Wahab Mahdi

Provides leadership in comprehensive management of business support and compliance functions in the project.
Provide leadership and technical guidance for compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP),
GAS (Government Auditing Standards), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR);
develop financial risk management and control strategies; and reviews and approve recommendations for financial
planning and control, providing relevant fiscal information to executive management team. Be responsible for develop
and manage financial analysis models, implementing effective and efficient business processes and procedures for the
program and managing internal financial audits. Manages the activities of the finance staff and selects, develops and
evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function. Ensure standardization of administrative procedures
for efficient award and sub award management; development of contractual documents including templates and ancillary
business forms; and comprehensive analysis of contract terms and conditions.
 Assign and audit the work of the finance department, while providing guidance to staff.
 Provide strategic leadership to the finance and Grants staff in a field office and manage the operational
and strategic functions for the finance department to ensure compliance and efficiency.
 Monitors and updates the project budget.
 Oversee administration of contract interpretation, compliance with regulatory requirements and
restrictions, sub award administration, compliance site visits, and donor relations among others.
 Engage in the more critical and confidential aspects of financial analysis.
 Provide final decision making on projects and problems that may cross functional boundaries.
 Responsible for the development of policies, systems, special financial studies, etc. of major importance.
 Provide recommendations and consul with management on financial performance and risk management
 Develops and implements process improvement plans to ensure financial controls and operational
procedures.
 Provides leadership in financial reporting, audit reviews and assessments processes.
 Keeps abreast with the latest trends in financial accounting and mentors staff.
 Develops capacity of team performance and drive for excellence.

• develop, coordinate, and maintain financial management systems by creating budgets, tracking expenditures, accruals, and obligations
• Monitor activity budgets to ensure costs are within budget using pipelines.
• Work with country program staff to ensure that imprest reports are submitted accurately, completely and on time; review all transactions in the imprest reports for compliance with FHI 360 and client regulations as well as cost reasonableness, allowability and allocability; provide feedback on submitted reports.
• Work closely with accounting staff to ensure reconciliation of imprest accounts, respond to questions and serve as liaison between home and field offices in matters related to field office financial reporting.
• Request wire transfers to imprest accounts.
• Review local procurement documentation.
• Maintain accurate list of accruals and commitments for reporting purposes.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for assigned activities.
• Review FHI 360 vouchers for accuracy and compliance with client’s billing requirements.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and within a team, and the ability to effectively analyze and solve problems. Capable of multi-tasking, establishing priorities and meeting tight deadlines consistently.
• Review expense reports and fee payment requests.
• Verify allocations to funding sources and expense categories.
• Assist with printing, review and verification of cost sheets; reallocating charges on cost sheets as necessary.
• Prepare and distribute monthly cost sheet and Level of Effort reports and track updates made by staff.
• Enter and update budgets in FHI 360’s Financial System (Hyperion).
• Assist with FHI 360’s Annual Budgeting Process.
• Assist with responses to internal and external financial audits, as necessary.
• Respond to financial information requests

1. Senior Finance Manager, Dec.14, 2011 to present: USAID/Chemonics Governance Strengthening Project (GSP):
Responsible for performing and managing financial and administrative duties for GSP,
● Train, supervise and oversee the work of the finance staff including project accountants, bookkeepers and cashiers, etc. to ensure efficient performance. Review and evaluate staff performance on a regular basis. This may include travel to GSP regional project offices in Hilla, Erbil, and Basra.
● Approve vouchers for cash disbursements, with secondary approval from the Director of Finance and/or Chief of Party, related to procurement of goods and services; monthly payroll; employee benefits; and taxes (personnel, business, etc.), ensuring all necessary back-up documentation is verified, collected, and filed according to established operating principles and procedures.
● Review project staff timesheets for approvals and allocation of billable hours, holidays, leave, payroll taxes and withholdings.
● Review all transactions entered into ABACUS for proper allocation of billable expenses; proper booking of labor to the relevant labor categories; and the inclusion of PINs where required.
● Prepare monthly financial reports to the Home Office with the assistance of the finance staff.
● Monitor weekly reconciliation of petty cash. Train finance staff in the use of the imprest method.
● Establish a financial filing system and regularly review the maintenance of this system by project finance staff.
● Assist the Director of Finance with monthly forecasting of operating costs and track projects costs as needed.
● Prepare and review monthly bank reconciliations. Submit wire transfer requests to the Home Office as approved by the Director of Finance.
● Supervise finance teams in Baghdad, Hilla, Erbil, and Basra.
● Serve as acting Finance Director as needed.
● Other duties assigned by the Director of Finance or his/her designee.

• Implement RTI’s standard Field Office Financial Management Policies and oth accounting policies.
• Review, approve and process cash disbursement in accordance with the LGP financial management policies and established approval levels:
• Review expenses for compliance with USAID rules and regulations and FAR (federal acquisition regulations).
• Review and approve Local Employee Travelling Expense Reports.
• Oversee the expenditures booking and producing, uploading weekly expense reports.
• Oversee and approve payroll transactions to include salary distribution.
• Oversee the approval and processing of revenue, expenditures, department budgets, mass salary updates, ledger, and account maintenance and data entry.
• Develop the budget of LGPIII jointly with the Deputy Comptroller and produce control reports.
• Develop and implement finance, accounting, billing, and auditing procedures.
• Establish and maintain appropriate internal control safeguards.
• Ensure record systems are maintained in accordance with accepted auditing standards.
• Produce periodic cost reports and perform cost analysis as required.
• Provide accounting advice to the local national finance team.
• Perform the monthly and annual accounts close out and report the cash and bank reconciliations.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate department staff.
• Prepare cash projection for the weekly cash management
• Review and approved Expense Reports submitted to HQ/NC.
• Perform financial analysis and budgeting at the regional office:
1. Preparing the annual budget proposal.
2. Tracking and updating the budget through producing variance analysis.
• Assure adherence to Internal Control, creating the necessary internal control systems and update them continuously.
• Manage Acc Pac (Accounting Package) System for booking the expenses, producing expenses reports and performing accounts close out, bank and cash reconciliations.

• implementing RTI’s standard Field Office Financial Management Policies and other accounting policies
• Review and approve cash disbursements in the accordance with the LGP Financial Management Policies and established approval levels.
1. Approve ‘Advance Request forms’
2. Approve vendor payments for operational and grant payments. “Approved for payment” stamp.
• Review expenses for compliance with USAID rules and regulations and FAR.
• Review and approve Local Employee Expense Reports
• Review and approve Expense Reports submitted to the home office.
• Enforce compliance with LGP procurement policies and participate in the bid selection committees. Monitor the procurement department
• Review and approve payroll transaction before producing payroll sheet, work to prepare, track and distrust salaries and Report payroll status at the end of each month.
• Perform financial analysis and budgeting at the regional office:
1. Prepare and update bi-monthly Regional Office budget
2. Track and update the budget
• Report, jointly with the property officer, the updated property books.
• Train, manage and supervise the finance team (Accountant, Cashier, Procurement and property officers).
• Assure adherence to Internal Control
• Determine the estimated funds needed to cover the program and operation activates, preparing the cash management report.
• Manage Acc Pac (Accounting Package) System; book and report the expenditures.
• Prepare and submit cash and bank reconciliations with the deadline.
• Enforce grants financial management policies and support Regional Grant Manager and Grant Advisors in the implementation and monitoring of grants.
• Maintain grants financial management files that include the following documentation:
1. Approved grant application
2. Copies of all invoices and grant Request for Payment forms
3. Grant payment summaries
• Review the grants Requests for Payments forms against the grants’ scopes.
• Update grant payment summaries

• Design and assist in implementing financial systems for mayoralty of Baghdad; accounting system and other sub systems; personal, salaries, budgeting and property management system
• Direct the planning and development and setting of operating budgets for the component, in coordination with the company budget office.
• Provide fiscal advices of implementing international accounting standards to the provincial councils.
• Coordinate the development of budget guidelines, annual legislative funding requests, and budget documents.
• Review and advise the team leader on the financial viability/cost-benefit, and the relative special project/program proposals for funding.
• Compile scheduled and special reports, analyses, and feasibility studies such as annual data summaries and program status reports, and training materials, and budgeting programs.
• Perform research and analysis to evaluate programs and develop recommendations for more Cost-Effective organization or funding mechanisms.
• Provide and direct performance auditing.
• Provide assistant in performing financial analysis via using financial ratios.

short term assignment. Auditing Iraq Cement Company.