Tarek Abdelbaki

As the senior leader at one of Saudi Arabias most prestigious international schools, I oversee
the entire finance function, aligning financial strategies with the schools mission and long-term goals.
I serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and institutional
growth through financial insight and disciplined execution.
Strategic & Financial Planning
• Developed and led the schools long-term financial planning in alignment with academic and
operational goals.
• Supported the Director of Finance and operations in making strategic decisions through
scenario modeling, risk assessments, and multi-year forecasting.
• Contributed to capital planning and infrastructure investments by providing detailed ROI
analysis and financial feasibility studies.
Governance, Controls & Reporting
• Directed all financial operations, ensuring full IFRS compliance and accuracy in monthly and
annual closings.
• Led successful internal and external audits with no major findings; developed and
implemented improved financial control frameworks.
• Provided customized financial overview and KPI reports to the Management and Board of
Governors for timely decision-making.
Risk Management

Functional Responsibilities
• Produce and analyze detailed financial reports such as income statements, balance sheets,
and cash flow statements. Provide insights and potential impacts on commercial operations.
• Use variance analyses techniques to highlight differences between budgeted and actual
financial results and provide insights for future budgeting and forecasting.
• Spearhead the annual budgeting and regular forecasting process, collaborating with other
departments to align financial goals.
• Develop and maintain supporting documents for all financial reports and evaluate them for
various departments and committees.
• Identify financial trends and recommend actions for optimization to the leadership team.
• Efficiently respond to auditor queries, ensuring audit processes run smoothly and on
schedule.

Served as the finance head for a major food & beverage company, managing all accounting operations
while providing strategic support to the executive team. Played a key role in transforming the finance
function into a value-adding, data-driven unit.
Financial Planning
• Led the preparation and execution of annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis
aligned with company strategy.
• Provided executive management with detailed financial insights, cost-benefit analysis, and
strategic advice on pricing and investment decisions.
ERP Implementation & Process Optimization
• Successfully led the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX, aligning the ERP system with
operational and reporting needs.
• Redesigned workflows and financial processes to ensure system efficiency, data integrity, and
reduced manual interventions.
Compliance, Tax & Audit
• Ensured full compliance with local tax regulations (VAT, Zakat, Income Tax) and timely
reporting to regulatory bodies.
• Led external audits and managed relationships with auditors and consultants, ensuring
accurate financial disclosures and transparency.
Treasury & Banking
• Managed cash flow, liquidity planning, and daily cash positions.
• Oversaw Letters of Credit (LCs), bank guarantees, trade finance facilities, and banking
relationships.
• Designed and executed FX and interest rate hedging strategies in line with treasury policies.

Functional Responsibilities
• Manage and supervise the full accounting cycle, including GL, AP, AR, fixed assets, payroll,
and bank reconciliations.
• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with IFRS
and local regulations.
• Oversee inventory accounting, including stock valuation, wastage, shrinkage, and variance
analysis.
• Monitor and control cost of goods sold (COGS), food and beverage costing, and gross profit
margins.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment of revenue, discounts, promotions, and supplier rebates.
• Coordinate with operations, procurement, and warehouse teams to ensure accurate financial
data.
• Liaise with external auditors, tax consultants, and regulatory authorities.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls and accounting policies.
• Support management with financial analysis, KPIs, and decision-making insights.

• Lead the daily accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, prepaid
expenses, accruals, fixed assets, and inventory management.
• Conduct thorough analysis and approval of journal entries to maintain financial accuracy.
• Guarantee timely completion and review of bank reconciliations to uphold financial integrity.
• Ensure the reliability and accuracy of financial information, enhancing decision-making processes.
• Drive efficient monthly and year-end closing processes, achieving deadlines consistently.
• Collaborate with external auditors, providing comprehensive information to facilitate smooth audits.

• Managed accounts payable processes to ensure timely and accurate payments, enhancing vendor relationships and optimizing cash flow.
• Oversee cash and bank management, implementing strategies that improved liquidity and reduced bank fees.
• Streamlined billing and invoicing procedures, resulting in a 20% reduction in processing time and improved collection rates.
• Developed and maintained financial reports to support decision-making.