SHANKAR DUTTA

Senior Finance Leader and CORE Finance Specialist, expert in managing the development and delivery of cross-functional financial processes to drive efficiency in major cross-sector global businesses. Key strengths include: building trusted key stakeholder relationships across all levels of the business to clearly communicate and achieve agreement to financial requirements; establishing, developing and mentoring cross-cultural, multi-lingual Finance teams to optimise engagement and performance; leveraging a deep knowledge of end-to-end accounting and CORE finance processes to successfully deliver financial requirements across the organisation; and leading the creation and implementation of critical process flow and compliance activities to ensure appropriate governance and strengthen financial output.

Key Skills
 CORE Finance Leadership
 Tax planning
 VAT
 Strategic Planning
 Data analysis
 Stakeholder Management
 SAP FICO  Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
 Direct tax
 Management Accounting
 Team Leadership, Coaching & Mentoring
 System Implementation

Career History / Work Experience
2004 to present: Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC, Muscat, Oman: up to Finance Manager

MHD LLC’s is one of Oman’s largest and most dynamic business leaders in commercial trading, while having expanded also into industrial products and services, contracting and investment.

 Promoted to Finance Manager in 2016, leading and managing the Core Finance operation, leveraging 18+ years’ experience in 360-degree finance and accounting management across tenure at MHD. Report directly to Managing Director.
 From 2018 to 2020, led Finance functions for subsidiary company, Duqm United Logistics LLC.
 From 2005 to 2021 managed the Accounts Payable (AP) function for the whole Group, leading 17 staff. Continue to support the AP function and also provide ad hoc support to Accounts Receivable function.
 KPIs focus on: timely and accurate VAT return submission, Indirect Tax, Direct tax, Maintenance of Fixed Asset Register; Financial reporting.
 Responsible for subsidiary -DUL-budgeting and Financial analysis 2019-2021
 Lead the conceptualizing and implementation of financial procedures with active involvement in the maintenance and finalization of accounts, and statutory audits.
 Responsible for delivering VAT reporting, MIS and building internal financial controls.
 Extensive experience in building trusted relationships and liaising closely with diverse statutory agencies to secure mandatory approvals.
 Team leader in VAT implementation, liaising with consultants and all functional groups, ensuring statutory VAT compliance in all business verticals.
 Lead the implementation SAP S4/HANA and manage system transition.
 Responsible for monitoring Capex expenditure, including cost tracking and ensuring compliance with budgetary targets and policies.
 Responsible for the review of general ledgers and compiling financials.
 Took responsibility for management of Procurement and Logistics functions, covering shipping, clearance and customs compliance, from 2017 to 2019.
 Support inventory management activities including the delivery of stock movement reports, order levels, and liquidation decisions.
 Formulate annual budgets and conduct variance, cost benefits, balance score card and critical analysis.
 Assist DFO in implementing strategic business plans and new initiatives based on client trends, competitor reviews and cost reduction analysis

Key Projects & Achievements
 Successfully managed OMR5m project finance for a major inhouse capital project to build new automobile manufacturer showroom, delivering within budget.
 Negotiated increased credit period in current pandemic environment to ensure flexibility of cash flow.
 Successfully obtained business compensation as a result of key automobile vendor divesting their business during the contract period, causing loss of potential future profits.

Auditing of sales and service
• Setting up Inventory controls
• Design and Implementation of spare parts system
• Internal Audit reports to management
• Liasing with external auditors
• Overseeing preparation of Final accounts for tax purposes

 Accounts:
 Monitoring statutory books of accounts and reconciliation statements; ensuring compliance with time and accuracy norms.
 Preparing Final Balance Sheets and Account Statements with Indian accounting standards compliance prevailing at that time.