach to finance leadership today.

Key contributions:
▪ Owned end-to-end finance operations including financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, and statutory compliance — delivering timely monthly and annual financials directly to the Group CFO and Group Financial Controller.
▪ Developed and implemented accounting policies and internal control procedures — strengthening audit readiness and financial reporting consistency across the entity.
▪ Managed banking relationships and credit facilities — optimizing working capital through strategic alignment of receipts and payments to improve operating cash flow.
▪ Coordinated and completed external audit within statutory deadlines — ensuring clean audit outcomes and timely financial statement sign-off.
▪ Supervised VAT, WHT, and Zakat compliance including return filings, ZATCA query responses, objections, and appeals — maintaining full regulatory compliance throughout.
▪ Delivered financial insights and variance analysis to management — directly supporting budgetary control and operational decision-making.

When VAT launched in Saudi Arabia in January 2018, most companies were scrambling. I joined Al Rushaid Group three months after go-live and built the entire VAT compliance infrastructure across 18 entities from the ground up — systems, formats, processes, training, and reporting — all while ensuring full regulatory compliance from day one.
This remains one of the most intense and rewarding chapters of my career.

Key contributions:
▪ Developed and deployed VAT returns reports in MS Dynamics across 18 group companies — building the group's VAT compliance infrastructure from scratch during KSA's landmark VAT launch period.
▪ Designed and standardized tax invoice, debit note, and credit note formats across 18 entities — ensuring full compliance with KSA VAT Laws and Regulations from go-live.
▪ Managed review and filing of monthly and quarterly VAT returns and annual Zakat and income tax returns across 18 group entities — maintaining full regulatory compliance throughout.
▪ Conducted group-wide training programs for finance staff on VAT data entry, returns preparation, and regulatory requirements — building internal capability across the group.
▪ Delivered periodic risk reports to the Group CFO on compliance gaps and system enhancement opportunities — enabling proactive resolution of regulatory exposures.
▪ Performed internal audit reviews across select group companies to assess compliance with IFRS, accounting policies, and KSA regulations.

Delivered pre-launch VAT advisory and implementation support to clients ahead of KSA's landmark VAT introduction in January 2018.
• Prepared VAT Impact Assessment reports for a portfolio of clients across multiple industries, identifying exposure areas and readiness gaps ahead of KSA's VAT launch in January 2018.
• Conducted client awareness workshops on VAT implications for business operations, contracts, and financial systems — building client readiness before regulatory go-live.
• Developed VAT reports and tax invoice formats in client accounting systems, ensuring operational compliance readiness ahead of the January 2018 VAT deadline.
• Advised clients on complex VAT queries, prepared technical exposure letters, and supported ZATCA query responses and appeals filing.

Before VAT existed in Saudi Arabia, I was helping businesses prepare for it.
Joining KPMG four months before KSA's landmark VAT introduction in January 2018, this role was entirely focused on getting clients ready — assessing exposure, building systems, training teams, and ensuring compliance before the regulation went live. It was fast-paced, high-stakes advisory work at one of the most significant moments in KSA's fiscal history.

Key contributions:
▪ Prepared VAT Impact Assessment reports for a portfolio of clients across multiple industries — identifying exposure areas and readiness gaps ahead of KSA's VAT launch in January 2018.
▪ Conducted client awareness workshops on VAT implications for business operations, contracts, and financial systems — building client readiness before regulatory go-live.
▪ Developed VAT reports and tax invoice formats in client accounting systems — ensuring operational compliance readiness ahead of the January 2018 VAT deadline.
▪ Advised clients on complex VAT queries, prepared technical exposure letters, and supported ZATCA query responses and appeals filing.

3.5-year structured CA Articleship across three practice areas — Risk Advisory, VAT, Income Tax, Corporate Tax, and External Audit — serving clients across banking, media, FMCG, textile, and public sector.
• Conducted external audits for prominent clients including MCB Bank, Defense Housing Authority, and Media Times Limited— evaluating IFRS compliance, internal controls, and management override risks.
• Delivered tax advisory services including income tax, VAT, withholding tax, and advance tax compliance — representing clients before tax authorities for audits, hearings, and appeals.
• Prepared Accounting Policy Manuals and Standard Operating Procedures for group companies across FMCG and textile sectors.
• Performed internal audit and risk advisory engagements — conducting module-wise control reviews, transaction testing, fraud detection, and monthly stock-taking across client portfolios.

• Responsible for all accounts related matters of the company from data entry to preparation of financial statements and audit completion
• Customized accounts and finance reports as per requirements of management