Qatar
I am a seasoned and commercial-minded senior finance professional with over 20 years of robust experience in finance, legal intricacies, procurement dynamics, strategic acumen, and corporate governance. I possess proven expertise in financial planning, analysis, and risk management. My skills include optimizing working capital, budgeting, and forecasting, as well as leading financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls. I have demonstrated my ability to collaborate across departments, influencing informed decision-making. As an effective leader, my commitment lies in enhancing profitability and shareholder value through sound financial management. My track record showcases cross-functional leadership, driving organizational success through visionary thinking, financial acumen, and operational excellence. I am proficient in orchestrating mergers, acquisitions, and business transformations. I am positioned to steer companies toward sustainable success, merging financial prowess with broader business vision and aligning aspirations with CEO-level responsibilities.
• Rejoined ELAN Group as Group Chief Financial Officer to drive strategic initiatives for privatization through IPO. • Spearheaded corporate restructuring efforts, aligning financial operations with shareholder objectives. • Led the IPO readiness exercise, including the overhaul of corporate governance and SOPs to ensure compliance with regulatory authorities' requirements. • Enhanced financial reporting processes, resulting in improved transparency and decision-making efficiency.
Serve as integral member of the steering committee to manage the startup of the company as the execution arm of Qatar Tourism Authority leading the entirety of the organization’s support functions including Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and general support services, thereby playing a central role in driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and ensuring the alignment of shared services with the organization's strategic goals of the various sectors of the company such as MICE, International markets, Festival & Events and Marketing of the state of Qatar as unique tourism destination.
In this role, I direct finance function, group strategy, and business plans across groups and subsidiaries as reported to GCEO and Board of directors, optimizing financial performance and governance. I manage comprehensive financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting for Organization's treasury and investor relations. Also, I conduct commercial viability assessments for group's diverse business lines, enhancing informed investment decisions and mitigating financial risks. I oversee comprehensive M&A activities, optimizing assets and divestments. Engage and deliver quarterly presentations to board of directors and invited as committee member, contributing to group's strategic direction. Also, I govern delivery of financial reports to top management and shareholders. I prepare monthly and quarterly financial packages, summarizing actual vs. forecast variances for clear organizational insight. Additionally, I procured and collaborated with external auditors, consultants, and internal audit team, enhancing financial audits. Keu achievements: • Formulated group finance policies, ensuring compliance with varying jurisdiction • Contributed to IPO readiness initiatives, diversifying stakeholder composition as government decisions dictate, enhancing organizational robustness. • Engaged as board member in international JV partnerships, elevating collaboration on global scale. Secured long-term funding for Elan group and established open channels of communication with shareholders and government bodies. • Nurtured relations with external auditors, ensuring IFRS adoption and compliance resulting in clear, accurate interim and annual financial statements. • Functioned as control tower, ensuring corporate governance policy adherence and "DOA" authority matrix compliance in group activities. • Initiated and managed M&A deals, skillfully shedding underperforming investments, resulting in $60M successful divestment and optimized portfolio value.
In this role, I spearheaded group finance function under group Deputy CEO's guidance. Led finance departments in UK and MENA regions, delivering financial data for informed decision-making by executive management. I supervised finance heads in Qatar & UK to align with dynamic business changes, developing financial trends for more insights about business analysis that drove correction actions. Also, I supervised and validated periodic and ad-hoc MIS, elucidating variances. In addition to this, I collaborated with finance manager for quarterly board presentation, showcasing business results, and key financial insights. Also, I managed two tasks with PWC, divestment financial advisors. Additionally, I conducted company valuation, utilizing diverse techniques on finance dept's long-term projections. Furthermore, I orchestrated divestment prep, including teaser and info memorandum logistics, to successful completion. Key achievements: • Attained strategic target of establishing integrated global open platform "GOP" by ensuring awareness of progressive investments, and projected revenues and cash flows. • Guided QIS EXCO Team on long-term capital planning, ensuring funds availability for strategic objectives attainment through financial expertise. • Enforced QIS Group's adherence to good governance principles as stipulated by Articles of Association, Board Bylaws, and accepted codes. Sustained updated and accurate ERM process through EXCO discussions. • Engaged with Ministry of Finance and Economy, ensuring annual funding for Qatar, MENA & UK operations. • Verified UK subsidiary's cash flow needs, facilitating quarterly working capital funding arrangements. • Designated as financial representative of shareholders and played pivotal role in company's 2013 divestment process. • Transformed finance department into dependable business partner, surpassing mere financial reporting and becoming strategic asset.
Under this role, I guided accounting manager in ensuring precise accounting treatments and accurate record-keeping, maintaining proper cutoffs for transactions. I established operational controls, aligned with evolving business dynamics. Also, I ensured timely reporting to Central Bank of Qatar, promoting compliance and transparency. I assessed company investments, delivering feasibility recommendations to top management for informed decision-making. In addition to this, I oversaw external auditor relationship, facilitating full statutory accounts preparation. I collaborated on audit plan, ensuring successful implementation with accounting manager. Key achievements: • Spearheaded company treasury, optimizing cash benefits for direct net profit enhancement through adept local bank negotiations on diverse time deposits. • Directed annual budget preparation, aligning with GM's business plan assumptions and board of directors' directives, enhancing financial planning. • Mentored accounting manager in finance and accounting best practices, resulting in over week reduction in monthly financial reporting cycle.