Danish Owais
Investments | Strategy | Finance
Karachi
Summary
I have over 14 years of total experience in the field of investment, strategy, and financial planning in Pakistan and United Kingdom.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Finance
Engro Fertilizers
Karachi
08.2022 - Current
- Financial management: Responsible for financial management of Engro Logistics Business
- Business strategy: Responsible for developing a long-term strategy for Engro Logistics and evaluate opportunities within the logistics space to enhance footprint
- Efficiency initiatives: Identify and evaluate areas which has room for improvement and implement initiatives to reduce costs and enhance efficiency
Chief of Staff
Engro Fertilizers
Karachi
06.2021 - 07.2022
- Solve business problems: Analyzed multi-faceted problems and engaged with CEO to discuss relevant solutions/ideas for existing and new businesses issues
- Steward efficiency projects: Run the program office for seven cross functional projects to optimize fixed costs and improve efficiencies.
- Syndicate with stakeholders: Encouraged coordination and cooperation among departments and continuous review of interdepartmental processes to support quality control and improvement
Group Strategy Manager
Engro Corporation
Karachi
04.2018 - 05.2021
- Economic and industry analysis: Analyze macro-economic environment, identify and evaluate vertical value chain opportunities of existing business with assistance from subsidiaries and develop a broader view to recommend a strategic direction
- Greenfield business analysis: Identify and analyze greenfield opportunities in the country through primary and secondary research and provide recommendations
- Acquisition analysis: Analyze, evaluate, and provide recommendation on any acquisition opportunities and identify its synergies with the existing businesses
- Sustainability strategy: Initiated work on sustainability strategy for the group, which include evaluating all subsidiaries and identifying key metrics with the help of subsidiary operational teams
Head of Research
EFG Hermes
Karachi
11.2015 - 03.2018
- Economy, industry, and business analysis: Analyzed macro-economic environment and commodity prices, evaluated listed companies and provided recommendations pertaining to investments in oil and gas exploration & production; and oil marketing sectors
- Managed local and regional talent: Managed local research team covering various sectors in Pakistan (including cements, fertilizer, power etc.) and frontier market oil & gas team covering oil & gas companies in Vietnam, Nigeria, Kenya and Bangladesh
Senior Investment Analyst
AKD Investment Management
Karachi
09.2014 - 10.2015
- Financial Modelling and forecasting: Developed financial projections and forecasts to guide investment decisions
- Company analysis: Analyzed, forecasted, and provided recommendations for major companies in different sectors listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange namely Oil and Gas Exploration, Textile, Packaging and Insurance
- Oversaw equity investment strategy: Based on the Macro Economic, Industry and Company specific detailed research, while monitoring the company & sector specific weight thresholds allowed under the Regulatory Framework and the Equity Funds’ Objectives
Financial Analyst
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
London
12.2012 - 02.2014
- Independent price verification: Provided a formal opinion on the fair value of inventory (Bonds and Derivatives) held by Credit Sales and Trading, FICC Emerging Market Ex-Asia and Structured Credit Trading businesses as part of formal monthly cycle. Furthermore, I performed price testing for SPV collateral and credit derivative testing for Mortgage business
- Valuation of non-performing loan portfolio: Performed month end valuations for the non-contentious and contentious non-performing loan portfolios for the Mortgage business
- Distressed corporate credit analysis: Analyzed, forecast and provided recommendations on distressed European companies such as Fiat Industrial and Peugeot for loan extensions, restructuring and refinancing for Loans and Special Situation Group business
- Variance reporting for Credit Sales and Trading business: Evaluated, analyzed and reported variances for bonds, indices and credit default swaps for the Credit Sales and Trading Business to the Price Valuation Group and the Front Desk
- Dispute resolution: Resolved disputes with traders arising due to large differences between independent and desk price variations
Financial Analyst
Geezer Telecom
Manchester
07.2011 - 10.2012
- Special reporting to assist executive management decision making: Assisted top management in making financial decisions by providing cost benefit analysis on company’s future financial performance on loans and investments
- Prepared operational performance reports: Prepared quarterly and monthly operational performance reports which included industry outlook and company’s performance in terms of operational environment with actual and forecast monthly financials and recommendations to optimize cost efficiency
- Establishment of company’s operations and financial procedures: Played a key role in a team of four to develop and establish procedures for the sale of services, customer verification, provisioning, billing, credit control and service standards
- Suppliers’ comparative analysis: Evaluated different suppliers available in the market and provided recommendations which reduced the costs of services acquired by 25%
- Staff performance evaluation: Developed and maintained performance evaluation model in MS Excel to measure the activity of sales agents, provisioning team and customer service advisers. It also provides the staffing requirements which helps in optimizing the staff related costs
Research Analyst
AKD Investment Management
Karachi
07.2008 - 08.2010
- Investment analysis: Developed financial models to analyze, forecast and recommend companies in five different sectors listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange namely Oil Exploration and Production, Telecommunication, Fertilizer, Gas Distribution and Textile
- Fund management: Responsible for overseeing investments worth PKR 200 million in AKD Index Tracker fund which involved managing liquidity of the fund to meet redemption requirements, portfolio adjustments/re-balancing while minimizing implicit costs and carrying out regular performance attribution analysis
Education
CFA Charter Holder -
CFA Institute
06.2018 - 06.2021
Master of Science - Finance
Manchester Business School
Manchester, United Kingdom 09.2010 - 09.2011
Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance
Institute of Business Administration
Karachi, Pakistan 08.2004 - 05.2008
Skills
Problem Solver
Investment performance analysis
Financial Analysis
Stakeholder management
Team player
Cost control and reduction
Strategic and financial planning
Business planning
Industry analysis experience
Quality control enhancement
Financial modeling & forecasting
Company & business research
Business process mapping
Data analysis
Accomplishments
- Received Engro Excellence award in 2021 for concept initiation, planning, and stewarding various cross functional projects to extract efficiencies
- Received Global Recognition Silver Award in 2013 for Outstanding Performance by Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Received Best Quarterly Employee Award for the fourth quarter 2011 by Geezer Telecom
- Elected class representative for MSc Finance Program at Manchester Business School (2010 - 2011)
Timeline
Head of Finance
Engro Fertilizers
08.2022 - Current
Chief of Staff
Engro Fertilizers
06.2021 - 07.2022
CFA Charter Holder -
CFA Institute
06.2018 - 06.2021
Group Strategy Manager
Engro Corporation
04.2018 - 05.2021
Head of Research
EFG Hermes
11.2015 - 03.2018
Senior Investment Analyst
AKD Investment Management
09.2014 - 10.2015
Financial Analyst
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
12.2012 - 02.2014
Financial Analyst
Geezer Telecom
07.2011 - 10.2012
Master of Science - Finance
Manchester Business School
09.2010 - 09.2011
Research Analyst
AKD Investment Management
07.2008 - 08.2010
Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance
Institute of Business Administration
08.2004 - 05.2008