Group CFO Level Advisor to CEO
Diversified
Total years of experience :33 years, 1 Months
Advice GCEO on all business related issues, Investment Decisions, acquisitions, business plans, strategic issues, financial issues. Finance Director for Technology, Corporate reporting and compliance, Commercial divisions. Responsible for Transformation of finance function spread across geographies
Work for a very large Diversified Group based in Abu Dhabi
Employs 8000+, Turnover USD 2bn, highly diversified group into Food and Agriculture,
Healthcare, Construction, Education, Technology, other commercial business(Hospitality,
Real estate, F&B, Manufacturing, Food Trading and distribution)
Strategic role at Corporate level to oversee Group’s Finances, Investment Decisions, Financial planning & policies, Strategic Planning, Banking Relationship, Foreign Exchange Management, Business reviews, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, MIS and KPI, Business valuations, Shared Service Centre implementation, driving implementation of cutting-edge technologies including Robotics and BI, improving fiscal health and customer credit management.
Engaged with financial institutions on Debt Restructuring, arranging long term and working capital loans. Primary focus on Investments, Cash Management, Financial Risk Management, Project and Structured Financing, Trade Financing, Corporate Finance.
Major contributions include restructuring banking lines (AED 2Bn) with a consortium, driving business improvements through review process, saving costs through Interest Rate swaps (AED 12 Mn), leading BU CFO’s to achieve financial targets / reduce costs. Undertook a major digitization drive including use of Robotics, setting up fundamentals of a Shared Service Centre for finance.
Employs 9000+, Represents Nissan, Samsung, Sony, large automotive brands, leading construction company.
Oversee Group’s Finances, Manage Investments, M & A’s, Financial planning & policies, Strategic planning, Banking Relationship, Treasury, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, MIS and KPI. Driving implementation of cutting-edge technologies including Robotics and BI, improving fiscal health. Carrying out detailed business reviews and working out Performance improvement plans. Represent on Board of Group companies.
Major tasks initiated to turnaround loss making business units, digitize, reducing finance costs and developing robust MIS and dashboards, inventory reduction, new business initiatives
Sharaf own, run and manage ships / ship agencies, Partners topmost shipping & logistics companies, Presence in over 50 countries. Employs 11, 000+, 300+ companies. Owns largest electronic retail brand in MENA. Represents MSC, K line, Steinweg, Forever 21, Samsung, Apple.
Oversee Group’s Finances, Financial planning and policies, Strategic Planning, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, MIS and KPI, improving fiscal health, carrying out detailed business reviews and working out performance improvement plans, Cost Optimization and Project Management.
Established a formal corporate structure with clear responsibilities for the Board, MANCOM, BU Heads and BU CFOs. Restructured a shipping debt in a downward trend shipping market. Turnaround of Retail business and supporting logistics business and setting up large logistics center projects.
100 + companies / 50+ retail outlets / employs 12, 000+ / represents 300+ MNCs e.g. Toyota, Lexus, KIA, Ford, MAN, Komatsu, Hino, Yokohama, Hertz, Air India.
Business interests in Automotive, Heavy and Construction Equipment, Oil / Gas, Travel and Tourism, Construction, Contracting, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Trading. Managed a team of over 250 staff .
Overall responsibility for Finance department. Key member of the Top Management Strategy team. Spearheading Investments, M&A’s, Responsible for Financial planning and policies, Banking Relationship, Foreign Exchange management, Business Reviews, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, MIS, Mergers & Acquisitions, Due Diligence, Shared Service Centre conceptualization, improving fiscal health, Customer Credit Management & developing strong relationship at CEO / CFO levels - Bankers, Auditors, professional consultants, key customers / suppliers, insurance companies
Achievements
• Commenced free zone operations - tax / cost benefits USD 45Mn pa, payback 2 yrs.
• Leveraged interest arbitrage on in-house financing - additional income USD 6Mn pa.
• Introduced forex hedging policy - buy at lower than market averages saving USD 12Mn
• Reduced interest cost - USD 5Mn - using low interest products / utilizing surplus funds
• Funds / currency management model implementation - savings USD 7Mn pa
• Negotiated all risk insurance vs. individual policies - savings 30% (USD 1.5Mn pa)
• Introduced product branded motor insurance - improved inflows, income by 20%
• Implemented a transparent credit policy, use of risk matrix for evaluation.
• Conceptualized an accounting shared service centre - manpower savings of 25-30%
As Group Chief Commercial Officer - (General Manager)
Managed a team of over 100 staff including CAs, Engineers, Marketing Heads, Lawyers.
Responsible for managing Group’s Commercial operations including Construction project management (USD 1Bn+), Business performance review, Legal and Compliance, Real Estate Marketing and Management (Asset base USD 1Bn+). Overseeing Procurement strategy, formulation of HR policies, IT Plans, Export Management, Internal Audit, negotiation of complex deals with customers / suppliers considering risk mitigation.