Central Business Services Manager
Qatar University
Total years of experience :31 years, 5 Months
• Reporting directly to the College Dean.
• Responsible for managing the provision of college needs for administrative requirements, educational and training materials, and equipment, in accordance with the requirements of offices and departments.
• Ensure compliance with financial procedures and supervise expenditures.
• Evaluate the performance of the staff at the Office of College Administration and Financial Affairs.
• Work closely with Office of the VP for Administrative and Financial Affairs on all matters related to the needs of the College and the processing of its financial and administrative dealings, the maintenance of its facilities and the implementation of the contracts of services offered to it.
• Present periodic administrative and financial reports to the Dean and carry out other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for maintaining company’s general ledger and recording financial transactions, including payables, receivables, inventories and fixed assets. Define accounting procedures based on the approved accounting policy and in line with relevant statutory requirements.
• Responsible for the preparation of periodic financial statements and statutory financial information to relevant government authorities.
• Responsible for maintaining and producing monthly and quarterly financial statements in compliance with policies and procedures of the company.
• Responsible for the coordination of all related internal and external audits of the company.
Administratively, reported directly to the Chief Editor for all day-to-day functions and financially to the General Manager. I have played a major and crucial role in the initial set-up and successful opening of a newly re-established newspaper in Qatar. My responsibilities were broad and gone beyond the following:
• Set-up along with top management the organizational chart and establish all policies and procedures for both administration and finance.
• Personnel Management: Put in place all HR policies & procedures as well as the "Employees Handbook" which was like a reference guide to all staff.
• 75% of the staff was expatriate staff. Housing, medical and immigration issues were planned well in advance and were handled properly to avoid any unnecessary expenses.
• Financial Management: Major implementation of a new software system required for effective financial management and reporting (QuickBooks).
• Performed day-to-day financial activities as driven by the business need.
• Responsible for the specific functions of financial analysis, forecasting and planning. Developed analyses, forecasts and made recommendations for funding.
• Provided leadership and guidance to a team of about 16 team members as well as to the big group of about 115 team members.
- A member of the Leadership Group team reporting directly to the Board of Governors and playing a major and crucial role in the overall success and future development of the college in areas such as:
o Strategic Planning: Participated in establishing short and long term goals, including creative marketing and outreach programs to increase registered students.
o Fiscal budgeting: Develop and lead the process of developing budget involving all operation units.
o Financial Management: Perform day-to-day financial activities as driven by the business need. This includes accounting, purchasing as well as banking activities.
o Major implementation of a new integrated software system required for effective financial management and reporting (SAGE).
o Make decisions on technology refresh and IT infrastructure upgrades to ensure the college maintains its IT competitiveness and lead.
o Personnel Management. HR policies & procedures and implementation of new software application for effective human resources management and reporting.
o Estate Management of college and housing facilities including running a full consolidated maintenance contract
o Administration and Marketing.
- High degree of cultural adaptability, working effectively in a multidimensional context.
- Provide leadership and guidance to a team of about 16 team members.
- Oversee daily accounting operations and financial reporting functions.
- Monthly and yearly financial closing cycle process.
- Balance Sheet, G/L accounts, and bank account reconciliations.
- Monthly financial statements and financial variance analysis reporting and action recommendation.
- Keep senior management appraised of operational goals/targets
- Monthly revenue and profit forecast.
- Cash flow management.
- Data analysis and budgeting process.
- Provide leadership and guidance to Finance & Purchasing team (18 team members).
Various project assignments that included the following responsibilities:
- Daily accounting operations and financial analysis.
- Fixed Assets schedules in FAS system.
- ‘Navision’ financial reports writing (i.e. cash flow, owner’s equity roll forward statements).
- Present monthly analytical results in manner appropriate for senior management decision-making.
- Monthly financial reporting packages.
- Maintain monthly investor and retail accounting books.
- Implement and coordinate standard operating procedures for internal and external use.
- Maintain internal development and management control.
- Deliver timely and accurate financial data to senior management through monthly financial reporting packages (included: balance sheets, income statements and financial statement variance analysis reports).
- Oversee daily accounts payable functions, monthly sales tax returns filing, and monthly bank account statement reconciliation.
- Budget preparation and monthly forecast.
- Member of the executive committee team of the hotel.
- Annual strategic planning involvement.
- Financial budget and Capital Expenditure budget preparation. Presentation of budgets to senior management at the corporate office as well as to hotel owners.
- Over sought financial operations in general and financial analysis.
- Maintain good relationship with hotel owners as well as with other hotel representatives.
- Guidance and support.
- Oversee daily accounting operations.
- Prepared and post month-end G/L entries and reconcile monthly balance sheet accounts and bank statements.
- Prepared monthly revenue and labor forecast.
- Month-end closings and financial statement preparation.
- Responsible for the operation of the back-office and POS systems.
- Maintained the Capital Expenditure account of the hotel property.
- Assisted in the preparation of yearly budgets.
- Led a team of seven members and conduct daily line-ups.
December 1993 - July 1996
o Senior Accountant
June 1992 - December 1993
o Credit Manager
October 1991- June 1992
o General Cashier - Day Auditor