Sr. Manager Finance
Home Box LLC (Landmark Group)
Total years of experience :21 years, 5 Months
Devise and direct financial planning, accounting, budgeting, consolidation, reporting, and business support strategies, along with managing operations, logistics and IT with a cross-functional team of 95 people. Optimize decision-making and ensure compliance to statutory requirements. Work closely with business functions and improve coordination with internal and external auditors.
Finance & Business Planning
# Played lead and support roles in opening 13 new stores to expand business across the Middle East over 2+ years, improved planning for merchandise distribution, led the IT team in implementing best-in-class systems and solutions, and ensured compliance to regulations in coordination with the legal and compliance departments
# Turned around and streamlined logistics as well as other back-end operations in Saudi Arabia, conducted financial viability studies to identify locations for new stores, prepared CAPEX budgets and revenue estimates, recruited and trained teams, assessed legal risks, and collaborated with stakeholders to negotiate contracts
# Scaled up store locations to 5 in Dubai, established merchandise planning teams in both UAE and Saudi Arabia, and instituted measurable KPIs for all functions
# Improved effectiveness of business decisions by introducing MIS reports to present a 360-degree view of operations, profitability and ROI; developed capabilities to achieve timely preparation and submission of MIS reports and budgets
# Enabled greater focus on customers and sales in stores by planning and executing a strategy for replenishment and display of in-store merchandise by warehouse staff during non-operating hours; sales revenue grew by 7% and overtime costs were reduced by 68% over one year
Cost &Operations Excellence
# Optimized utilization of the purchase budget from 65% to 92% over 2 years by strengthening the internal control framework, ensuring accountability, improving synergy amongst teams; provided MIS reports that enhanced decision-making, increased efficiency of monthly closure processes, and provided support for audits
# Improved compliance to import regulations, enabling zero violations in documentation in 2016, in addition to gaining benefit of 5 days in the imports clearing process
# Revitalized the merchandising strategy, optimized inventory control and established an effective shipment tracking system, which helped to cut down logistics costs by 18% and reduce time taken to deliver merchandise to customers by 3 days
# Facilitated a real-time view of logistics operations and schedules, which eliminated instances of overbooking of transport vehicles by the sales staff
# Provided collaborative leadership to ensure high performance and drove effective strategies for team management and retention; recruited talent, implemented succession plans, and mentored team members along with motivating them
Spearheaded change management and performance optimization strategies for finance and accounting across 12 offices and 2 legal entities in India after Santa Fe took over an existing business. Liaised with banks, managed audits with PwC, coordinated with CA and legal firms, and represented the company before relevant authorities for income tax matters. Oversaw budgeting and financial planning for the business, improved internal control and risk management frameworks, and provided support for finance issues related to expat management services.
# Played a key role in driving post-merger integration strategies and contributed to business transformation by setting up the ERP software (SUN Systems) with Hyperion Reporting, aligning accounting policies to global standards, creating a shared services unit, and strengthening compliance.
# Restructured and trained the finance, HR and IT teams, brought in new people and enabled all personnel to adapt to the MNC culture and standards, which contributed to increase in performance and productivity
# Maintained cash flow and reserves for payout of dividends every year by handling treasury operations effectively; coordinated with banks to purchase government bonds and managed hedging to mitigate effects of currency fluctuation
Strategic Initiatives
# Set up a new office in Delhi in addition to establishing a state-of-the-art, hi-tech warehouse in Mumbai with CAPEX budget of INR 18 million
# Negotiated commercial contracts with suppliers, reduced 90-day debtors from 60% to 15% of the total by streamlining AR, and improved the purchase order system
# Developed frameworks to enhance revenue recognition and compliance, established a job costing system for all expenses, and implemented Hyperion for reporting along with introducing a consolidation tool
# Improved credit management and ensured timely closure of monthly and annual financial reports
Progressed rapidly across multiple leadership roles, covering audits, tax advisory services, payroll processing, and finance & accounting management, including compliance matters as well as monthly preparation, consolidation and closure of statements. Also handled fixed assets management activities for telecom and insurance companies.
Led a 72-member team consisting of chartered accountants, company secretaries, MBA graduates and senior accountants in handling accounting and compliance matters for 15+ MNC clients for Indian operations along with managing payroll processing for over 25 clients (25000+ employees)
# Set up and scaled up the night audit team for Airtel to complete validation of forms and enable activation of more than 3000 mobile connections per day and lead replicating in 5 states.
# Improved process efficiency by creating a manual for document pick-up, activation audit, scanning and storage
# Planned and implemented a vendor management system for Tata Teleservices across India
Completed Chartered Accountancy (CA) by July 2003
Completed Bachelors of Commerce in April 2001