Muhammad Zeeshan Sarwar

ARVEEN GROUP OF COMPANIES consist of five distinct and autonomous companies. All the associated companies are engaged in trading of dairy products.
My role is to manage, coordinate and supervise all the accounting, banking and finance related matters of group-companies. Corporate accounts are audited annually. I directly report to Vice President and Group Finance Manager, and assist him in all operational, financial and administrative jobs covering strategic as well as managerial tasks.
I joined Arveen Group by becoming part of Seltera DMCC Dubai in May 2012 as an Accountant and Finance Office. In August 2016, management decided to promote and transfer me from Seltera DMCC to other group company i.e. Arveen General Trading LLC and delegated wide range of new responsibilities including but not limited to PRO services, admin tasks, and dealing with external parties.

Brief Job Description:
• Meeting operational and financial objectives by contributing financial information to strategic plans and reviews.
• Generating budget information, monitoring expenditures, identifying variances, implementing corrective actions.
• Responsible for production of periodic financial reports and timely year-end closure of books of accounts.
• Ensuring maintenance of adequate system of accounting records, and internal controls to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of reported financial results, and compliance with IFRS.
• Overseeing the entire operation of accounting and finance departments of parent and group companies, their internal control systems and transaction processing.
• Providing the company with effective Management Information System and preparing MIS reports for senior management and Board of Directors to support operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.
• Ensuring well-designed chart of accounts to address the information needs of the management as well as compliance with the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).
• Supervising accounts payable and accounts receivable functions and reviewing the collection reports to enforce credit policy.
• Processing payroll in a timely manner and ensuring compliance with employee benefit and compensation policies.
• Responsible for cash and bank management; ensuring accuracy of periodic bank reconciliations. Liaison with Banks for L/C documentation.
• Monitoring debt levels and compliance with debt covenants. Providing financial analysis for capital investments and contract negotiations.
• Facilitating the annual audit and timely submitting audit reports to banks, chamber of commerce and other relevant government entities.
• Protecting the company’s assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls.
• Managing outsourced functions e.g. I.T. and other Consultancy works.
• Ensuring the timely renewals of staff medical insurance, vehicles insurance, workmen’s compensation and third party liability insurance.
• Protecting integrity of the company and its operations by keeping financial information and plans confidential.
• Participating in matters related to investment in real estate property,
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by improving qualification, attending educational workshops and webcasts etc.

PRO Role:
• Ensuring that all employees joining the organization comply with UAE Government regulations and employment laws.
• Record keeping and monitoring of all applications and Liaising with government entities regarding visas, licenses and sponsorship.
• Managing affairs related to Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Economic Department, Dubai Land Department, Free-zone Authorities, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Labor and Human Resource Department, UAE immigration department etc.
• Coordinating to obtain foreign visas for employees traveling on business trips and submitting visa applications to various embassies in Dubai.
• Submitting documents for renewal of commercial licenses and establishment cards of the companies.

SELTERA DMCC primarily deals in trading agricultural and dairy commodities like butter, cheese, skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder, lentils, sugar, soya-bean, tea, coffee, cocoa, rice, olive oil etc.
I am directly reporting to Vice President Finance and assist him in all operational, financial and administrative responsibilities encompassing strategic as well as managerial tasks. Further, I’m actively involved in budgeting and forecasting activities, cash and bank management, receivables and payables management, reconciliations, LC documentation, MIS reporting, financial analysis, ensuring accurate and timely fiscal year-end close, and facilitating the external audit activities.

I was obligated to manage and supervise the entire operations of the branch according to the Bank’s policies and Central Bank’s regulations including branch front and back-office functions such as cash deposits and withdrawals, funds transfer, cheque clearing, online banking, account opening and other activities covering liaison with credit and recovery departments, regional and head offices, internal, external and Central Bank’s auditors. I was also responsible to ensure budgetary control, management reporting, handling of customers’ queries, proper record keeping of security stationery, and exercise of due care and diligence regarding compliance with regulatory requirements related to Anti-Money Laundering and KYC (Know Your Customer). I was trusted by the higher management to serve as joint custodian of the branch vault and also appointed to discharge the duties of Branch Manager in his absence as ‘Acting Branch Manager’.

I was responsible for carrying out account opening, cheque clearing, cash management, online banking, term deposits, issuance of manager’s cheques, handling of inland LCs, dealing with bills for collection, caring of remittances, proper record keeping of bank’s security stationery, execution of Start of Day and End of Day processes, and maintenance of data backups in accordance with bank’s Disaster Recovery policy.

I had performed the duties of book keeping, invoicing, bank reconciliation, receivables and payables management, aging analysis, management reporting, financial year-end close, computing tax liability and timely filing of tax returns, liaison with banks, customers and other external parties, and collaboration with other departments to support overall organizational goals and objectives.