MS Office
Abdul Rafae
Senior Finance Business Partner
Karachi
Summary
With more than 8 years of experience, I bring considerable exposure and knowledge in the field of financial reporting; financial planning & analysis, audit, compliance & internal controls. These skills allow me to navigate in a dynamic and growing organization via challenging roles, with an aim to contribute towards bi-lateral growth and meeting employer’s expectations with the best use of my knowledge & experience and accordingly being considered for recognition, rewards & opportunities of professional development and personal growth.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Finance Business Partner (Commercial and Op
Bazaar Technologies (Private) Limited
Karachi
02.2023 - Current
- Partner with commercial and operations (i.e. fulfillment and last mile) teams to give them visibility through various analysis to bring efficiency to the system.
- Identify major control gaps, recommending solutions, and assisting to implement the controls in order to streamline the process.
- Timely communication and coordination with financial reporting team to ensure complete and accurate picture is being reflected in the financial results.
- Acting as an advisor to management and leadership to bring attention to areas that need more focus to bring profitability and sustainability.
Finance Manager
Salesflo (Private) Limited (Formerly known as Retailistan (Private) Limited
Karachi
01.2022 - 02.2023
- Significantly played a part in supporting the agility of the rapidly growing start-up and helped the founders implement strong internal controls to sustain the growth
- Built a team of fine individuals to run a sustainable finance function and managed the entire finance department of the holding company.
- Partnering with internal and external stakeholder groups to help achieve a balance between conventional accounting finance and business partnering
- Assisted in bringing the stability by ensuring the effective implementation of robust and sound internal controls around the organization.
- Timely and accurate reported financial results on monthly basis, along with practical recommendations and foresight based on different analysis to help the management take quick decisions as well as strategic calls.
- Assisting auditors in smooth audit based on value addition.
- Being transparent and ethical in all respects.
- Advising higher management on various transactions related to start-up growth, valuation and transaction structuring and helping them plan better to deal with unforeseen business and regulatory risks.
Operations Controller (Factory & Supply Chain)
L’Oréal Pakistan (Private) Limited
Karachi
10.2021 - 01.2022
- Business partnering with Factory and Supply Chain team including preparation of budgets, financial analysis.
- Group reporting using efficient tools such as Power BI, Compass, SAP Business One etc, quickly adapting to new technology and software applications
- Ensuring transparent and sound financial reporting, monthly closing activities such as analysis and review of cost of goods sold, inventory levels, inventory days of cover, comparison with budget, within tight deadlines and fast-paced environment
- Liaising with both internal and external auditors to improve the existing processes to ensure compliance and bringing efficiency.
Internal Controls Manager
L’Oréal Pakistan (Private) Limited
Karachi
12.2019 - 11.2021
- Preparing an internal control roadmap for the country in line with group guidelines and catering top 5 topics
- Identifying and mitigating the risks in the local SoPs
- Detailed evaluation of entity’s operating effectiveness of internal controls via liaisoning with internal and external auditors
- Understanding and documentation of processes around the organization (360 degree view), identifying deficiencies and recommending relevant and efficient controls
- Partnering with the process owners to help them improve the processes by implementing action plans and recommendations highlighted from Internal/External Audits & self-assessments
- Providing trainings and workshops on compliance related topics i.e. anti-corruption; fraud monitoring, prevention & awareness; segregation of duties etc
- Advising management on various topics i.e. updates on applicable financial reporting standards i.e. IFRS – 9, IFRS – 15 & IFRS – 16; changes in group norms; & changes in local laws and regulations; monthly/quarterly reporting to local and zonal management about status of key areas and improvements.
Senior Auditor
A.F.Ferguson & Co, Chartered Accountants (member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC network)
Karachi
05.2015 - 11.2019
- Developed and implemented corrective actions to bring business areas in line with standards.
- Identified control gaps in processes, procedures and systems through in-depth research and assessment and suggested methods for improvement.
- Developed audit policies, guiding administrative and technical functions.
- Identified management control weaknesses and provided value added suggestions for remediation.
- Completed audit papers by thoroughly documenting audit tests and findings.
- Providing various services to public; private & commercial sector including non-profit bodies i.e. external statutory audits, group reporting, non-assurance assignments, regulatory compliance reviews, internal control systems reviews, transaction restructuring and advisory services related to financial accounting & reporting, tax, corporate restructuring, financial modelling, and valuation etc,
Education
CA – Finalist (2 Papers To Qualify) - Chartered Accountancy
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
Karachi, Pakistan 06.2016 - Current
Certificate in Accounting & Finance - Accounting And Finance
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
Karachi, Pakistan 08.2013 - 05.2016
Skills
Business partnership development
Finance and accounting operations
Business operations understanding
Risk assessment and evaluation of Internal Controls
Financial Reporting and Balance sheet review
Financial statements preparation and Consolidation
Financial analysis, planning & budgeting
Regulatory compliances reviews (Tax and corporate)
Management reporting, External reporting, Group reporting etc
Finance Trannsformation
Finance Leadership
Additional Information
- Attended Developing Future Leaders Program at LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences), and was privileged to be an executive alumni of LUMS.
- Completed “Presentation and Communication Skills Course I and II”, of 50 hours each, certified from Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.
- Attended various in-house courses organised by the firm on PwC’s audit methodology, PwC’s audit databases, updates in IFRSs and learning points arising from Quality Control Reviews.
- Successfully completed Assurance 1 and 2 training programs of the PwC.
- Passed various E-learns (internal tests) as devised by PwC for its audit and advisory personnel.
- Achieved “Outstanding and High Performer” rating as a result of the Annual Performance Coaching and Development.
- Have been involved in teaching, counseling, and public speaking
- Completed basic trainings and E-learn on topics i.e. anti-corruption (Corruption Prevention Policy); Segregation of Duties; Sustainability; Data Privacy; Cyber Security etc
- Conducted local workshops on anti-corruption roadmap; fraud prevention and awareness; segregation of duties; internal controls
- High proficiency in SAP Business One (was involved in SBO Implementation/SBO System Audit)
- Excellent command in Microsoft 365 applications i.e. Excel; Word; PowerPoint; Teams; Outlook
- Basic knowledge of Power BI (an IT tool for data analytics)
- Basic level knowledge of Oracle E-business, Oracle Order Management, and SAP ERP System (including SAP R/3- FICO module)
Software
SAP Business One
Power BI
Certification
Developing Future Leaders Training Program - [ 7 days]
Teaching, Mentoring, Coaching etc
Involved in teaching, counseling, and public speaking for almost 12 years now, currently teaching Audit, Internal Controls systems, Financial Reporting etc.
Timeline
Senior Finance Business Partner (Commercial and Op
Bazaar Technologies (Private) Limited
02.2023 - Current
Developing Future Leaders Training Program - [ 7 days]
10-2022
Finance Manager
Salesflo (Private) Limited (Formerly known as Retailistan (Private) Limited
01.2022 - 02.2023
Operations Controller (Factory & Supply Chain)
L’Oréal Pakistan (Private) Limited
10.2021 - 01.2022
Internal Controls Manager
L’Oréal Pakistan (Private) Limited
12.2019 - 11.2021
CA – Finalist (2 Papers To Qualify) - Chartered Accountancy
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
06.2016 - Current
Senior Auditor
A.F.Ferguson & Co, Chartered Accountants (member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC network)
05.2015 - 11.2019
Certificate in Accounting & Finance - Accounting And Finance
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
08.2013 - 05.2016