Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As a Senior Finance and Commercial Lead with over 19 years of expertise across the UAE, KSA, and Sri Lanka, I specialize in transforming complex financial data into strategic commercial action. My core strength lies in helping highly regulated manufacturing and multinational distribution organizations strengthen financial performance, optimize working capital, and drive sustainable revenue growth. Currently a CMA (USA) Candidate, I partner closely with executive, supply chain, and operational teams to protect margins and accelerate business performance. Having orchestrated financial operations and risk management for portfolios exceeding AED 2 Billion annually, I deliver high-impact value through: Strategic FP&A & Business Modeling: Orchestrating complex Budgeting, Long-Range Forecasting, Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB), and Variance Analysis to align finance with long-term corporate goals. Commercial Finance & RGM: Expert in Revenue Growth Management (RGM), Pricing Strategy, Gross-to-Net (GTN) Optimization, and SKU-level Profitability—critical for high-stakes pharmaceutical and FMCG portfolios. Working Capital & O2C Optimization: Leading Accounts Receivable (AR) Management, Credit Control Governance, DSO Improvement, and precise Cash Flow Forecasting. Controllership & Risk Management: Designing and auditing Internal Controls and SOPs to ensure 100% Regulatory Compliance and rigorous CAPEX Monitoring. Digital Transformation & Analytics: Advanced Power BI Dashboarding, MS Dynamics 365, SAP FI/CO, and Financial Workflow Automation to reduce reporting cycles and increase data integrity. I am recognized for building strong cross-functional partnerships, aligning finance with commercial strategy, and enabling leaders to make data-driven decisions that balance aggressive growth with rigorous risk management. Leadership & Vision: My long-term goal is to grow into a forward-thinking CFO who empowers organizations to adapt quickly, scale sustainably, and create value in dynamic markets. Beyond my daily role, I am passionate about mentoring emerging finance professionals to develop strong analytical thinking and ethical decision-making capabilities. Let's Connect: I am currently open to Senior Finance Lead and strategic FP&A opportunities. I welcome connections with recruiters, hiring managers, and finance leaders across the GCC. #FPnA #CommercialFinance #AccountsReceivable #CreditControl #CollectionsManagement #RevenueGrowthManagement #FinanceBusinessPartner #FinanceLeadership #CFOJourney #FinanceTransformation #GCCCareers #FinanceProfessionals
• Strengthening financial governance, internal controls, and financial reporting accuracy across business units. • Develop cost control frameworks and monitor operational and overhead costs to ensure financial discipline. • Support working capital optimization initiatives through improved financial visibility and operational coordination. • Review and enhance SOPs to improve financial control processes and compliance. • Identify operational inefficiencies and investigate unfavorable financial variances impacting profitability. Technical Skills: Internal Controls & Audit Compliance | Pricing & Margin Optimization | Working Capital Management | SAP
• Supported financial planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring for business operations exceeding AED 2B in annual revenue, delivering insights to support senior leadership decisions. • Produced management reports, KPI dashboards, and variance analysis, enabling proactive performance tracking and operational decision-making • Partnered with commercial and supply chain teams to improve margin performance, cost discipline, and operational efficiency. • Supported ERP transformation to Microsoft Dynamics 365, enhancing financial data visibility, reporting accuracy, and process automation. • Automated pricing workflows and reporting processes, improving operational efficiency by 20%. • Strengthened sales order approval governance and financial authorization controls, ensuring compliance with internal policies and credit approval frameworks. Key Projects: - Adaptive Leadership Agility Project (IBM Consulting) MS D365 Optimization Project - Contributed to the MS Dynamics 365 ERP implementation and finance transformation initiatives, improving financial reporting and process automation. - Supported the RoutePro Distribution Setup Project (B2C Business), strengthening distribution financial tracking and operational reporting. - Improved pricing workflow speed by 20% via MS Dynamics automation - Implemented CAPEX workflow automation and rebate management improvements, enhancing financial control and approval transparency.
• Managed Accounts Receivable governance and credit control processes across six Gulf markets (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain & Yemen) operations and complex customer trade terms while ensuring disciplined credit exposure and collections performance. • Monitored customer credit exposure and credit limit compliance, strengthening risk control and preventing credit limit breaches across the AR portfolio. • Achieved the lowest AR overdue ratio in the organization (14%) through disciplined collections follow-ups and structured escalation management. • Governed AR aging reviews, receivable reconciliations, and ledger accuracy, ensuring timely AR reporting and alignment with financial close requirements. • Led customer dispute resolution and deduction management, maintaining dispute levels below 0.5% (2019–2022) and accelerating cash realization. • Partnered with commercial, distribution, and finance teams to balance revenue growth with disciplined credit risk management and cash protection. • Delivered 100% collections forecast accuracy for the Gulf Business Unit (2019–2022), improving cash flow visibility and working capital planning. • Conducted quarterly AR portfolio and credit limit reviews across markets, strengthening preventive credit risk management and exposure monitoring. ••• Key Projects & Achievements ••• - Achieved Best Lowest Overdue Rate – Aujan Group (2021–2022) with AR overdue maintained at 14%. - Contributed to the implementation of the Credit Control System for Gulf BU (2018), strengthening AR governance and collections monitoring. - Key team member in the Retail Route-to-Cash (O2C) transformation project, improving credit control workflows and receivable visibility across Gulf markets. - Played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic period, supporting the organization’s return to profitability through disciplined financial controls and operational collaboration, receiving special recognition and team performance awards.
• Monitored daily cash positions for Almarai and subsidiaries, managing liquidity, cash flow forecasting, and fund transfers to optimize working capital. • Executed interbank transfers aligned with divisional needs and corporate cash flow strategy. • Enhanced treasury efficiency by digitizing traditional cash handling processes, improving accuracy and control. • Managed corporate vehicle insurance programs, ensuring full compliance and risk mitigation. • Maintained and updated foreign exchange rate files, coordinating with payroll and procurement teams. • Prepared weekly cash flash reports for senior management review, providing timely liquidity insights. • Served as primary liaison with banking relationship managers, facilitating effective communication and issue resolution. • Maintained documentation and compliance, including signatory authorizations, Board of Directors approvals, and regulatory filings. • Coordinated monthly financial closings with banks and shared services, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
Finance Responsibilities: Prepared monthly financial reports including P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow. Assisted with forecasting and budgeted financial statements. Maintained debtor records, aging analysis, and reconciliations. Supported cost and pricing analysis for purchasing and production decisions. Verified tax payments (VAT, PAYE, Income Tax) and coordinated with auditors and the Inland Revenue Department. Managed creditor/debtor reconciliations and maintained the Fixed Asset Register. Administrative Duties: Oversaw warehouse operations for finished goods and raw materials. Verified stock records, aligned physical and system inventory, and submitted reports to management. Liaised with suppliers, debtors, and banks to negotiate favorable terms. Coordinated operations with 18 dealers across Sri Lanka and handled escalations from daily operations. Employee Relations: Supervised 12 finance and 35 warehouse staff. Conducted performance appraisals and provided ongoing guidance to ensure quality output. Participated in recruitment processes and supported HR decisions.